Abstract
Shield tunnel excavation face may collapse if the applied support pressure is not enough. Based on an elaborated failure mode of shallow shield tunnel face, the least limit support pressure to maintain stability is analysed by using the limit equilibrium method. The calculated limit support pressure decreases nonlinearly with the increase of friction angle, decreases linearly with the increase of cohesion, and decreases with the ratio of buried depth to tunnel diameter. By comparing the calculated results with existing tests, the theoretical model was shown to be reasonably predict the limit support pressure of tunnel excavation face in sand under drained condition and in clay under undrained condition.
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