Response of sandy soil to the volume losses at the tunnel face level

Abstract

Recent research does not fully identify the causes of surface volume loss that occur at the tunnel level in sand, as related to the excavation of a pressurized-face tunnel boring machine (PTBM). This paper focuses on the face stability of PTBM tunneling, and the response of sandy soil to the inadequate face pressure is evaluated. Data presented are from tests of a model using reduced-scale PTBM tunneling operations in dry sand. Ground displacement and the evolution of ground stress were analyzed. The relationship between the load factor at the face and the volume loss at surface was examined. The effects of soil density and tunnel depth were considered. An empirical formulation was provided allowing determination of the expected volume loss as a function of load factor (LF), cover-to-diameter ratio (C/D) and soil density (Id). Thus providing a valuable basis for establishing relationship between volume loss associated with tunnel face advancement and face pressures in sandy soil. The results show that instability of the face is accompanied by the triggering of secondary deformation mechanisms at the surface. The volume loss at surface is complicated by the combined effects of soil arching and the dilative/contractive behavior of the soil. The variation of volume loss is sudden prior to face collapse, especially at dense sand, which is different from the progressive variation of volume loss in clays. The size of destressed zone ahead of cutter head is less dependent on C/D in loose soil than in dense soils.