Investigating Surface Settlements During Shield Tunneling Using Numerical Analysis

作者：Ruixia He, Ziwen Zhou, Shuai Li, Sai K. Vanapalli · 发表于：Sustainability · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.3390/su17010020 · 被引用次数：6 · 研究领域：Tunneling and Rock Mechanics、Geotechnical Engineering and Analysis、Geotechnical Engineering and Underground Structures

The development of the subway system in Shenyang City, China, plays a vital role in alleviating traffic congestion and promoting sustainable societal growth. However, the deformation of the surface caused by the tunneling of the shield presents a significant threat to the structural integrity of Shenyang Subway Line 2 and adjacent geotechnical structures. To tackle this challenge, a set of FEA (finite element analysis) simulations were carried out to examine surface deformation under various construction scenarios for Line 2. These simulations were compared with empirical formulas and numerical analyses conducted using Midas GTS NX 2019 software, in addition to actual site measurements. The outcomes of the finite element analysis (FEA) demonstrated a closer alignment with the empirical data than with traditional formulas. The maximum deformation was observed to be approximately twice as large as the equivalent diameter at the back of the excavation face. The analysis indicated that surface deformation is inversely correlated with overburden thickness (H), soil elasticity (E), and the grout filling rate of the shield tail (ψ), while it is directly proportional to the shield’s outer diameter (D). This study provides important methods used in the shield tunneling process employed in the Shenyang subway and suggests that the developed methodologies may be applicable to similar subway projects.