Straight Tunnel Research Articles

Study on Fire Smoke Movement Characteristics and Their Impact on Personal Evacuation in Curved Highway Tunnels

In the existing research on tunnel fires, researchers primarily focus on straight tunnels, neglecting the impact of curved sidewalls in curved tunnels. Based on the theory of smoke diffusion, a series of CFD numerical simulations was conducted using the Fire Dynamics Simulator to investigate the characteristics of smoke distribution in a curved highway tunnel. The results indicated that distinct smoke distribution characteristics were observed when a fire occurred in a curved tunnel compared with those observed in straight tunnels, with significant differences particularly evident for the radius of curvature of the tunnel below 1000 m. By comparing the smoke distribution characteristics from various fire source locations, the most unfavorable fire source locations within a curved tunnel were determined. High-temperature fire smoke bounds between the inner and outer walls of the tunnel, leading to the formation of multiple high-temperature zones in proximity to the fire source, rather than diffusing directly towards the exit in a linear tunnel. Additionally, based on an analysis of temperature, visibility, and CO concentration at characteristic heights, suitable locations for pedestrian crossings within the tunnel were deduced and an evacuation strategy for persons within the core fire area was proposed. The results can provide a reference for personal evacuation strategies in curved highway tunnel fire scenarios and the design of an adit for people passing in such tunnels.

Tunnel excavation based on FLAC3d numerical simulation

A semi-circular arch straight wall tunnel with a span of 10m, a side wall height of 5m and a buried depth of 500m is excavated in a class IV surrounding rock. Assuming that the surrounding rock is an ideal elastoplastic material, the following problems are analyzed by using finite element or finite difference method: the arch roof subsidence and the horizontal convergence of the side wall after tunnel excavation under the action of gravity stress field and the size of the plastic zone in the surrounding rock. If the lateral pressure coefficient is 0.5-3, the effects of structural stress on the subsidence of the tunnel arch, the horizontal convergence of the side wall and the plastic zone are analyzed. If the bolt support is adopted after excavation, the system bolt shall be laid on the tunnel arch and side wall. The bolt shall be a full-length metal bolt, perpendicular to the tunnel wall, with a spacing of 1.5m, a length of 3.0m, and a diameter of 25mm. The thickness of shotcrete is 100mm, the number is C20, and the supporting effect is analyzed.

Longitudinal structural behavior of shield tunnel with large diameter and small curvature

The structural mechanism of a large-diameter curved tunnel is introduced in detail because no relevant calculation method is available. A longitudinal discontinuous contact model is established based on the newly built North Highway Tunnel in Shanghai, China. First, the load-spreading mechanism of circumferential joints was considered. Second, the distribution laws of the longitudinal internal force, settlement, and joint deformation of curved and straight tunnels under the same load were analyzed and compared. Finally, a model test is conducted to verify the effectiveness of the discontinuous contact model. The results indicated that with an increase in the radius of curvature, the maximum internal force and deformation decreased. The internal forces and deformations of straight and curved tunnels are quite different; therefore, the design method for a straight tunnel cannot be used in the design of curved tunnels. The overall and local deformations of the curved tunnel were affected by end displacement.

Thin-airfoil aerodynamics in a rarefied gas wind tunnel: A theoretical study

We study the steady aerodynamic field and loadings about a thin flat plate placed in a wind tunnel under non-continuum conditions. Considering a two-dimensional straight tunnel configuration, the flow is driven by either density or temperature differences between the inlet and outlet tunnel reservoirs, producing a pressure gradient across the channel. Focusing on highly rarefied conditions, we derive a semi-analytic description for the gas flow field in the free-molecular limit for diffuse- and specular-wall configurations. The solution is valid at arbitrary differences between the inlet and outlet reservoirs as well as plate angles of attack α. The results are compared with direct simulation Monte Carlo calculations, indicating that the free-molecular description is valid through O(1) plate-size-based Knudsen numbers. The aerodynamic lift and drag forces are evaluated and their variations with α, reservoir conditions, and tunnel size are analyzed. At a fixed pressure ratio between the outlet and inlet reservoirs, the density-driven flow generates higher aerodynamic loads compared with its counterpart temperature-driven configuration, in line with the associated larger mass flow rate in the former. The results are discussed in light of the existing rarefied-gas description of the free-stream (non-confined) problem.

