• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.153-164
• /
• 2020

Tunnel excavation in shallow soft ground conditions of urban areas experiences inevitable surface settlements that threaten the stability of nearby infrastructures. Surface settlements during shield TBM tunneling are related to a number of factors including geotechnical conditions, tunnel geometry and excavation methods. In this paper, a database collected from a construction section of Hong Kong subway was used to analyze the correlation of settlement-inducing factors and surface settlements monitored at different locations of a transverse trough. The Pearson correlation analysis result revealed a correlation between the factors in consideration. Factors such as the face pressure, advance speed, thrust force, cutter torque, twin tunnel distance and ground water level presented a modest correlation with the surface settlement, while no significant trends between the other factors and the surface settlements were observed. It can be concluded that an integrated effect of the settlement-inducing factors should be related to the magnitude of surface settlements.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.643-654
• /
• 2018

Tunnel excavation leads to a disturbance on the initial stress balance of surrounding soils, which causes convergences around the tunnel and settlements at the ground surface. Considering the effective impact of settlements on the structures at the surface, it is necessary to estimate them, especially in urban areas. In the present study, ground settlements due to the excavation of East-West Line 7 of the Tehran Metro (EWL7) and the Abuzar tunnels are evaluated and the effect of the lateral earth pressure coefficient ($K_0$) on their extension is investigated. The excavation of the tunnels was performed by TBMs (Tunnel Boring Machines). The coefficient of lateral earth pressure ($K_0$) is one of the most important geotechnical parameters for tunnel design and is greatly influenced by the geological characteristics of the surrounding soil mass along the tunnel route. The real (in-situ) settlements of the ground surface were measured experimentally using leveling methods along the studied tunnels and the results were compared with evaluated settlements obtained from both semi-empirical and numerical methods (using the finite difference software FLAC3D). The comparisons permitted to show that the adopted numerical models can effectively be used to predict settlements induced by a tunnel excavation. Then a numerical parametric study was conducted to show the influence of the $K_0$ values on the ground settlements. Numerical investigations also showed that the shapes of settlement trough of the studied tunnels, in a transverse section, are not similar because of their different diameters and depths of the tunnels.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.153-165
• /
• 2019

A case study of monitoring and analysis of surface settlement induced by tunneling of Tabriz metro line 2 (TML2) is presented in this paper. The TML2 single tunnel has been excavated using earth pressure balanced TBM with a cutting-wheel diameter of 9.49 m since 2015. Presented measurements of surface settlements, were collected during the construction of western part of the project (between west depot and S02 station) where the tunnel was being excavated in sand and silt, below the water table and at an average axis depth of about 16 m. Settlement readings were back-analyzed using Gaussian formula, both in longitudinal and transversal directions, in order to estimate volume loss and settlement trough width factor. In addition to settlements, face support and tail grouting pressures were monitored, providing a comprehensive description of the EPB performance. Using the gap model, volume loss prediction was carried out. Also, COB empirical method for determination of the face pressure was employed in order to compare with field monitored data. Likewise, FE simulation was used in various sections employing the code Simulia ABAQUS, to investigate the efficiency of numerical modelling for the estimating of the tunneling induced-surface settlements under such a geotechnical condition. In this regard, the main aspects of a mechanized excavation were simulated. For the studied sections, numerical simulation is not capable of reproducing the high values of in-situ-measured surface settlements, applying Mohr-Coulomb constitutive law for soil. Based on results, for the mentioned case study, the range of estimated volume loss mostly varies from 0.2% to 0.7%, having an average value of 0.45%.

• Geotechnical Engineering
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.101-124
• /
• 1997

Adjacent ground surface settlements by deep excavations are analyzed by field observations in the areas where excavations are performed in sandy soils or weathered soils underlain by rocks, First, the magnitude and the distribution of ground surface settlements, which are developed before main excavation activities (e. g., diaphragm wall installation and center pile installation) , are measured and analyzed. Secondly, the magnitude and the distribution of ground surface settlements by main excavation are measured and analyzed. And the results are compared with the predictions obtained by the empirical methods. Through case studies performed on the excavation sites where adjacent ground surfaces or structures are damaged by excavation activities, upper limit location of ground surface cracks are investigated.

