Numerical Investigation of 3D Deformations of Existing Buildings Induced by Tunnelling

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of structural stiffness and layout, such as building storeys, foundation types, the angle between tunnel centreline and building longitudinal axis and eccentricity to the tunnel centreline, on the structural characteristics of 3D deformations. An analysis is performed by using a series of 3D finite element models, which considers the building–soil–tunnel interaction and tunnelling process. Results of this numerical work show that the change in the stiffness of the building, crossing angle and eccentricity has remarkable effects on building settlements and tilt-and-twist deformations. The structural deformations remarkably increase with the decrease of stiffness and crossing angles, which increase by three times at most. The distributions of building deformations vary under different conditions. When the effects of tunnelling on buildings are evaluated, the ground movements induced by tunnelling are overestimated if the existence of buildings are ignored. Furthermore, tilt-and-twist deformations of buildings are underestimated when tunnel constructions are ignored.