Soft Ground

Tunneling
Design and Construction

Bigyan Upadhayay
Vivek Bhusal

February 7, 2019
Soft Ground Tunneling: Outline
▪ What we don’t know before design?
In situ Stresses
Water, Surcharge and seismic effect
Support requirement
Final Lining
▪ And, what we face in the site
Groundwater
Deformation and instability
Risk
▪ What shall we do next?

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Stresses in Tunnel
▪ Vertical stress: 𝜎𝑣= 𝛾 𝑥 ℎ

▪ Horizontal stress = k x Vertical stress (In rock)

▪ k , coefficient of horizontal effective stress :
K=ν/(1-ν)
K=1-sin φ
K should be determined insitu tests (Best)
▪ K= coefficient of horizontal effective stress at rest
▪ Assume when Hydrostatic condition, Horizontal stress = Vertical stress

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Tunnel stability: Fine grained soil
▪ Defined as stability ratio, N
▪ N=γH/cu
H=(C+D)/2
cu=undrained cohesion
 ITA/AITES 2007 recommendation
N≤3 : tunnel face stable
3<N≤6 : special consideration should be
given for stability
N≥6 : face is considered unstable

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Tunnel stability: Coarse grained soil
 For coarse grained soil above ground water (Atkinson and Mair, 1981)
σT= σsTs+γDTϒ
 For coarse grained soil below ground water

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Tunnel design basis
▪ Type of Tunnel (ITA)
Shallow C<2D ground above tunnel has no bearing capacity
Deep C>3D ground above tunnel provides support
2D<C<3D self supporting depends on groundwater, geology etc.

▪ Effect of stresses on support by

Distributed ground pressure approach
Subgrade reaction approach
Ground support interaction approach

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Distributed Ground Pressure Approach
▪ Effect of ground on support is taken as dead load acting on the support
▪ Terzaghi’s Rock load theory

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Subgrade Reaction Approach
▪ Load from ground to support via springs
▪ USACE, EM 1110-2-2901
▪ Support ground interaction: elastic/elasto-plastic
▪ Bedded Beam spring model
Tunnel lining as a series of beam connected to ground by
springs in radial and tangential direction

▪ Modeling can be done with this approach using FEM :

SAP2000
Ansys

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Bedded Beam Modeling

▪ Plain strain condition for both lining

and ground
▪ Active soil pressure on the lining =
primary stresses in soil

▪ Interaction between ground and

lining is via radial and tangential
springs
▪ Ground and tunnel lining are elastic
material. Loads on tunnel lining (Ngan Vu et al,
2017)

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Bedded Beam Modeling
▪ Load application
Effective Ground stresses
Soil+ water + surcharge

▪ Seismic loading is considered based on

shear wave propagation velocity (EM
1110-2-2901)
▪ Effect of seismicity
Longitudinal bending and compression
Ovaling

Bedded beam modeling in SAP 2000

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Ground Support Interaction Approach
▪ Mechanical interaction of ground and support
▪ Analytical closed form solution are available
Convergence Confinement method

▪ Frequently used approach of tunnel support design

▪ Software using this approach
Phase2/RS2
FLAC

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Support Modeling
▪ Stress field changes around opening in the
ground
▪ Support applied check the deformation due to the
stress
▪ Bending moment, shear and thrust from ground to
support can be calculated using Finite Element
Method: Continuum approach

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Soft Ground Tunnel Modeling in Phase2
▪ Tunneling is a 3D job
▪ Modeling in 3D: Complex
▪ 2D modeling with commercial software.
eg: Phase2
▪ 2D Plain strain analysis
▪ Involves simulation of construction
stages
▪ Sequential excavation method

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Soft Ground Tunnel Modeling
2D Numerical modeling
approaches
▪ Convergence Confinement method
▪ Progressive softening
▪ Volume loss control
Steps for tunnel lining modeling in 2D
 Determination of critical deformation of tunnel
wall before installation of support
3D/axisymmetric modeling
Field measurement
Empirical relations
 Employ core softening to determine at which
internal pressure or modulus critical
deformation occurs
 Apply support at this critical deformation
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Tunnel Lining
▪ Critical deformation can be computed using
these curves (Vlachopoulos & Diederichs)
▪ Originally prepared for circular tunnel but works
well for other shape as well (Vlachopoulos &
Diederichs,2014)
▪ Support selection with reinforcement
(Ribs,Rebars,Lattice girder, shotcrete)
▪ Support capacity determination for Shear and
bending moment
▪ Finalize support with required FoS

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Tunnel Modeling
 2D Numerical modeling (Phes2 ) of D-shape tunnel,
Stress concentration in concrete at footing

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Tunnel Modeling
 2D Numerical modeling (Phes2 ) of modified shape
Curve at footing to reduce stress concentration, but difficulties during construction

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 Soft Ground Tunneling Steps: Sequential
Tunneling and Support

• Excavatio
• Reduction n
of GWT • Steel
• Forepoling/ Excavati • Water
Pre- Canopy on and
ribs/lattice
girder
Final proofing
support • Consolidatio primary
• Wiremesh lining • Concrete
n grouting support lining
• Face • Sprayed
stabilization concrete
lining

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Soft Ground Tunnel: Pre-support
▪ Lowering ground water table
Installing weep holes at the base of portal
face and tunnel sides
Provision of wells
Pressurized air
▪ Excavation boundary strengthening
Forepoling : 38mm to
120mm/Canopy/Umbrella
Grouted: cement/PU
Ground improvement: grouting, freezing
Face bolting/face shotcreting

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Excavation and Primary Support

▪ Depending on size, material type

Manual
Mechanized
Boulder :controlled blast
▪ Preferably in heading and benching
▪ Safety shotcrete,dewatering
▪ Erection of Rib/Girder with invert strut
and tie rod
▪ Closing of ring without delay

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Excavation and Support

▪ Precast concrete block at the base for weak

area to check sinking
▪ Wiremesh shotcrete on the wall with
grouted anchor
▪ Installation of weep hole of about 50mm dia
▪ This process should be properly monitored
▪ Saturated area/flowing condition in between
ribs: install steel plate

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Final Lining
▪ Functional requirement
Water tunnel
Transportation tunnel
▪ Geology and hydrology
▪ Constructability and economy
▪ Steps
Water proofing
Concrete lining (reinforced/unreinforced)
Segmental/cast insitu

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Soft Ground Tunneling: Examples
 Portal for Soft Soil Tunnel

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Soft Ground Tunneling: Examples
 Face bolting

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Soft Ground Tunneling: Examples
 Ribs with tie

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Soft Ground Tunneling: Examples
 Rib Installation

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Soft Ground Tunneling: Examples
 Face support and wiremesh shotcreting

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Soft Ground Tunneling: Examples
 Wiremesh and Shotcreting

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THANK YOU!