The influence of tunnel joints on the present-day condition of a grey cast iron tunnel

Abstract

The present-day condition of a grey cast iron (GCI) tunnel was investigated numerically by means of a series of plane-strain geotechnical analyses that focused on establishing the influence of the modelling approach adopted to simulate the behaviour of longitudinal tunnel joints. The GCI tunnel lining was simulated in three different ways: (i) as a continuous lining; (ii) as a jointed lining adopting a simple joint model that neglects the presence of the joint bolts and (iii) as a jointed lining adopting a more sophisticated model that considers both the nonlinear response of the joint after opening and the contribution of the bolts to the ultimate capacity. The numerical results demonstrate that accounting for the tunnel joints has a considerable impact on the tunnel response. Significant differences are also observed in the results obtained with the two joint models, hence demonstrating the practical significance of employing an advanced model able to reproduce accurately the rotational behaviour of the joint. The drainage behaviour of the joints was also investigated and the numerical results indicate that drainage even through only the knee joints causes significantly more soil consolidation than that from a watertight tunnel and consequently, larger tunnel deformations and forces.