The effect of tunnel advance rate on deformations and stability

Georgios Anagnostou

ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Advance rate: is relevant, if the ground response depends on time
Time-dependency of ground response to tunnelling

1 - advance of tunnel face

advance direction
1
Time-dependency of ground response to tunnelling

1 - advance of tunnel face

2 - consolidation
3 - creep, chemical effects

2 3 1
Time-dependency of ground response to tunnelling

1 - advance of tunnel face

2 - consolidation

2 1
Time-dependency of ground response to tunnelling

1 - advance of tunnel face

2 - consolidation Very low permeability

Deformations continue “Undrained” conditions

to develop far behind the face

2 1
Time-dependency of ground response to tunnelling

1 - advance of tunnel face

2 - consolidation Very high permeability

“Drained” conditions

2 1

Deformations reach
final values close to the face
Time-dependency of ground response to tunnelling

1 - advance of tunnel face in general, simultaneously depending on

2 - consolidation advance rate v and permeability k

“Transient” conditions

v
2 1
Relevance for tunnelling

Stability of the tunnel face

advance
Interference excavation - support

TBM in squeezing ground

Surface settlements
Relevance for tunnelling

Stability of the tunnel face

Interference excavation - support

TBM in squeezing ground

Surface settlements
Relevance for tunnelling

Stability of the tunnel face

TBM
Interference excavation - support

TBM in squeezing ground

Surface settlements
Relevance for tunnelling

ground surface

Stability of the tunnel face

TBM
Interference excavation - support

TBM in squeezing ground

Surface settlements
Computational method for advancing face
Step-by-step solution

Tunnel lining v
Step-by-step solution

Tunnel lining v
Step-by-step solution

Tunnel lining v
Step-by-step solution

Tunnel lining v
Step-by-step solution

Tunnel lining v
Constant conditions along alignment

-> steady state with reference to the moving heading

Ground surface

Water table

Tunnel lining v
Constant conditions along alignment

-> steady state with reference to the moving heading

Constant conditions along alignment

-> steady state with reference to the moving heading

Constant conditions along alignment

-> steady state with reference to the moving heading

Constant conditions along alignment

-> steady state with reference to the moving heading

Constant conditions along alignment

-> steady state with reference to the moving heading

Constant conditions along alignment

-> steady state with reference to the moving heading

Constant conditions along alignment

-> steady state with reference to the moving heading: one-step solution
Constant conditions along alignment

-> steady state with reference to the moving heading: one-step solution

Nguyen-Quoc & Rahimian (1981): steady crack propagation

Corbetta (1990): tunnelling in elasto-plastic medium
Anagnostou (1993): transient seepage flow

spatially fixed face-fixed

x1 x1*

v
Basic property of the solution

v
Basic property of the solution

Δx

v
Basic property of the solution

Δu
atan(-du/dx)
Δx

Δu = -du/dx Δx
Basic property of the solution

Δu

Δx = v ΔT

Δu = -du/dx v ΔT
Basic property of the solution

Δu

Δx = v ΔT

Δu = -du/dx v ΔT Δu = ∂u/∂t ΔT
Basic property of the solution

Δu

Δx = v ΔT

Δu = -du/dx v ΔT Δu = ∂u/∂t ΔT
Basic property of the solution (Lagrange)

Δu

Δx = v ΔT

∂u/∂t = -v du/dx
Transformation rules

x1 x1*

Arbirtrary field in spatially fixed system A(xk ,t)

The same field in face-fixed system A* (xk* )
Transformation rules

Time-derivatives ∂ A / ∂t xk = −v ∂ A* / ∂ x1*
Spatial derivatives ∂ A / ∂ xk t = ∂ A* / ∂ xk*

x1 x1*

Arbirtrary field in spatially fixed system A(xk ,t)

The same field in face-fixed system A* (xk* )
Governing equations

Time-derivatives ∂ A / ∂t xk = −v ∂ A* / ∂ x1*
Spatial derivatives ∂ A / ∂ xk t = ∂ A* / ∂ xk*

Equilibrium

∂ qk
Conservation of mass εkk + ncw p + =0
∂ xk
⎛ ∂ u k ∂ ul ⎞
Kinematic equations ε kl = 0.5 ⎜ +
⎝ ∂ xl ∂ xk ⎟⎠

Darcy’s law

Elastoplastic rate equations σ ij' = Dijkl εkl

Governing equations

Time-derivatives ∂ A / ∂t xk = −v ∂ A* / ∂ x1*
Spatial derivatives ∂ A / ∂ xk t = ∂ A* / ∂ xk*

Equilibrium

∂ qk
Conservation of mass εkk + ncw p + =0
∂ xk
⎛ ∂ u k ∂ ul ⎞
Kinematic equations ε kl = 0.5 ⎜ +
⎝ ∂ xl ∂ xk ⎟⎠

