Influence of Soil-Arching Effect on Tunnel Face Stability
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 21, Issue 7
Abstract
Based on the slip line theory and the upper-bound limit analysis theorem, a three-dimensional (3D) slip–rupture mechanism to design the shield tunnel face stability is proposed. This model is defined by using a spatial discretization technique. According to the stress arching theory, the vertical earth pressure at the top of the slip zone is calculated. The critical support tunnel face pressure is then deduced by using this additional load on the upper part of the slip damage zone. A series of finite difference numerical calculations based on the limit shear strain theory were performed to find the slip failure surface and obtain the critical support pressure. The results indicate that the soil-arching effect significantly affects the magnitude and the vertical stress distribution on front of the tunnel face. The good concordance obtained by the comparison of the results with the numerical simulations and other existing researches shows that the proposed model has a good applicability in both purely cohesive and frictional soils. At the same time, the critical tunnel face failure pattern is close to the numerical calculations one.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statements
All of the data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewer for valuable and constructive comments and suggestions. And the authors are very grateful for the financially supported by the China Scholarship Council (CSC No. 201906220137).
References
Anagnostou, G., and K. Kovári. 1996. “Face stability conditions with earth-pressure-balanced shields.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 11 (2): 165–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/0886-7798(96)00017-X.
Berthoz, N., D. Branque, D. Subrin, H. Wong, and E. Humbert. 2012. “Face failure in homogeneous and stratified soft ground: Theoretical and experimental approaches on 1g EPBS reduced scale model.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 30: 25–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2012.01.005.
Broere, W. 2001. Tunnel face stability and new CPT applications. Delft, Netherlands: Delft Univ.
Broms, B. B., and H. Bennermark. 1967. “Stability of clay at vertical opening.” J. Soil Mech. Found. Div. 93 (1): 71–94. https://doi.org/10.1061/JSFEAQ.0000946.
Chambon, P., and J.-F. Corte. 1994. “Shallow tunnels in cohesionless soil: Stability of tunnel face.” J. Geotech. Eng. 120 (7): 1148–1165. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1994)120:7(1148).
Chen, R., J. Li, L. Kong, and L. Tang. 2013. “Experimental study on face instability of shield tunnel in sand.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 33: 12–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2012.08.001.
Chen, R. P., L. J. Tang, X. S. Yin, Y. M. Chen, and X. C. Bian. 2015. “An improved 3D wedge-prism model for the face stability analysis of the shield tunnel in cohesionless soils.” Acta Geotech. 10 (5): 683–692. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-014-0304-5.
Chen, W. F. 1975. Limit analysis and soil mechanics. New York: Elsevier Scientific.
Davis, E. H., M. J. Gunn, R. J. Mair, and H. N. Seneviratine. 1980. “The stability of shallow tunnels and underground openings in cohesive material.” Géotechnique 30 (4): 397–416. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1980.30.4.397.
Ding, W., S. Li, K. Liu, J. Zhu, M. Li, and P. Shi. 2018a. “Using a pressurized shield to increase face stability of circular tunnels in purely cohesive soil.” Int. J. Geomech. 18 (9): 04018100. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001208.
Ding, W., K. Liu, P. Shi, M. Li, and M. Hou. 2019. “Face stability analysis of shallow circular tunnels driven by a pressurized shield in purely cohesive soils under undrained conditions.” Comput. Geotech. 107: 110–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2018.11.025.
Ding, W., K. Liu, L. Zhang, P. Shi, M. Li, and M. Hou. 2018b. “Upper-bound solutions for face stability of circular tunnel in purely cohesive soil using continuous rotational velocity field.” Soils Found. 58 (6): 1511–1525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2018.08.009.
Ellstein, A. R. 1986. “Heading failure of lined tunnels in soft soils.” Tunnels Tunnelling 18 (6): 51–54.
Gao, H. 2007. Study on the criterion of yield and failure for geomaterials. Wuhan, China: Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Gao, H., Y. Zheng, and X. Feng. 2007. “Deduction of failure criterion for geomaterials based on maximum principal shear strain.” Chin. J. Rock Mech. Eng. 26 (3): 518–524.
Horn, M. 1961. “Horizontal earth pressure on perpendicular tunnel face.” In Proc. Hungarian National Conf. Foundation Engineer Industry. Budapest, Hungary: Hungary Press.
