Tunnel Design and Modulus of Subgrade Reaction
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 29, Issue 2
Abstract
The modulus of subgrade reaction is not a unique fundamental soil property that can be readily measured, and its magnitude is an outcome from a soil-structure interaction. But it is required by structural engineers for the structural design of a tunnel. The adoption of an appropriate magnitude for the modulus of subgrade reaction is crucial to ensure that the structural design of the tunnel will be adequate. Some engineers inappropriately rely on the plate load test to determine the magnitude of the modulus of subgrade reaction of the underlying stratum for the structural design of the tunnel. This paper will discuss an appropriate approach to estimate the magnitude of the modulus of subgrade reaction of weak sandstones and siltstones underlying a 2-km tunnel. This tunnel was completed and extensive cracks were noted prior to the opening of the tunnel. This prompted an investigation that included a design review that identified the important issue of an appropriate method for determining the magnitude of the modulus of subgrade reaction for the tunnel design. Typical values for the moduli and Poisson’s ratios of weak sandstones and siltstones required for the soil-structure interaction analysis will be discussed based on a review of the existing literature and the results of plate load tests, pressuremeter tests, and unconfined compression strength tests of the soil investigation report for the tunnel project.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
AASHTO. (1978). Manual on foundation investigations, Washington, DC, 6.
ASTM. (2003). “Standard test method for bearing capacity of soil for static load and spread footings.”, West Conshohocken, PA.
Bowles, J. E. (1997). Foundation analysis and design, 5th Ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, 318–319.
Brinkgreve, R. B. J., Engin, E., and Swolfs, W. M. (2006). PLAXIS 2D 2012 material models manual, Delft, Netherlands, 64.
British Standards Institution. (1997). “Structural use of concrete, part 2: Code of practice for special circumstances.” BS8110, London, U.K.
BS 5930:1999+A2:2010. (1999). “Code of practice for site investigations.” BS 5930: 1999.
Canadian Foundation Engineering Manual. (2006). 4th Ed., NRC Research Press, Ottawa, Canada.
Chandler, R. J., and Davis, A. G. (1973). “Further work on the engineering properties of Keuper Marl.”, Construction Industry Research and Information Association, London, U.K.
Cripps, J. C., and Taylor, R. K. (1981). “The engineering properties of Mudrocks.” Q. J. Eng. Geol., 14(4), 325–346.
Dames and Moore. (1983). Singapore Mass Rapid Transit System—Detailed Geotechnical Study Interpretative Rep., Singapore.
Dobereiner, L., and de Freitas, M. H. (1986). “Geotechnical properties of weak sandstones.” Geotechnique, 36(1), 79–94.
Douglas, D. J. (1980). “Modulus values for weathered rocks from plate load tests.” Proc., Int. Conf. on Structural Foundations on Rock, A. A. Balkema, London, U.K., 17–22.
Failmezger, R. A., Zdinak, A. L., Darden, J. N., and Fahs, R. (2005). “Use of rock pressuremeter for deep foundation design.” Proc., Int. Symp. 50 Years of Pressuremeters, M. Gambin, J. P. Magnan, and P. Mestat, eds., Laboratoire central des ponts et chaussées/Presses de l'École nationale des ponts et chaussées, Paris, France.
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). (2002). “Geotechnical engineering circular no. 5, evaluation of soil and rock properties.”, U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC.
Folk, R. L. (1965). Petrology of sedimentary rocks, Hemphill, Austin, TX.
Gannon, J. A., Masterton, G. G. T., Wallace, W. A., and Muir Wood, D. (2004). “Piled foundations in weak rock.”, Construction Industry Research and Information Association, London.
Gu, D. X., Tamblyn, W., Lamb, I., and Ramsey, N. (2008). “Effect of weathering on strength and modulus of basalt and siltstone.” Proc., 42nd U.S. Rock Mechanics Symp. and 2nd U.S.-Canada Rock Mechanics Symp., American Rock Mechanics Association, San Francisco.
Ibrahim, K., Bunce, G., and Murrells, C. (2009). “Foundation design for the Pentominium Tower in Dubai, UAE.” Proc. ICE, 162(6), 25–33.
