Deformation features and failure mechanism of subsea shield tunnels with different burial depths crossing fault-zone

Abstract

Shield tunneling processes can result in accidents like water inrush and collapse due to instability in the tunnel face. This paper conducts a systematic investigation of the deformation features and failure mechanism of subsea shield tunnels with different burial depths crossing fault zone. The research entails combing theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and data mining with the second subsea tunnel in Jiaozhou Bay, Qingdao. The impact of the shallow and deep burial depths on the damage modes of the shield tunnel face is analyzed from the perspective of the pressure arch effect. When the tunnel burial depth exceeds the limit, the overlying rock of the tunnel will form a pressure arch that supports the overlying rock. The study investigates the impact of various factors on the tunnel face’s failure modes using a fluid-structure interaction approach. Among them, as the thickness of the overlying bearing stratum increased, the displacement of the tunnel face initially decreased but later increased. The increase of cohesion and internal friction angle contributed to decreasing the displacement of the tunnel face, while seawater depth and tunnel diameter exhibited diverse effects. In the grey correlation analysis, the seawater depth exhibited the most sensitive impact on the pressure arch height.