• 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.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.491-505
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• 2023

The practical usage of underground space and demand for vehicular tunnels necessitate the construction of non-circular wide rectangular tunnels. However, constructing large tunnels in soft clayey soil conditions with no ground improvement can lead to excessive ground deformations and collapse. In recent years, in situ ground improvement techniques such as jet grouting and deep cement mixing are often utilized to perform cement-stabilisation around the tunnel boundary to prevent large deformations and failure. This paper discusses the stability characteristics and failure behaviour of a wide rectangular tunnel in cement-treated soft clays. First, the plane strain finite element model is developed and validated with the results of centrifuge model tests available in the past literature. The critical tunnel support pressures computed from the numerical study are found to be in good agreement with those of centrifuge model tests. The influence of varying strength and thickness of improved soil surround, and cover depth are studied on the stability and failure modes of a rectangular tunnel. It is observed that the failure behaviour of the tunnel in improved soil surround depends on the ratio of the strength of improved soil surround to the strength of surrounding soil, i.e., q_ui/q_us, rather than just q_ui. For low q_ui/q_us ratios,the stability increases with the cover; however, for the high strength improved soil surrounds with q_ui >> q_us, the stability decreases with the cover. The failure chart, modified stability equation, and stability chart are also proposed as preliminary design guidelines for constructing rectangular tunnels in the improved soil surrounded by soft clays.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.10-27
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• 2008

When the ground is excavated adjacent to the existing tunnel, which is loaded by the surcharge on the ground surface, the tunnel stability would be very sensitive to the deformation of the ground induced by the horizontal displacement of braced wall. The stability of the existing surcharged tunnel could be controlled by pre-loading on the braced wall. In this paper, it was investigated, if it would be possible to keep the existing surcharged tunnel stable by preventing the horizontal displacement of a braced wall by imposing the pre-loading during the ground excavation. For this purpose, large scale model tests were performed in a scale 1/10 at the test pit which was 2.0m in width and 6.0m in height and 4.0m in length. Isotropic test ground was constructed homogeneously by wet sand. Model tunnel was constructed in the test ground. Surcharge was loaded on the ground surface above the tunnel. During the tests, the behavior of model tunnel and model braced wall was measured. Numerical analyses were also performed in the same condition as the tests. And their results were compared to that of the model tests. Consequently, the effect of a surcharge could be compensated by imposing the pre-loading on the braced wall. The existing tunnel and the braced wall could be kept stable by preventing the horizontal displacement of the braced wall through pre-loading, although the tunnel is surcharged.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.355-363
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• 2006

In this study, it was analyzed how the pore pressure behind a subsea tunnel influences on the stability of the tunnel. The tunnel is located in the soft rock layer, and a soft sandy layer and weathered soil layer are located on the top of it. Coupled numerical analyses are performed for both drained and undrained condition with varying coefficients of lateral earth pressure. In the case of undrained conditions, the stability of the tunnel was analyzed with different thicknesses of shotcrete. On the other hand, a sensitivity analysis was performed with different hydraulic conductivities and porosities of the shotcrete for the drained conditions. The stability of a subsea tunnel was evaluated in terms of safety factor suggested by You et al.(2000, 2001, 2005) based on the shear strength reduction technique. In this paper, the safety factor of a tunnel was calculated under steady state flow condition during hydro-mechanical coupled analysis. As a result, it was found that the stability of a subsea tunnel could be rather increased by allowing a proper amount of groundwater inflow into a subsea tunnel.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1999.03a
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• pp.301-308
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• 1999

The construction of great deep tunnels has become an important part in tunnel construction especially in the mountain area. Therefore, it is necessary to establish the proper method of the stability analysis for great deep tunnels. In this paper presents the study result on the followings: (1) Evaluation of practical problem on the stability analysis of great deep tunnels. (2) Proposal of the proper on method for great deep tunnels analysis considering the depth of overburden. (3) Understanding of the ground behavior of the great deep tunnel through the sensitivity analysis and the parametric study.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 2016

