Novel corrugated tube–rubber–concrete flexible joint for lining water conveyance tunnels crossing reverse Faults: Numerical analysis of dislocation resistance performance

Abstract

When water conveyance tunnels cross seismic fault fracture zones, significant deformation may occur, threatening the structural integrity of the tunnel. To resolve this problem, a novel corrugated tube–rubber–concrete flexible joint (CTRCFJ) for improving fault resistance is proposed for the first time. The effectiveness of the CTRCFJ was evaluated using advanced three-dimensional non-linear finite element analysis. The design parameters of the CTRCFJ, including rubber width, corrugated tube interval, and corrugated tube width, were selected based on the distribution of the axial bending moment of the lining structure. An orthogonal test was performed to determine the optimal combination of parameters. The effects of the number of crests, different steel grades, and wall thickness of the corrugated tube on the fracture resistance of the CTRCFJ are investigated. Results show that the CTRCFJ can effectively improve the dislocation resistance performance of composite lining water conveyance tunnels crossing reverse faults by reducing axial compression and bending strain. This study provides a reference for the structural design of composite lining structures that can cross reverse faults.