• Geotechnical Engineering
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.41-54
• /
• 1985

Generally, ground settlements and lateral displacements are accompanied by underground excavation associated with open-cut or tunnling. These ground movements cause a harmful influence upon nearby super.structures and sub-structures. Occasionally, the ground movements may pose serious problems as the function of the nearby structures may be disrupted. Therefore, prior to the subway construction in an urban area, it is necessary to identify the causes of ground settlements and estimating the extent St the magnitude of ground movements since any potential damage to the nearby structures such as gas lines, water mains, high buildings and cultural assets must be assessed. The research was performed mainly on ground movements such as surface settlements, lateral displacements, subsurface settlements and crown settlements to predict the maximum settlement and settlement zone, and to identify the causes of ground settlements in NATM sections of Busan subway. As a result, it was found that lateral distribution of settlements could be approximated reasonably by a Gaussian normal probability curve and longitudinal distribution of settlements by a cumulative Gaussian probability curve, and that the early closure of temporary invert was very important to minimize ground settlements.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.107-123
• /
• 2010

Ground settlements and pore pressure changes were monitored around a shallow tunnel constructed in clay till during the excavation and primary lining installation. The settlements above the tunnel continued to develop for up to 100 days after the primary lining installation. Triaxial compression tests were carried out to estimate the short-term and long-term deformation characteristics of the till. Numerical simulation was conducted to history match the field measurements, and thus, to quantify the settlements induced by ground stress relief, consolidation and creep. It was found that the surface settlements due to ground stress relief, consolidation and creep are 17, 12 and 71% of total settlement (about 44 mm), respectively. In addition, early installation of rigid concrete lining could be an effective means to reduce the settlement due to creep.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.265-281
• /
• 2017

For shallow tunnel constructions, settlement of the ground surface is a main issue. Recent technical developments in shield TBM tunneling technique have enabled a decrease in such settlements based on tunneling with ground deformation controls. For this objective, the tail void grouting is a common practice. Generally surface settlements in a soil of low permeability occur during a tunnel construction but also during a long period after completion of the tunnel. The long-term settlements occur mainly due to consolidation around the tunnel. The consolidation process is caused and determined by the tail void grouting which leads to an excess pore water pressure in the vicinity of the tunnel. Because of this, the grouting pressure has a strong effect on the long-term settlements in the shield tunneling. In order to investigate this effect, a series of coupled hydro-mechanical 3D finite element simulations have been performed. The results show that an increase in grouting pressure reduces the short-term settlements, but in many cases, it doesn't lead to a reduction of the final settlements after the completion of consolidation. Thereby, the existence of a critical grouting pressure is identified, at which the minimal settlements are expected.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 1997.10a
• /
• pp.141-150
• /
• 1997

• Advances in Energy Research
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.79-95
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the surface temperatures of the shelter of three public buildings in the city of Xanthi, in northern Greece. The buildings were built in different time periods and consequently they have different technical characteristics. Respectively, we survey the three following buildings that have been built in 1880 (Municipality Hall of Xanthi), in 1970 (Municipality Amphitheatre) and in 2002 (Bank offices building). Data have been gathered by the use of thermal camera and the survey has been conducted from January up to July. The data gathered regard measurements of the surface temperature of the exterior walls of the shelters, both inside and outside. The study aims at the evaluation of the thermal behavior of the shelter of buildings, which built in different time and under different regulations. The gathered data of the surface temperatures compare the different thermal behavior of the shelter. The analysis of the results and diagrams show that the thick masonry of the traditional Municipality Hall offers an insulation that is adequate. The building of 1970, which was constructed with the previous buildings regulation, has thermal losses due to inadequate insulation. The new building of 2002 has low thermal losses.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
• /
• 2007.11a
• /
• pp.365-370
• /
• 2007

Foundation settlements(settlements at the embankment surface and ground) has been evaluating to satisfy the strict allowable residual settlement level from the start of the construction of Gyungbu high speed railway. This is because both embankment and ground settlement could be important to minimize the residual settlement after the construction of concrete track. Ground settlement is caused by the increase of effective stress resulting from embankment. The causes of embankment settlement could be come from different sources, for example, the increase of effective stress, rainfall, creep behaviors. Based on the field measured data, this paper analysed the settlement of ground and embankment settlement. The biggest settlement at the embankment surface was 9.7mm during 246days at the STA 000k922.5. The calculated settlement of embankment itself was 8.6mm at the same places. These results conclude that the compressive settlement of embankment could not negligible.