Experimental investigation for the dynamic behavior of submerged floating tunnel subjected to the combined action of earthquake, wave and current

Abstract

Submerged floating tunnel (SFT) is an innovative traffic structure for transportation in long and deep-water areas. The SFT that built in earthquake-prone areas has the risk to be subjected to earthquake and wave-current action simultaneously during its whole lifetime. Therefore, to ensure the safety and stability of SFT during its service, the dynamic behavior of a SFT subjected to combined action of earthquake, wave and current are experimentally investigated in this study. Based on the wave-current flume and a specially designed underwater shaking device, a physical scaled model experiment of SFT for studying the dynamic behavior of SFT subjected to the combined action of earthquake, wave and current is presented. The earthquake wave outputs from the underwater shaking device are verified to be reliable. The experimental results are also observed to conform against the numerical results well validating the test. The influence of key load parameters such as the peak ground acceleration and type of single earthquake, the wave height, and the combination of earthquake, wave and current on the dynamic behavior of the SFT are deeply and thoroughly explored. This experiment research has theoretical and engineering importance for the prevention and control hazard of design for the SFT.