Abstract
Volume loss is an important method to estimate ground movement during tunnelling. However, volume loss is usually estimated by empirical methods, especially for volume loss at the tunnel face, which is a three-dimensional problem. Based on the principle of minimum total potential energy, we proposed a semi-analytical method to predict the volume loss at the tunnel face and ground surface. The proposed method provides a more direct way of estimating volume loss at the tunnel face from an energy point of view. Moreover, a new deformation mechanism was designed to describe the ground movement before the tunnel face. Based on the proposed method, we investigated the influence of the support pressure, tunnel diameter, and tunnel depth on the volume loss at the tunnel face, and other parameters related to surface subsidence. The volume loss at the tunnel face decreased with the increase in the support pressure ratio and the slurry weight. The volume loss at ground surface was generally smaller than the volume loss at the tunnel face due to the soil compression during ground movement. The bigger the tunnel diameter, the bigger the volume loss at the tunnel face. However, the volume loss at ground surface may not increase with the increase in tunnel depth, because of the soil arching effect. Moreover, the deeper the tunnel, the more obvious the influence of the support pressure ratio on volume loss. Similarly, the bigger the tunnel diameter, the more obvious the influence of the slurry weight on the volume loss.
Highlights
The slurry pressure balance shield tunnel is widely adopted in practice, and ground movement is inevitably induced during tunnel excavation
We develop a method to predict volume loss at the tunnel face based on the principle of minimum total potential energy
We focus on investigating the volume loss at the tunnel face (VLf) under different support pressure supplied by the slurry
Summary
The slurry pressure balance shield tunnel is widely adopted in practice, and ground movement is inevitably induced during tunnel excavation. Many researchers have contributed to analyzing the ground movement by different methods. A lot of researchers have investigated undrained volume loss with gap parameters, which was developed by considering the 3D elastoplastic deformation at the tunnel face [18]. Based on the work performed by Loganathan and Poulos [3], A solution for predicting the ground movement in multi-layered clayed soil was proposed [20]. Some researchers have devoted their study to investigating the ground deformation and volume loss before the tunnel face. The two-dimensional ground movement was predicted with the balance between energy and work, ignoring soil volume change [25]. We develop a method to predict volume loss at the tunnel face based on the principle of minimum total potential energy. The soil volume changes during ground movement are considered in the proposed method
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