Isik, N. S., Doyuran, V., and Ulusay, R. (2008). “Assessment of deformation modulus of weak rock masses from pressuremeter tests and seismic surveys.” Bull. Eng. Geol. Environ., 67(3), 293–304.
Johnson, I. W., and Chiu, H. K. (1981). “The consolidation properties of a soft rock.” Proc., 10th Int. Conf. on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, A.A. Balkema, London, U.K., 661–664.
Kog, Y. C. (1990). “Design and load-displacement behaviour of anchorages in weathered sandstone and shale.” ICE Proc., 89(4), 565–571.
Leach, B. A., Medland, J. W., and Sutherland, H. B. (1976). “The ultimate bearing capacity of bored piles in weathered Keuper Marl.” Proc., 6th European Conf. on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Plenum Publishing Corporation, New York, 507–514.
Loo, K. Y., Micic, S., Lardner, T., and Janes, M. (2009). “Geotechnical properties of a weak mudstone in downtown Calgary.” Proc., 62nd Canadian Geotechnical Conf. and 10th Joint CGS/IAH Groundwater Conf., Canadian Geotechnical Society, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada and International Association of Hydrogeologists, Reading, U.K.
Mahmoud, M., Evan, R. J., and Trenter, N. A. (1990). “The use of the pressuremeter test in weak rocks at the port of Jebel Ali.” Pressuremeters: Proc., 3rd Int. Symp., British Geotechnical Society, Oxford Univ., Thomas Telford, London, U.K., 341–350.
Marsland, A., Butcher, A. P., and Taffs, F. H. (1983). “The behaviour of a bridge abutment foundation on Keuper Marl during and after construction.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng., 74(4), 917–944.
Meigh, A. C. (1976). “The triassic rocks, with particular reference to predicted and observed performance of some major foundations.” Geotechnique, 26(3), 391–452.
Neville, A. M. (1981). Properties of concrete, 3rd Ed., Longman, Essex, U.K.
Pells, P. J. N., Mostyn, G., and Walker, B. F. (1998). “Foundations on sandstone and shale in the Sydney region.” Aust. Geomech. J., 33(3), 17–29.
PLAXIS 2D 2012 [Computer software]. Delft, Netherlands, Plaxis bv.
Poulos, H. G., and Bunce, G. (2008). “Foundation design for the Burj Dubai—The world’s tallest building.” Proc., 6th Int. Conf. on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering, Missouri Univ. of Science and Technology, Missouri, 1–16.
SAP2000 version SP2000 16 [Computer software]. Walnut Creek, CA, Computers and Structures.
Seedhouse, R. L., and Sanders, R. L. (1993). “Investigations for cooling tower foundations in mercia mudstone at Ratcliffe-on-Soar, Nottinghamshire.” The engineering geology of weak rock, J. C. Cripps, et al. eds., Engineering Geology Special Publication, No. 8, Balkema, Rotterdam, 465–472.
Sfriso, A. O. (2008). “Metro tunnels in Buenos Aires: Design and construction procedures 1998–2007.” Proc., Geotechnical Aspects of Underground Construction in Soft Ground, CRC Press, London, U.K.
STAAD.Pro V8i [Computer software]. Exton, PA, Bentley.
Terzaghi, K. (1955). “Evaluation of coefficients of subgrade reaction.” Geotechnique, 5(4), 297–326.
Terzaghi, K., Peck, R. B., and Mesri, G. (1996). Soil mechanics in engineering practice, 3rd Ed., Wiley, New York.
The Institution of Structural Engineers. (1977). Structure-soil interaction: A state of the art report, London, U.K., 35.
Tomlinson, M. J. (1981). Pile design and construction practice, Viewpoint, London, U.K.
UniSoft. (2013). “Geotechnical solutions.” 〈https://www.unisoftltd.com/support/frequently-asked-questions/faq-background/〉 (Jan. 23, 2013).
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 29 • Issue 2 • April 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 21, 2013
Accepted: Nov 6, 2013
Published online: Nov 8, 2013
Discussion open until: Dec 28, 2014
Published in print: Apr 1, 2015
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.