• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.179-191
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• 2023

To study the influences of tunneling on the earth pressure and ground settlement when the tunnel passes through the adjacent underground retaining structure, 30 two-dimensional model tests were carried out taking into account the ratios of tunnel excavation depth (H) to lateral width (w), excavation width (B), and excavation distance using a custom-made test device and an analogical soil. Tunnel crossing adjacent existing retaining structure (TCE) and tunnel crossing adjacent newly-built retaining structure (TCN) were simulated and the earth pressure variations and ground settlement distribution during excavation were analyzed. For TCE condition, the earth pressure increments, maximum ground settlement and the curvature of the ground settlement curve are negatively related to H/B, but positively related to H/s and H/w. For TCN condition, most trends are consistent with TCE except that the earth pressure increments and the curvature of ground settlement curve are negatively related to H/w. The maximum ground settlement is larger than that observed in tunnel crossing the existing underground structure. This study provides an assessment basis for the design and construction under confined space conditions.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.199-211
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• 2009

Development of underground space is actively performed globally for better life in the surface, and the scale of the space is increasing. Extreme care should be taken in the construction of the underground space in urban areas in order to avoid damage of adjacent structures and interference with existing underground space. In case of shallow tunnels, reinforcement of ground and structures is necessary to minimize the damage to structures due to excavation but any standard for optimum range of the reinforcement has not been established yet. In this paper, a series of numerical analyses have been performed for a 20 m diameter tunnel excavated underneath a structure to investigate the degree of damage of the structure according to vertical and horizontal spacing between the tunnel and structure. In addition to that, optimum range of reinforcement is presented for each case where reinforcement is required. It has been observed that the reinforcement is necessary for the ground condition adapted in the analyses as follows: (1) if horizontal spacing ($S_{H}$) approaches to 0D (D: equivalent diameter of tunnel) for vertical spacing (Sv) of 0.5D, and (2) if tunnel exists underneath the structure for vertical spacing (Sv) of 0.75D. The reinforcement is not necessary for Sv of 10 regardless of $S_{H}$. It also has been obtained that the optimum ranges of the reinforcement around structure foundation are 7 m in depth and whole width of the structure and 5 m beyond tunnel sidewall. These reinforcememt ranges have been confirmed to be enough for stability of the structure if types of reinforcement method is appropriately selected.