Abstract
A ground fissure is a geological disaster in which the vertical dislocation of strata causes surface rupture. Ground fissures can cause extreme harm to the surface and underground buildings. Ground fissure activity can result in different settlement on the two sides of the strata, which will generate additional stress (pressure) that differs from the stress of the general stratum on underground structures across the ground fissure zone. It is essential to assess the effective stress of strata in the design of underground engineering structures across a ground fissure zone. The Xi’an ground fissure through a utility tunnel was focus of the research, and a physical model and data for oblique crossing of the 45° ground fissure were analyzed. A model of the utility tunnel structure was established, including the surrounding soil load as an active ground fissure environment. This model was used to calculate the vertical formation pressure of the overlying soil on the utility tunnel. A method to calculate the overlying load on the utility tunnel caused by ground fissure activity was proposed and compared with the calculation based on the A. Marston principle. The results showed that the ground fissure load calculation method based on the strata-holding effect can effectively calculate the earth pressure of the surrounding soil layer of the utility tunnel in the cross-ground fissure section. The results of this work provide guidance and reference value for the design of a utility tunnel in an area with the potential for a ground fissure.
Highlights
Ground fissures are serious geological hazards and have occurred in many parts of the world, including the United States, China, Australia, and many African countries
Yuxiang et al studied the vertical earth pressure of subway tunnels under normal working conditions, but they did not estimate the additional load caused by ground fissures [28,29,30]. is study analyzed physical model test results of a utility tunnel in a ground fissure environment to establish a vertical load calculation model of a utility tunnel under a ground fissure environment. is method provides a reference for utility tunnel design in a ground fissure zone
Ground fissures in Xi’an generally exhibit normal fault-type peristaltic movement, where the hanging wall always slides relative to the foot wall and the vertical displacement results in unidirectional accumulation. e activity profile characteristics of the ground fissure zone in the study area are shown in Figure 2. e overall ground fissure tends to the south, and the dip angle is steep, generally above 70° [31]
Summary
Ground fissures are serious geological hazards and have occurred in many parts of the world, including the United States, China, Australia, and many African countries. Unlike surface buildings or structures, a utility tunnel is a long linear structure, which must sometimes cross an active ground fissure but still meet the requirements of structural safety after completion. This consideration may not be sufficient to describe the actual stress on a tunnel crossing a ground fissure. Huang Qiangbing et al used a model test and determined that ground fissure activity significantly increased vertical load on the top of the tunnel in the hanging wall area and decreased load in the foot wall area [26]. Yuxiang et al studied the vertical earth pressure of subway tunnels under normal working conditions (nonground fissure section), but they did not estimate the additional load caused by ground fissures [28,29,30]. Yuxiang et al studied the vertical earth pressure of subway tunnels under normal working conditions (nonground fissure section), but they did not estimate the additional load caused by ground fissures [28,29,30]. is study analyzed physical model test results of a utility tunnel in a ground fissure environment to establish a vertical load calculation model of a utility tunnel under a ground fissure environment. is method provides a reference for utility tunnel design in a ground fissure zone
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