On the basis of the geological conditions of high and steep mountainous slope on which an exit portal of an express railway tunnel with a bridge-tunnel combination is to be built, the composite structure of the exit portal with a bridge abutment of the bridge-tunnel combination is presented and the stability of the slope on which the express railway portal is to be built is analyzed using three dimensional (3D) numerical simulation in the paper. Comparison of the practicability for the reinforcement of slope with in-situ bored piles and diaphragm walls are performed so as to enhance the stability of the high and steep slope. The safety factor of the slope due to rockmass excavation both inside the exit portal and beneath the bridge abutment of the bridge-tunnel combination has been also derived using strength reduction technique. The obtained results show that post tunnel portal is a preferred structure to fit high and steep slope, and the surrounding rock around the exit portal of the tunnel on the high and steep mountainous slope remains stable when rockmass is excavated both from the inside of the exit portal and underneath the bridge abutment after the slope is reinforced with both bored piles and diaphragm walls. The stability of the high and steep slope is principally dominated by the shear stress state of the rockmass at the toe of the slope; the procedure of excavating rockmass in the foundation pit of the bridge abutment does not obviously affect the slope stability. In-situ bored piles are more effective in controlling the deformation of the abutment foundation pit in comparison with diaphragm walls and are used as a preferred retaining structure to uphold the stability of slope in respect of the lesser time, easier procedure and lower cost in the construction of the exit portal with bridge-tunnel combination on the high and steep mountainous slope. The results obtained from the numerical analysis in the paper can be used to guide the structural design and construction of express railway tunnel portal with bridge-tunnel combination on high and abrupt mountainous slope under similar situations.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.3-11
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• 2003

Face stability of a tunnel is a main concern during tunnel excavation. However, there has been only a few studies on this problem while a lot of researches on the support systems have been carried out. In addition, when tunneling is performed below the groundwater level, the groundwater flows into the tunnel so that the seepage forces generated on the tunnel face might give rise to a serious potential for the face instability. In this study, the face stability was evaluated by simultaneously considering two factors: one is the effective stress calculated by upper bound theorem; the other is the seepage forces acting on the tunnel face obtained by numerical analysis under the condition of steady-state groundwater flow. Tunneling in difficult geological conditions often requires auxiliary techniques to guarantee safe tunnel excavations and/or to prevent damage to structures and services around the tunnel. The steel pipe-reinforced multistep grouting has been recently applied to tunnel sites in Korea. Face stability of a tunnel with the steel pipe-reinforced multistep grouting was also analyzed in this study.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2008

Recently, because of the various factors by uncertainty of underground, the risks in tunnelling have been occurred increasingly. Therefore, it is very important to estimate and control the risks considering geotechnical conditions for tunnel stability and environmental problems by tunnel construction. In this study, the risk analysis for tunnel stability was carried out by classifying the risk factors such as ground support capacity, ground settlement, the inflow of groundwater into the tunnel and the damage by the earthquake. Also, the risk assessment for the environmental problems was performed by calculating the vibration and noise by blasting and the drawdown of the groundwater level caused by tunnel construction. Each risk factor was evaluated quantitatively based on the probabilistic and statistic technique, then it was analyzed the distribution characteristic along overall tunnel site. Finally, it was evaluated that how much each risk factor influences on the construction cost with a period for tunnel construction, so it is possible to perform reasonable tunnel design which was capable of minimizing the risks in the tunnel construction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.57-63
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• 2016

Recently, subways in the city are formed a vast underground network which is interfered with construction when large-scale infrastructure will be planned to nearby existing subway tunnels. Researches have been restricted to estimate stability of existing subway tunnel due to adjacent excavation causued by small construction such as buildings. In this paper, OO underpass is planned on the top of existing subway tunnel, which will be need large-scale excavation, is selected as a subject of study. And the purpose of this study is to analyze the effects on existing subway tunnel due to excavation by stages on construction of underpass. The 3D-numerical analysis was performed by using the MIDAS/GTS program. The stability on existing subway tunnel caused by sequential excavation is analysed using numerical results. Based on the analysis, the excavation orders and reinforcement methods was suggested for stability of exiting subway tunnel.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.105-112
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to assess the stability of tunnel for a high speed railway crossing the fault zone. The area where the tunnel crossed the fault zone can be unstable during construction and operation. Geotechnical investigations have been conducted to determine an optimum excavation method by obtaining the material properties around the fault zone and to check the stability of the tunnel. For the numerical analysis, the FLAC, numerical analysis code based on finite difference method, was utilized to analyze the behavior of the fault at three points having typical ground conditions. Based on the results of numerical analysis, the combinations of compaction grouting and LW grouting were determined as suitable methods for pre-excavation Improvement of the ground surrounding the tunnel opening. In conclusion, the stability of the tunnel construction for the high speed railway within the fault zone may be obtained by adopting the optimum excavation method and the reinforcement method. The numerical analysis based on FLAC program contains errors caused by assumptions used in numerical analysis, therefore constant monitoring with respect to the change of ground condition and groundwater is highly recommended to minimize the numerical error and the possibility of damage to tunnel.