Macroscopic and Mesoscopic Characteristics of a Small-Span Metro Tunnel in the Development of a Disaster Under Load

Abstract

A similarity model with a volumetric similarity ratio of 1:100 and a granular flow model for the tunnel were designed. By comparing macroscopic and mesoscopic information (such as fracture process, strain evolution, stress transfer, crack propagation, and stress distribution) of the tunnel models under load, the failure mechanism of the metro tunnel under load was investigated. The result showed that: 1) under the loading path, the instability area of the tunnel is mainly distributed in the straight wall on both sides. When the load is 1.5 MPa, a large number of cracks on both sides of the straight wall run through, resulting in the initial failure of the rock mass; 2) the surface rock mass of arch bottom is under tensile stress and the deep rock mass is under pressure stress, therefore, the fracture does not develop continuously. The surface of straight wall produces continuous development crack under the action of tensile stress; 3) the arch bottom first responds during the stress redistribution of the small-span tunnel; the top and middle parts of the side walls of the running tunnel with greatest potential for damage respond most; 4) in the process of stress redistribution, the peak stress of the deep measuring points of the straight wall is greater than that of the free surface; 5) at the initial stage of loading, tensile cracks account for a high proportion of all cracks found. When the load is 1.5 MPa, the proportion of shear cracks increases to 28%, and when the load is 1.6 Mpa, the proportion of shear cracks increases to 31%. Finally, the tensile-shear effect triggers the failure of the tunnel.