Lattice Boltzmann simulation for grout filling process during simultaneous backfill grouting of shield in tunnel construction

Abstract

Over the years, it has become obvious that simultaneous backfill grouting is of great significance to the design of the tunnel lining and process control of shield construction. It is essential to know the grout pressure distribution around the tunnel lining. The purpose of this study is to seek an alternative method to simulate the grout diffusion process and obtain pressure distribution of different time during simultaneous backfill grouting of tunnel construction. A lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) based free surface flow model is introduced and modified, and a Smagorinsky large-eddy simulation model serves to deal with the small-scale turbulent problem, which is a challenge for LBM to simulate the large-scale real-world engineering. The simulation results obtain the grout filling state with time and pressure distribution around the tunnel lining. Additionally, the grout pressures on site are measured at a ring in line 8 of Chengdu Rail tunnel, and the measurement results are also compared with ones taken from numerical simulation, it is showed that the numerical results are consistent with that of measurement on the whole. Through simulating different grouting strategies, it is concluded that for four-holes grouting schemes, the grouting pressures of upper holes are significant for the grout pressure distribution and should be paid most attention in construction.