Centrifugal modeling on influence of superstructure construction of high-rise building on adjacent subway tunnel

Abstract

With the urban development in China, high-rise buildings must be constructed adjacent to subway tunnels. The superstructure construction process directly affects adjacent tunnels. However, only a few studies have focused on this topic. In this study, a series of centrifugal model tests were conducted to investigate the impact of the superstructure construction process of high-rise buildings on the deformation of adjacent tunnels in soft soil. Three model tests were designed, considering the buried depth of the tunnel. A loading system was implemented to simulate the superstructure construction process with a centrifugal acceleration of 100 g. The results showed that the superstructure construction caused the adjacent tunnel to deform vertically and laterally owing to its downward dragging effect. The vertical deformation of the tunnel was approximately thrice the lateral displacement. As the buried depth increased, the superstructure construction changed the transverse deformation of the tunnel section from vertical to horizontal tension. The outcomes of the study will provide guidelines for the safe operation of subways.