Laboratory Test of EPB Shield Tunneling in Mixed-Face Conditions

Abstract

Field measurements and laboratory tests were carried out to study the mechanical behaviors of soil in response to earth pressure balance (EPB) shield tunneling in mixed-face conditions, i.e., layers of granite and sand. Specifically, an experimental investigation was carried out using a laboratory-scale model to replicate the EPB tunneling operations in such ground conditions. The effects of the ratio of rock/sand at the tunnel face (Tr/Ts) and the cover-to-diameter ratio (C/D) on the soil pressure in the chamber, ground displacement, and volume loss were examined. The results show that the soil's response to the mixed-face conditions differs significantly from that in the homogenous ground and highly depends on the ratio of rock/sand, especially for relatively shallow tunnels. As the ratio of rock/sand at the tunnel face increased, the pressure gradient in the chamber became more inconsistent. The translated cumulative curve does not always provide a good fit in the mixed-face conditions, particularly in cases when the rock/sand ratios are high. A smaller width of settlement trough has been observed for cases with a large rock/sand ratio compared to that in clay and cohesionless soil.