• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.41-48
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• 2001

In this study, two factors are simultaneously considered for assessing tunnel face stability: one is the effective stress acting on the tunnel face calculated by upper bound solution; and the other is the seepage force calculated by numerical analysis under the condition of steady-state groundwater flow. The seepage forces calculated by numerical analysis are compared with the results of a model test. From the results of derivations of the upper bound solution with the consideration of seepage forces acting on the tunnel face, it could be found that the minimum support pressure for the face stability is equal to the sum of effective support pressure and seepage pressure acting on the tunnel face. Also it could be found that the average seepage pressure acting on the tunnel face is proportional to the hydrostatic pressure at the same elevation and the magnitude is about 22% of the hydrostatic pressure for the drainage type tunnel and about 28% for the water-proof type tunnel. The model tests performed with a tunnel model had a similar trend with the seepage pressure calculated by numerical analysis. From the model tests it could be also found that the collapse at the tunnel face occurs suddenly and leads to unlimited displacement.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.193-200
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• 1999

Since Broms and Bennermark(1967) suggested the face stability criterion based on laboratory extrusion tests and field observations, the face stability of a tunnel driven in cohesive material has been studied by several authors. And recently, more general solution for the tunnel front is given by Leca and Panet(1988). They adopted a limit state design concept to evaluate the face stability of a shallow tunnel driven into cohesionless material and showed that the calculated upper bound solution represented the actual behavior reasonably well. In this study, two factors are simultaneously considered for assessing tunnel face stability: One is the effective stress acting on the tunnel front calculated by upper bound solution; and the other is the seepage force calculated by numerical analysis under the condition of steady state ground water flow. The model tests were performed to evaluate the seepage force acting on the tunnel front and these results were compared with results of numerical analysis. Consequently, the methodology to evaluate the stability of a tunnel face including limit analysis and seepage analysis is suggested under the condition of steady state ground water flow.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.221-228
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• 2002

The stability of a tunnel face is one of the most important factors in tunnel excavation. Especially, if a tunnel is located under groundwater level, groundwater may flow into the tunnel face and seepage forces acting on the tunnel face due to groundwater flow may affect seriously the stability of the tunnel face. Therefore, the seepage pressure at the tunnel face should be considered fir the proper design and safe construction of a tunnel. In this paper, the effect of tunnel advance rate on the seepage forces acting on the tunnel face was studied. The finite element program to analyze the groundwater flow around a tunnel with the consideration of tunnel advance rate was developed. Using the program, the parametric study for the effect of the tunnel advance rate and hydraulic characteristics of the ground on the seepage forces acting on the tunnel face was made. From this study, it was concluded that the tunnel advance rate must betaken into consideration as an additional parameter to assess the seepage forces at the tunnel face and a rational design methodology fer the assessment of support pressures required for maintaining the stability of the tunnel face was suggested for undetwater tunnels.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.327-333
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• 2002

In this study, the effect of tunnel advance rate on the seepage forces acting on the tunnel face was studied. The finite element program to analyze the groundwater flow around a tunnel with the consideration of tunnel advance rate was developed. Using the program, the parametric study for the effect of the tunnel advance rate and hydraulic characteristics of the ground on the seepage forces acting on the tunnel face was studied. From this study, it was concluded that the tunnel advance rate must be taken into consideration as an additional parameter to assess the seepage forces at the tunnel face and a rational design methodology for the assessment of support pressures required for maintaining the stability of the tunnel face was suggested for underwater tunnels.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.145-157
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• 2023

This paper aims at investigating the face stability of large-diameter underwater shield tunnels considering seepage in soft-hard uneven strata. Using the kinematic approach of limit upper-bound analysis, the analytical solution of limit supporting pressure on the tunnel face considering seepage was obtained based on a logarithmic spiral collapsed body in uneven strata. The stability analysis method of the excavation face with different soft- and hard-stratum ratios was explored and validated. Moreover, the effects of water level and burial depth on tunnel face stability were discussed. The results show the effect of seepage on the excavation face stability can be accounted as the seepage force on the excavation face and the seepage force of pore water in instability body. When the thickness ratio of hard soil layer within the excavation face exceeds 1/6D, the interface of the soft and hard soil layer can be placed at tunnel axis during stability analysis. The reliability of the analytical solution of the limit supporting pressure is validated by numerical method and literature methods. The increase of water level causes the instability of upper soft soil layer firstly due to the higher seepage force. With the rise of burial depth, the horizontal displacement of the upper soft soil decreases and the limit supporting pressure changes little because of soil arching effect.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.35-42
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• 2012

