Abstract ▼ AI-Helper

Since Broms and Bennermark(1967) suggested the face stability criterion based on laboratory extrusion tests and field observations, the face stability of a tunnel driven in cohesive material has been studied by several authors. And recently, more general solution for the tunnel front is given by Lec...

Since Broms and Bennermark(1967) suggested the face stability criterion based on laboratory extrusion tests and field observations, the face stability of a tunnel driven in cohesive material has been studied by several authors. And recently, more general solution for the tunnel front is given by Leca and Panet(1988). They adopted a limit state design concept to evaluate the face stability of a shallow tunnel driven into cohesionless material and showed that the calculated upper bound solution represented the actual behavior reasonably well. In this study, two factors are simultaneously considered for assessing tunnel face stability: One is the effective stress acting on the tunnel front calculated by upper bound solution; and the other is the seepage force calculated by numerical analysis under the condition of steady state ground water flow. The model tests were performed to evaluate the seepage force acting on the tunnel front and these results were compared with results of numerical analysis. Consequently, the methodology to evaluate the stability of a tunnel face including limit analysis and seepage analysis is suggested under the condition of steady state ground water flow.