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Numerical Investigation of the Horseshoe Tunnels Structural Behavior

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Abstract

Non-circular tunnels such as horseshoe tunnel, constructed by tunnel boring machines (TBMs), are increasingly used due to their large utilization area in cross section, high mechanization degree of TBMs and high-level developed material technology which allows the lining structures with the high-stress capacity could be manufactured. However, there is still a limited number of studies carried out explicitly on the tunnel lining behavior excavated by the horseshoe-shaped shield. The current study is therefore aimed at presenting procedural steps for the determination of appropriate cross sections in horseshoe tunnel structures. The construction clearance of a double-track railway tunnel was taken into account as an example. A set of horseshoe cross sections were investigated using hyperstatic reaction method to estimate the tunnel lining behavior and to determine the optimal cross section in terms of structural forces. After that, a parametric investigation was conducted to highlight the effect of Young’s modulus of soil (Es), the coefficient of lateral earth pressure (K0), the thickness of lining (t) and the tunnel depth (H) on the horseshoe tunnel linings. The results showed that the higher the tunnel depth and the soil Young's modulus, the greater the effect of the tunnel geometry on the structural forces in the tunnel lining. The horseshoe tunnel lining behavior, especially in terms of the maximum bending moment, is significantly affected by the radii of lining sections along the tunnel boundary.

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Acknowledgements

The first author is supported by the Saint Petersburg Mining University.

Funding

This research was funded by the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training under grant number B2022-MDA-06. This funding is greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Saint-Petersburg Mining University, Petersburg, Russia

    Tai Tien Nguyen, Karasev Maxim Anatolyevich & Vilner Maria Aleksandrovna

  2. Department of Underground and Mining Construction, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Tai Tien Nguyen, Ngoc Anh Do & Van Kien Dang

  3. Antea Group, Antony, France

    Daniel Dias

  4. Laboratory 3SR, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France

    Daniel Dias

  5. Sustainable Development in Underground Engineering Research Team, Hanoi University of Mining and Geology, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Van Kien Dang

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  1. Tai Tien Nguyen
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Correspondence to Ngoc Anh Do.

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Nguyen, T.T., Do, N.A., Anatolyevich, K.M. et al. Numerical Investigation of the Horseshoe Tunnels Structural Behavior. Indian Geotech J 52, 799–814 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-022-00618-y

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