• 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.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.461-474
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• 2020

Analysing the incompatible deformation and damage evolution around the tunnels in mixed strata is significant for evaluating the tunnel stability, as well as the interaction between the support system and the surrounding rock mass. To investigate this issue, confined compression tests were conducted on upper-soft and lower-hard strata specimens containing a circular hole using a rock testing system, the physical mechanical properties were then investigated. Then, the incompatible deformation and failure modes of the specimens were analysed based on the digital speckle correlation method (DSCM) and Acoustic Emission (AE) data. Finally, numerical simulations were conducted to explore the damage evolution of the mixed strata. The results indicate that at low inclination angles, the deformation and v-shaped notches inside the hole are controlled by the structure plane. Progressive spalling failure occurs at the sidewalls along the structure plane in soft rock. But the transmission of the loading force between the soft rock and hard rock are different in local. At high inclination angles, v-shaped notches are approximately perpendicular to the structure plane, and the soft and hard rock bear common loads. Incompatible deformation between the soft rock and hard rock controls the failure process. At inclination angles of 0°, 30° and 90°, incompatible deformations are closely related to rock damage. At 60°, incompatible deformations and rock damage are discordant due that the soft rock and hard rock alternately bears the major loads during the failure process. The failure trend and modes of the numerical results agree very well with those observed in the experimental results. As the inclination angles increase, the proportion of the shear or tensile damage exhibits a nonlinear increase or decrease, suggesting that the inclination angle of mixed strata may promote shear damage and restrain tensile damage.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.84 no.5
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• pp.699-706
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• 2022

Settlement control techniques are critical for the safety of shield tunnel constructions, especially for facing complex situations. In this study, the shield tunnel structure from Huaita east road station to Heping Road station in Xuzhou metro No.3 line (China) is taken as engineering background, which has various complex problems of the upper-soft and lower-hard composite stratum conditions, twin curve shield tunnels, and underpass the foundation of the piled raft. The deformation characteristics of shield tunnelling passing through buildings are explored. Subsequently, comprehensive research methods of numerical simulation and field measurement are adopted to analyzing the effectiveness of settlement control by using the top grouting technique. The results show that the settlement of the buildings has obvious spatial characteristics, and the hysteresis effect can be obviously observed in soil deformation caused by shield construction. Meanwhile, the two shield constructions can cause repeated disturbances, reducing the soil deformation's hysteresis effect. Moreover, the shield tunnel's differential settlement is too large when a single line passes through, and the shield construction of the outer curve can cause more significant disturbance in the tunnel than the inside curve. Notably, the proposed process control parameters and secondary topgrouting method can effectively control the deformation of the shield tunnel, especially for the long-term deformation.