• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.38 no.11
• /
• pp.69-86
• /
• 2022

The railway is widely used to transport passengers and freight due to its punctuality and large transport capacity. The recent remarkable development in construction technology enables various subsea railway tunnels for continent-continent or continent-island connectivity. In Korea, design and construction experience is primarily based on the successful completion of the Boryeong subsea tunnel (2021) and the Gadeok subsea tunnel (2010). However, frequent earthquakes with diverse magnitudes, globally induced and continuously increased the awareness of seismic risks and the frequency of domestic earthquakes. The effect of an earthquake on the subsea tunnel is very complicated. However, ground conditions and seismic waves are considered the main factors. This study simulated four ground types of 3-dimensional numerical models, such as soil, rock, composite, and fractured zone, to analyze the effect of ground type and seismic wave. A virtual subsea railway shield tunnel considering external water pressure was modeled. Further, three different seismic waves with long-term, short-term, and both periods were studied. The dynamic analyses by finite difference method were performed to investigate the displacement and stress characteristics. Consequently, the long-term period wave exhibited a predominant lateral displacement response in soil and the short-term period wave in rock. The artificial wave, which had both periodic characteristics, demonstrated predominant in the fractured zone. The effect of an earthquake is more noticeable in the stress of the tunnel segment than in displacement because of confining effect of ground and structural elements in the shield tunnel. 

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.583-603
• /
• 2023

Recently, the advancement of mechanical tunnel boring machine (TBM) technology and the characteristics of subsea railway tunnels subjected to hydrostatic pressure have led to the widespread application of shield TBM methods in the design and construction of subsea railway tunnels. Subsea railway tunnels are exposed in a constant pore water pressure and are influenced by the amplification of seismic waves during earthquake. In particular, seismic loads acting on subsea railway tunnels under various ground conditions such as soft ground, soft soil-rock composite ground, and fractured zones can cause significant changes in tunnel displacement and stress, thereby affecting tunnel safety. Additionally, the dynamic response of the ground and tunnel varies based on seismic load parameters such as frequency characteristics, seismic waveform, and peak acceleration, adding complexity to the behavior of the ground-tunnel structure system. In this study, a finite difference method is employed to model the entire ground-tunnel structure system, considering hydrostatic pressure, for the investigation of dynamic behavior of subsea railway tunnel during earthquake. Since the key factors influencing the dynamic behavior during seismic events are ground conditions and seismic waves, six analysis cases are established based on virtual ground conditions: Case-1 with weathered soil, Case-2 with hard rock, Case-3 with a composite ground of soil and hard rock in the tunnel longitudinal direction, Case-4 with the tunnel passing through a narrow fault zone, Case-5 with a composite ground of soft soil and hard rock in the tunnel longitudinal direction, and Case-6 with the tunnel passing through a wide fractured zone. As a result, horizontal displacements due to earthquakes tend to increase with an increase in ground stiffness, however, the displacements tend to be restrained due to the confining effects of the ground and the rigid shield segments. On the contrary, peak compressive stress of segment significantly increases with weaker ground stiffness and the effects of displacement restrain contribute the increase of peak compressive stress of segment.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.36-47
• /
• 2017

As a typical domestic subsea tunnel construction the Gadeok subsea tunnel applying the method of immersed tunnel has been completed and the Boryeong-Taean subsea tunnel is under construction using NATM. The high-speed railway subsea tunnels between the Honam and Jeju are under consideration, and the feasibility of constructing subsea tunnels with Japan and China is also under consideration. However, it is difficult to provide the process plan information for the construction work such as the analysis of the feasibility of the subsea tunnel and the prediction of the proper construction period because there is no case of domestic construction for it applying the shield TBM method. Due to economic and other reasons, government organizations are reluctant to apply the shield TBM, and there is lack of data on the construction process management field using the shield TBM method. Therefore, a standard construction process management system for the subsea tunnel is needed to analyze the feasibility of the subsea tunnel and to predict the proper construction period. By presenting the standard construction process management system of subsea tunnels such as WBS, Network Diagram, and construction period calculation model, I hope to contribute technically and economically to future subsea tunnel projects.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.153-166
• /
• 2015

Long subsea tunnel to be built below the seabed, as compared to the general railway tunnel, is subject to many restrictions in terms of spatial limitation when vertical or inclined shafts are built for the purpose of ventilation and fire safety. So, the construction of some artificial island is required to provide ventilation. But, because of construction difficulty and cost increase, it is necessary to minimize the artificial island construction. The longer ventilation distance is, the more fresh air requirement is needed. When supply airflow becomes excessive, duct size is restricted by the limitations of structure clearance and fan pressure and power increase exponentially. Therefore, in order to build a long subsea tunnel, it is necessary to overcome these practical problems and to develop technical solution that can keep the comfortable condition of tunnel environment during construction. In this study, as on ventilation method development suitable for long subsea tunnel, through comparison of temporary ventilation capacity calculation methods during construction phase, domestic and abroad, the application of Swiss SIA 196 code is found suitable for long subsea tunnel. And, through experiment on leakage of the duct connector, we confirmed that the leakage ratio per 100 m of domestic duct connection type is between 1.5~3.0%. Based on S-class duct of SIA 196 code, ventilation distance is 10.2 km, So, ventilation distance can be longer if duct connection method is improved. So, we confirmed that the improvement of leakage ratio is key issue in the construction-phase ventilation of long subsea tunnel.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.679-697
• /
• 2022

Having an awareness of the ongoing conception of Honam-Jeju, Korea-Japan, and Korea-China subsea tunnels for accommodating the railway, this paper investigates immersion tube tunnel technology, one of the underwater tunnel construction methods. This paper analyses the current status of immersed tube tunnels according to their location and function. This paper summarises the dredging methods and briefly introduces the muck disposal facility. Also introduced are the case studies where measures were taken to mitigate the impact of dredging on the surrounding marine environment. This paper also explains how the tunnel elements are connected underwater using an immersion joint. This paper classifies the foundation methods into bedding and ground improvement methods and provides summaries, including their environmental impact associated with drill cuttings and cementitious binders.