Abstract

Submerged floating tunnels (SFTs) are innovative structural solutions to waterway crossings, such as sea-straits, fjords and lakes. As the width and depth of straits increase, the conventional structures such as cable-supported bridges, underground tunnels or immersed tunnels become uneconomical alternatives. For the realization of SFT, the structural response under extreme environmental conditions needs to be evaluated properly. This study evaluates the displacements and internal forces of SFT under hydrodynamic and three-dimensional seismic excitations to check the global performance of an SFT in order to conclude on the optimum design. The formulations incorporate modeling of ocean waves, currents and mooring cables. The SFT responses were evaluated using three different mooring cable arrangements to determine the stability of the mooring configuration, and the most promising configuration was then used for further investigations. A comparison of static, hydrodynamic and seismic response envelope curves of the SFT is provided to determine the dominant structural response. The study produces useful conclusions regarding the structural behavior of the SFT using a three-dimensional numerical model.

Highlights

  • Submerged floating tunnels (SFTs) are tubular structures that float at a specified depth and are supported by mooring cables

  • Despite some valuable research having been accomplished, no submerged floating tunnel (SFT) has been constructed in the world up to some valuable research having been accomplished, no SFT has been constructed in the world up to now

  • This study evaluates the displacements and internal forces of an SFT

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Summary

Introduction

Submerged floating tunnels (SFTs) are tubular structures that float at a specified depth and are supported by mooring cables. A primary transportation, moving load analysis or dynamic analysis under traffic loading is a key demand of attempt was made by [22], who investigated the effects of two- and three-dimensional added mass the structure, but the research efforts are very limited regarding this problem. Similar configurations are evaluated software package ABAQUS/Aqua for the hydrodynamic conditions of Qiandao Lake (People’s Republic further in the present study for an SFT with a cable inclination of 45°, in order to check the of China). The mooring cables with this inclination are comparison of the SFT responses for static, hydrodynamic and seismic loadings needs to be provided more stable [21,25]. The formulation of the problem includes the modeling of cable element, hydrodynamics, ground motions and the SFT structure itself.

Governing Equations of Motion
Equations of Motion
B Yfirst
Numerical Example
Three the cable used configurations to support theused
Hydrodynamic comparativestudy studyof ofthe theSFT
Verification
Static
Seismic Response
10. Ground
Conclusions
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