Grain-Size Distribution Effects on the Mechanical Behavior of Granular Soil in Response to EPBS Tunneling
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 22, Issue 12
Abstract
A set of model tests using a miniature Earth Pressure Balanced Shield (EPBS) machine are carried out to examine the effects of grain-size distribution on the mechanical behavior of granular soil in response to EPBS tunneling. The combined effects of particle size (D50) and tunnel depth on the vertical movement and volume loss of ground are studied. A discussion of the implications of the soil arching effect and volumetric strain associated with D50 to the results is also provided. The results show that the deformation patterns of ground are highly dependent on the grain-size distribution of the soil, especially for relatively deep tunnels. The value of trough width parameter (k) for fine soil exhibits an obvious nonlinear increase with the depth. However, it is linear for the soil with a relative large grain size. The particle size has a significant influence on the variation of soil volume loss at the surface level, especially for relatively deep tunnels.
Practical Applications
Typically, when EPBS tunneling is undertaken in granular soil, a target value of the pressure in the chamber of the EPBS machine and grouting pressure in the tail are required to define to control the soil volume loss within an acceptable range, which is important to keep surface settlement in compliance with maximum specified values. The results in this study highlight the effects of the grain-size distribution of granular soil on the surface settlement trough and volume loss. Potentially, data from testing of model tunnels could provide a useful basis for making this assessment. According to the findings in this study, for fine granular soil, a tunneling engineer with a target volume loss at the surface level will have to target less volume loss at the tunnel level than the desired maximum value for the surface volume loss. In the granular soil with a relatively large grain size, the target values for volume loss at tunnel level can be greater than the desired maximum value for the surface volume loss. The results in this study confirm that the settlement trough in the fine granular soil is steeper than that in the granular soil with a relatively large grain size. This suggests that tunneling in granular soil with a relatively large grain size is likely to induce a wider settlement trough but probably causes less damage to buildings, whereas in fine granular soil, the settlement trough is likely to be narrower but may potentially cause greater building damage.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52078428) and the Sichuan Outstanding Yong Science and Technology Talent Project (Project No. 2020JDJQ0032).
Notation
The following symbols are used in this paper:
- C
- cover: distance from the surface to the crown of the tunnel;
- Cu
- coefficient of uniformity;
- D
- diameter of the tunnel;
- D50
- mean particle size;
- i
- distance from the trough centerline to the inflexion point of the Gaussian curve;
- Id
- relative density;
- k
- trough width parameter;
- K0
- lateral earth pressure coefficient at rest;
- L*
- similarity ratio of geometry size;
- S
- vertical settlement;
- Sh
- average horizontal displacement at 0.1 D to the face;
- Smax
- maximum vertical settlement;
- Sr
- average radial displacements at 0.1 D to the tunnel profile;
- t0
- initial setting time;
- V0
- notional final area of the tunnel cross section;
- Vchamber
- geometric volume of the working chamber;
- Vl,face
- volume loss associated with the tunnel heading;
- Vl,s
- volume loss of soil;
- Vl,t
- volume loss induced by the EPBS machine;
- Vl,total
- total volume loss;
- yf
- location of the cutter head at the start;
- yi
- location of the end of the shield driving;
- Z
- distance from the ground surface to the midheight of the opening;
- Z0
- an arbitrary depth below the ground surface;
- η0
- initial viscosity;
- ρ
- density of the soil;
- ρgrout
- grout density;
- τ0
- initial yield strength;
- Φ(a)
- normal distribution function;
- φ
- internal friction angle of the soil; and
- ψ
- bleeding rate.
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Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 22 • Issue 12 • December 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 18, 2021
Accepted: May 14, 2022
Published online: Sep 26, 2022
Published in print: Dec 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Feb 26, 2023
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