• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.107-122
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• 1997

This paper presents a ground surface settlement prediction method for shield tunneling in cohesive soils. In order to develop the method, a parametric study on shield tunneling was performed by using a threetimensional elasto-plastic finite element analysis, which can simulate the construction procedure. By using the results of the finite element analysis, the ground movement mechanism was investigated and a base which relates the ground surface settlement and iuluencing factors was formed. The data base was then used to formulate semi -empirical equations for both surface settlement ratio above tunnel face and imflection point by means of a regression analysis. Furthermore, a prediction method for transverse and longitudinal surface settlement profiles was suggested by using the leveloped equations in conjunction with the normal probability curve. Effectiveness of the developed method was illustrated by comparing settlement profiles obtained by using the developed method with the results of finite element analysis and measured data. Based on the comparison, it was concluded that the developed method can be effectively rosed for practical applications at least within the conditions investigated.