Huang, M., Z. Tang, W. Zhou, and J. Yuan. 2018. “Upper bound solutions for face stability of circular tunnels in non-homogeneous and anisotropic clays.” Comput. Geotech. 98: 189–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2018.02.015.
Ibrahim, E., A.-H. Soubra, G. Mollon, W. Raphael, D. Dias, and A. Reda. 2015. “Three-dimensional face stability analysis of pressurized tunnels driven in a multilayered purely frictional medium.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 49: 18–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2015.04.001.
Idinger, G., P. Aklik, W. Wu, and R. I. Borja. 2011. “Centrifuge model test on the face stability of shallow tunnel.” Acta Geotech. 6 (2): 105–117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-011-0139-2.
Itasca. 2000. User manual of fast lagrangian analysis of continua in 3 dimensions. Minneapolis, MN: Itasca.
Kimura, T., and R. J. Mair. 1981. “Centrifugal testing of model tunnels in soft soil.” In Proc., 10th Int. Conf. on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 319–322. London: Blakema.
Klar, A., A. S. Osman, and M. Bolton. 2007. “2D and 3D upper bound solutions for tunnel excavation using “elastic” flow fields.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech. 31 (12): 1367–1374. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.597.
Leca, E., and L. Dormieux. 1990. “Upper and lower bound solutions for the face stability of shallow circular tunnels in frictional material.” Géotechnique 40 (4): 581–606. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1990.40.4.581.
Li, W., and C. Zhang. 2020. “Face stability analysis for a shield tunnel in anisotropic sands.” Int J. Geomech 20 (5): 04020043. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001666.
Liu, K., W. Ding, Q. Zhang, P. Shi, and C. Yan. 2019a. “Stability analysis of earth pressure balance shield tunnel face considering soil arching.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Geotech. Eng. 172 (4): 377–389. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeen.18.00052.
Liu, X., F. Wang, H. Fang, and D. Yuan. 2019b. “Dual-failure-mechanism model for face stability analysis of shield tunneling in sands.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 85: 196–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2018.12.003.
Lyamin, A. V., and S. W. Sloan. 2000. “Stability of a plane strain circular tunnel in a cohesive frictional soil.” In Proc. Booker Memorial Symp, edited by D. W. Smith and J. P. Carter, 139–153. Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Balkema.
Mollon, G., D. Dias, and A.-H. Soubra. 2009a. “Probabilistic analysis and design of circular tunnels against face stability.” Int. J. Geomech. 9 (6): 237–249. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1532-3641(2009)9:6(237).
Mollon, G., D. Dias, and A.-H. Soubra. 2010. “Face stability analysis of circular tunnels driven by a pressurized shield.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 136 (1): 215–229. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000194.
Mollon, G., D. Dias, and A.-H. Soubra. 2011. “Rotational failure mechanisms for the face stability analysis of tunnels driven by a pressurized shield.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech. 35 (12): 1363–1388. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.962.
Mollon, G., D. Dias, and A.-H. Soubra. 2013. “Continuous velocity fields for collapse and blowout of a pressurized tunnel face in purely cohesive soil.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech. 37 (13): 2061–2083. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.2121.
Mollon, G., A.-H. Soubra, and D. Dias. 2009b. “Probabilistic analysis of circular tunnels in homogeneous soil using response surface methodology.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 135 (9): 1314–1325. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000060.
Murayama, S., M. Endo, T. Hashiba, K. Yamamoto, and H. Sasaki. 1966. “Geotechnical aspects for the excavating performance of the shield machines.” In Proc., 21st Annual Lecture in Meeting of Japan Society of Civil Engineers, 134–140. Tokyo.
Pan, Q., and D. Dias. 2016. “The effect of pore water pressure on tunnel face stability.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech. 40 (15): 2123–2136. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.2528.
Pan, Q., and D. Dias. 2017a. “Safety factor assessment of a tunnel face reinforced by horizontal dowels.” Eng. Struct. 142: 56–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2017.03.056.
Pan, Q., and D. Dias. 2017b. “Upper-bound analysis on the face stability of a non-circular tunnel.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 62: 96–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2016.11.010.
