Numerical modeling of shallow tunnels in unconsolidated sandy soils using hypoplastic model

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 School of Mining Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran

2 Department of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran

3 School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, Australia

10.22034/anm.2024.19110.1574

Abstract

Correctly predicting the behavior of the ground during tunnel excavation compared to what will happen in reality is a very challenging matter, especially in urban tunnels. On the other hand, the faster this prediction is and without the need to spend more money, the more valuable it will be. In the present study, it has been tried to investigate the effectiveness of the hypoplastic model to predict the results of physical modeling in the laboratory. For this purpose, in this research, the behavior of the surrounding environment of a tunnel in a sandy soils is simulated using a hypoplastic behavioral model, and the resistance characteristics of the studied soil are validated based on the triaxial test results. At the same time as simulating the tunnel excavation process, the settlement of ground surface and stress changes in the soil above the tunnel were measured for different values of soil densities and tunnel depths. The results were compared with physical modeling and analytical methods. The results of this research showed a good agreement with the results of physical and theoretical modeling. Based on the results of this research, the hypoplastic model has the ability to predict the behavior of loose granular soils. Convergence of the tunnel leads to disturbance of the stress field around the tunnel, and due to the phenomenon of soil arching around the tunnel, the stress distribution deviates from the linear state. Under the same conditions, although the loosened zone above the tunnel expands with the increase of the tunnel depth, the settlement of the ground surface decreases.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Journal of Analytical and Numerical Methods in Mining Engineering

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 02 March 2024

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History

  • Receive Date: 23 October 2022
  • Revise Date: 22 January 2024
  • Accept Date: 02 March 2024

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