Darcy’s law

Elastoplastic rate equations σ ij' = Dijkl εkl

Transformed equations

(asterisk left out for simplicity)

Equilibrium

v ⎛ ∂ε kk ∂p ⎞ ∂2Φ
Conservation of mass ⎜ + ncw ⎟⎠ + ∂ x 2 = 0
k ⎝ ∂ x1 ∂ x1 k

⎛ ∂ u k ∂ ul ⎞
Kinematic equations ε kl = 0.5 ⎜ +
⎝ ∂ xl ∂ xk ⎟⎠

Darcy’s law

Elastoplastic rate equations ∂σ 'ij / ∂ x1 = Dijkl ∂ε kl / ∂ x1

Transformed equations

Advance rate as an additional parameter

Equilibrium

v ⎛ ∂ε kk ∂p ⎞ ∂2Φ
Conservation of mass ⎜ + ncw ⎟⎠ + ∂ x 2 = 0
k ⎝ ∂ x1 ∂ x1 k

⎛ ∂ u k ∂ ul ⎞
Kinematic equations ε kl = 0.5 ⎜ +
⎝ ∂ xl ∂ xk ⎟⎠

Darcy’s law

Elastoplastic rate equations ∂σ 'ij / ∂ x1 = Dijkl ∂ε kl / ∂ x1

Transformed equations

Co-ordinate x1 replaces time t

Equilibrium

v ⎛ ∂ε kk ∂p ⎞ ∂2Φ
Conservation of mass ⎜ + ncw ⎟⎠ + ∂ x 2 = 0
k ⎝ ∂ x1 ∂ x1 k

⎛ ∂ u k ∂ ul ⎞
Kinematic equations ε kl = 0.5 ⎜ +
⎝ ∂ xl ∂ xk ⎟⎠

Darcy’s law

Elastoplastic rate equations ∂σ 'ij / ∂ x1 = Dijkl ∂ε kl / ∂ x1

Transformed equations

Co-ordinate x1 replaces time t

Equilibrium

v ⎛ ∂ε kk ∂ p ⎞ ∂2Φ
Advance
Conservation of mass P ⎜ + ncIntegration
⎟ + direction
=0
k ⎝ ∂ x1 ∂ x1 ⎠ ∂ xk
w 2

⎛ ∂ u k ∂ ul ⎞
Kinematic equations x1 ε kl = 0.5
Points contain +
⎜⎝ ∂ x complete
⎟⎠
∂ x
stress historyl of point k P

Darcy’s law

Elastoplastic rate equations ∂σ 'ij / ∂ x1 = Dijkl ∂ε kl / ∂ x1

Finite element equations

(Galerkin’s method)

Equilibrium

Conservation of mass −v ([V ]{Φ} + [W ]{u}) +

+ [ H ]{Φ} = {q}
Finite element equations

Standard poro-plasticity matrix equations

Equilibrium

Conservation of mass −v ([V ]{Φ} + [W ]{u}) +

+ [ H ]{Φ} = {q}
Finite element equations

Additional term (effect of advance rate v)

Equilibrium

Conservation of mass −v ([V ]{Φ} + [W ]{u}) +

+ [ H ]{Φ} = {q}
Applications

Stability of the tunnel face

Interference excavation - support

Surface settlements

TBM in squeezing ground

Applications

soil surface

Stability of the tunnel face

TBM
Interference excavation - support

Surface settlements

TBM in squeezing ground

Numerical model

28'000 elements
93'000 nodes
255'000 degrees of freedom

60 m

20
0m

30
0m

100 m
Numerical model

k = 10-8 m/s, elastic soil

Surface & water table

constant
15 m

Symmetry plane
10 m

Tunnel face (seepage face)

1m
Case 1: Drained tunnel lining

Surface & water table

constant

Seepage face
Steady State (v = 0)
Contour lines of surface settlement

v [m/d] = 0.0
7 cm

0 cm
tunnel axis
Contour lines of surface settlement

v [m/d] = 0.9
7 cm

0 cm
tunnel axis
Contour lines of surface settlement

v [m/d] = 1.7
7 cm

0 cm
tunnel axis
Contour lines of surface settlement

v [m/d] = 3.4
7 cm

0 cm
tunnel axis
Contour lines of surface settlement

v [m/d] = 6.8
7 cm

0 cm
tunnel axis
Contour lines of surface settlement

v [m/d] = 13.5
7 cm

0 cm
tunnel axis
Contour lines of surface settlement

v [m/d] = 27
7 cm

0 cm
tunnel axis
Longitudinal settlement trough
x1*
u

0.02 v

x1* [m]
0.00
-200 -150 -100 -50 0 50

v [m/d] = -0.02
27
13.5
6.8 -0.04
3.4
1.7
0.9 -0.06
0 u [m]
Conditions close to the face

v
Conditions close to the face D

D
v
-0.06 v = 1 m/d

u [m]