Pan, Q., and D. Dias. 2018. “Three dimensional face stability of a tunnel in weak rock masses subjected to seepage forces.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 71: 555–566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2017.11.003.
Potts, D. M., and J. H. Atkinson. 1977. “Stability of a shallow circular tunnel in cohesionless soil.” Géotechnique 27 (2): 203–215. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1977.27.2.203.
Qian, Z., J. Zou, Q. Pan, and D. Dias. 2019. “Safety factor calculations of a tunnel face reinforced with umbrella pipes: A comparison analysis.” Eng. Struct. 199: 109639. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2019.109639.
Sagaseta, C. 1988. “Analysis of undraind soil deformation due to ground loss.” Géotechnique 37 (3): 301–320. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1987.37.3.301.
Schofield, A. N. 1980. “Cambridge geotechnical centrifuge operations.” Géotechnique 30 (3): 227–268. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1980.30.3.227.
Song, W., and Y. Xiang. 2020. “An analytical continuous upper bound limit analysis of pore water effect on the tail stability of underwater shield tunnels during construction.” E3S Web Conf. 143: 01015. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202014301015.
Sun, X., L. Miao, H. Lin, and T. Tong. 2018. “Soil arch effect analysis of shield tunnel in dry sandy ground.” Int. J. Geomech. 18 (6): 04018057. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001135.
Takano, D., J. Otani, H. Nagatani, and T. Mukunoki. 2006. “Application of X-ray CT boundary value problems in geotechnical engineering – research on tunnel face failure.” In Geocongress 2006: Geotechnical Engineering in the Information Technology Age, edited by D. J. DeGroot, J. T. DeJong, D. Frost, and L. G. Baise, 1–6. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Ukritchon, B., and S. Keawsawasvong. 2018. “Lower bound limit analysis of an anisotropic undrained strength criterion using second-order cone programming.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech. 42 (8): 1016–1033. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.2781.
Verruijt, A., and J. R. Booker. 1996. “Surface settlements due to deformation of a tunnel in an elastic half plane.” Géotechnique 46 (4): 753–756. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1996.46.4.753.
Wang, D., S. He, X. Liu, C. Li, and J. Zhang. 2019. “A modified method for determining the overburden pressure above shallow tunnels considering the distribution of the principal stress rotation and the partially mobilized arching effect.” Chin. J. Rock Mech. Eng. 38 (6): 1284–1296.
Zhang, C., K. Han, and D. Zhang. 2015. “Face stability analysis of shallow circular tunnels in cohesive-frictional soils.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 50: 345–357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2015.08.007.
Zhang, C., W. Li, W. Zhu, and Z. Tan. 2020. “Face stability analysis of a shallow horseshoe-shaped shield tunnel in clay with a linearly increasing shear strength with depth.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 97: 103291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2020.103291.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 21 • Issue 7 • July 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 7, 2020
Accepted: Feb 9, 2021
Published online: Apr 28, 2021
Published in print: Jul 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Sep 28, 2021
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.
Cited by
- Wantao Ding, Xinghang Huang, Zunyong Dai, Chengzhen Wang, Zhicheng Wang, Wenduan Yu, Analysis of the Collapse Mechanism and Stabilization Optimization of the Composite Stratum at the Boundary between Prereinforced and Unreinforced Areas near a Shield Launching Area, International Journal of Geomechanics, 10.1061/IJGNAI.GMENG-8146, 23, 5, (2023).
- Can Wang, Jing Hou, Xiao-Wei Ye, Yun-Min Chen, Wei-Jiang Chu, Tian-Yu Xie, A 3D torus-slice model for limit equilibrium analysis of shield tunnel face under soil arching effect, Engineering Failure Analysis, 10.1016/j.engfailanal.2023.107148, 146, (107148), (2023).
- Dashuai Zhang, Xingli Zhang, Haotian Tang, Zhiqiang Zhao, Jing Guo, Honghua Zhao, Effects of soil arching on behavior of composite pile supporting foundation pit, Computational Particle Mechanics, 10.1007/s40571-022-00518-1, 10, 3, (645-662), (2022).
- Zhongrong Wang, Wantao Ding, Xinghang Huang, Rui Chen, Keqi Liu, Face failure mechanism of shield tunnel in sandy ground with different low moisture contents, Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 10.1007/s12517-022-09866-x, 15, 7, (2022).