This paper evaluates the effect of anisotropic conductivity on the seepage face and reliability index of an homogeneous dam with and without toe drain. The analysis are conducted under steady state saturated-unsaturated seepage condition using finite element method. Various anisotropic conductivity ratios were interpreted under such conditions as the vertical conductivity is reduced while the horizon conductivity is fixed. The shear strength of soil is defined by the modified Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. The analysis results demonstrate that the length of seepage face and reliability index at the downstream and upstream of the dam increase with an increasing anisotropic ratio. These results of the seepage face and reliability index, however, depend on the total head difference between the upstream slope and downstream toe. The difference in seepage face and reliability index is attributed to the different equipotential head with different anisotropic ratios of the dam material.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2003.03a
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• pp.273-280
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• 2003

Tunneling in difficult geological conditions is often inevitable especially in urban areas. Ground improvement and reinforcement techniques are often required to guarantee safe tunnel excavations and/or to prevent damage to adjacent structures. The steel pipe-reinforced multi-step grouting method has been recently applied to tunnel sites in Korea as an auxiliary technique. In this study, the face stability with steel pipe-reinforced multi-step grouting was evaluated by simultaneously considering two factors: one is the effective stress acting on the tunnel face calculated by limit theorem and limit equilibrium method; the other is the seepage force obtained by means of numerical analysis. The study revealed that the influence of the steel pipe-reinforced multi-step grouting on the support pressure in dry condition is not significant while there is relatively a large amount of reduction in seepage forces by adopting the technique in saturated condition. The effect of the anisotropy of permeability on the seepage force acting on the tunnel face was also estimated by conducting the coupled analysis. It was found that a higher horizontal permeability compared with the vertical one causes reduction in the seepage force acting on the tunnel face.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.41-56
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• 1994

Under the groundwater level, the tunnel face is affected by the seepage force and the groundwater flow may cause a trouble to the tunnel support systems. The appropriate methods of analysis and design in the tunnel face and the lining, considering groundwater flow according to tunnel drainage condition are presented in this thesis. First, the effect of seepage on the stability of tunnel face was studied. Seepage force was estimated by the 3-D finite element analysis and the stability of tunnel face was checked by analytical method. Furthermore, using the finite difference method the stress and displacement on the face were computed for either case, where the seepage force is or is not considered, and the effect of seepage on the tunnel face stability was evaluated. Second, the effect of seepage force on the tunnel lining when construction is finished and steady state seepage flow occurs was studied and a design methodology considering seepage effect was made. Consequently, in case where the groundwater level remains almost unchanged and the steady state groundwater flow occurs, the proper countermeasures for face staility are required according to the condition of groundwater flow. Moreover, the tunnel lining should be designed and constructed considering the seepage force occuring by the groundwater flow toward the tunnel linings.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.121-131
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• 2003

Tunneling in difficult geological conditions is often inevitable especially in urban areas. Ground improvement and reinforcement techniques are often required to guarantee safe tunnel excavations and/or to prevent damage to adjacent structures. The steel pipe-reinforced multistep grouting method has been recently applied to tunnel sites in Korea as an auxiliary technique. In this study, the face stability with steel pipe-reinforced multistep grouting was evaluated emphasizing the effect of seepage forces. The study revealed that the influence of the steel pipe-reinforced multistep grouting on the support pressure in dry condition is not significant while there is relatively a large amount of reduction in seepage forces by adopting the technique in saturated condition. The effect of the anisotropy of permeability on the seepage force acting on the tunnel face was also estimated by conducting the coupled analysis. It was found that a higher horizontal permeability compared with the vertical one causes reduction in the seepage farce acting on the tunnel face.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.366-374
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• 2008

Tunnelling under water table induces many geotechnical problems because of groundwater. In subsea tunneling, reduction of face stability can induce flooding in the vicinity of a fracture zone characterized by high permeability and high water pressure. In this study, the effects of high water pressure on the stability of a tunnel face in a limited zone with high permeability(hazardous zone) are analyzed. On the basis of the 'advance core' concept, the seepage force acting on a hypothetical cylinder ahead of a tunnel face is modeled. This study focuses on the hydraulic behavior of the ground ahead of the tunnel face by three-dimensional steady-state seepage analyses. The impact of the hazardous zone on the seepage force and stability of the tunnel face are simulated and analyzed. In light of the analysis results, it is estimated that the distance from the tunnel face to the exterior boundary limit, which the seepage force significantly affects the stability of the tunnel face, of a hypothetical cylinder is approximately 5 times the tunnel radii. Despite the restrictive assumptions of this study, the results are highly indicative regarding the risks of hazardous zones.