-0.04
common range
of advance rate

-0.02

20 m/d

0.00
1E-10 1E-09 1E-08 1E-07 1E-06 1E-05

Permeability k [m/s]
Conditions close to the face

k < 10-9 m/s: Undrained conditions - even if the advance rate is low

-0.06 v = 1 m/d

u [m]

-0.04

-0.02

20 m/d

0.00
1E-10 1E-09 1E-08 1E-07 1E-06 1E-05

Permeability k [m/s]
Conditions close to the face

k < 10-9 m/s: Undrained conditions - even if the advance rate is low
k > 10-6 m/s: Drained conditions - even if the advance rate is high

-0.06 v = 1 m/d

u [m]

-0.04

-0.02

20 m/d

0.00
1E-10 1E-09 1E-08 1E-07 1E-06 1E-05

Permeability k [m/s]
Case 2: Impervious tunnel lining

No-flow b.c.
Steady State (v = 0) Crater-like trough Settlement decreases
far behind the face
Steady State (v = 0) - Contour lines of settlement

Open face: Impervious lining :

 Pore pressures decrease  Pore pressures increase
 Consolidation  Swelling
 Settlement  Settlement reduction
3 cm

0 cm
tunnel axis
Rapid excavation (v = 13.5 m/d) - Contour lines of settlement

3 cm

Crater-like trough disappears

0 cm
tunnel axis
Longitudinal settlement trough
x1*
u
v

0.005

x1* [m]
0.000
-75 -50 -25 0 2

-0.005

v [m/d] = 27
-0.010
6.8

3.4
1.7 -0.015

0.9 umax [m]

Effect of advance rate

umax

v
-0.03

umax [m]
-0.02

-0.01

0.00
0 10 20 30
v [m/d]
Applications

Stability of the tunnel face

TBM
Interference excavation - support

Surface settlements

TBM in squeezing ground

Arrowhead East Tunnel, USA
Gotthard Basetunnel, Switzerland
Uluabat
Uluabat TunnelTunnel, Turkey

ground

shield

segmental lining
Computational model

E = 1000 MPa
ν = 0.25
500 m φ = 25 °
c = 500 kPa
ψ=5°

100 m

p ΔR =
5 cm

10 m V
Contour lines of pore pressure v/k = 100

(unsupported tunnel)

0.5 m

1.0 m
Contour lines of pore pressure v/k = 1000

(unsupported tunnel)

0.5 m

1.0 m
Contour lines of pore pressure v/k = 2000

(unsupported tunnel)

0.5 m

1.0 m
Contour lines of pore pressure v/k = 10000

(unsupported tunnel)

0.5 m

1.0 m
Shield loading p
p [MPa]

slow excavation (V/k < 102) 4

0
x [m] 15 10 5 0

p ΔR =
5 cm

10 m V

k = permeability
Shield loading p
p [MPa]

slow excavation (V/k < 102) 4

gap remains open for 2 m 1

0
x [m] 15 10 5 0

p ΔR =
5 cm

10 m V

k = permeability
Shield loading p
p [MPa]

slow excavation (V/k < 102) 4

2
rapid excavation (V/k > 106)

gap remains open for 6 m 1

0
x [m] 15 10 5 0

p ΔR =
5 cm

10 m V

k = permeability
Thrust force F

Friction τ = µ p

F V
Thrust force F ΔR =
5 cm
Permeability k = 10-9 m/s
10 m F V
F [MN]

200

100

0
(0.001) (0.01) 0.1 1 10 (100) V [m/d]
Thrust force F ΔR =
5 cm
Permeability k = 10-9 m/s
10 m F V
F [MN]

200

100

for boring
15
0
(0.001) (0.01) 0.1 1 10 (100) V [m/d]
Thrust force F ΔR =
5 cm
Permeability k = 10-9 m/s
10 m F V
F [MN]

200

for overcoming
100
friction (µ = 0.25)

for boring
15
0
(0.001) (0.01) 0.1 1 10 (100) V [m/d]
Thrust force F ΔR =
5 cm
Permeability k = 10-9 m/s
10 m F V
F [MN]

not feasible
200

for overcoming
100
friction (µ = 0.25)

for boring
15
0
(0.001) (0.01) 0.1 1 10 (100) V [m/d]
Advance rate
- Considerable effect on ground response to tunnel excavation
- Important for medium - low permeability ground

One-step solution method

-! Considerable advantages in terms of computation time,
numerical stability and accuracy
-! Useful for a wide class of tunnelling problems