A multi-scale model for longitudinal seismic design of prefabricated utility tunnel based on multi-point constraints

A multi-scale model for the longitudinal seismic analysis of underground prefabricated utility tunnel was proposed. In this multi-scale model, beam elements were used to model the utility tunnel segments, shell elements were used to model the weak parts, e.g., tunnel intersections, and node frames with multiple springs were used to simulated the behavior of the tunnel joint. The node frames, whose form are the same as that of the prefabricated joint, were established on a basis of the cross-sectional size and the joint form of the tunnel. By arranging multiple sets of nonlinear springs to connect adjacent node frames, the refined model of the utility tunnel joint was established. Based on the multi-point constraint method, the multi-point constraint equations between the structure model and the refined joint model were given. Finally, a specific straight utility tunnel as well as a specific cross-type utility tunnel were taken as the examples to verify the accuracy and applicability of the proposed model. The results indicate that the proposed model is suitable for the longitudinal seismic analysis of the utility tunnels with asymmetric cross-section and intersections, and may provide reference for the longitudinal seismic design of large-scale utility tunnels.

Experimental study on the inundation characteristics of flooding in a long straight subway tunnel

In recent years, the increase in extreme urban flooding events has caused severe property damage and safety problems. Subway tunnels are particularly vulnerable to underground space flooding. There have been traditional hydraulic experiments conducted to investigate unsteady turbulence properties of free surface flow in open channels. However, most experiments in flumes and pipes do not focus on the early formation process of inundation considering the unique structural configurations of subway tunnels. In this study, the general pattern that floodwater intrudes into a subway tunnel was studied by a scaled model experiment. Under different conditions of tunnel slope and inlet water discharge, the flood flow pattern, the water elevation, and flow velocity were investigated and analyzed. The results show that the flooding domain could be divided into three regions, including a Forming Region, a Uniform Region, and a Front Region. The unsteady Front Region performs an exponential rise in water elevation, and the velocity of flood propagation along the tunnel is nearly constant. The shape of the water surface profile is mainly influenced by tunnel slope, and the effect has a transition at the critical tunnel slope which was measured to be around 3‰. The classifications of flooding behavior under different conditions are described in detail. An empirical nondimensionalized formula for the tunnel inundation process in both unsteady and steady stages was proposed. This model enables rapid calculation of water depths with time in a subway tunnel. This research could provide an understanding of flood propagation in subway tunnels and facilitate the study of flooding detection and warnings in underground space. It also provides reference for evacuation decisions and subway flood control design.

Symmetric multipath branching as a layout design strategy for blast-resilient tunnel structures

Explosions can result in massive fatalities and severe damage to structures and facilities in tunnels. Therefore, it is of crucial importance to incorporate disaster mitigation strategies against potential blast scenarios in the design of such structures and implement viable solutions to attenuate the destructive effect of blast waves caused by explosions. To this end, we propose an innovative layout design strategy called symmetric multi-path branching, where multiple closed-end paths with relatively small cross-sectional areas branch out laterally from the sides of a straight and prismatic tunnel. To exploit the neutralizing effect of colliding pressure waves, a reflective symmetry with respect to the longitudinal mid-plane of the tunnel is considered in the layout design. To examine the effectiveness and efficiency of this strategy in reducing the effect of the pressure wave caused by the explosion, a series of layout designs are produced and investigated numerically and experimentally. After verifying the simulation method, the effect of the branching angles, cross-sectional geometry, drilling depth, and location of the branches, as well as the mass of the explosive charge, are studied systematically. The results illustrate an acceptable match between the numerical and the scaled experimental test methods. Moreover, it is shown that using three pairs of branches with an appropriate geometry and branching angles can attenuate the pressure waves passing through the tunnel up to 50% without obstructing the main route. The findings of this study can be applied to designing blast-resilient layouts in the development of underground tunnels and other corridor-like structures.

Experimental Study on the Longitudinal Mechanical Behavior of Shield Tunnel in Soft-Hard Uneven Strata and the Reinforcement Effect of Longitudinal Channel Steel

This paper investigates the longitudinal behavior and failure pattern of shield tunnel, as well as the reinforcement mechanism of longitudinal channel steel, using reduced-scale tunnel models assembled with 24 lining rings. The longitudinal behavior of the shield tunnel and the reinforcement effect are discussed in terms of vertical deformation, joint deformation, and concrete cracking. The results indicate that the shield tunnel without reinforcement longitudinally deforms in a “bending and dislocation” mode, with the failure pattern dominated by bending deformation. In contrast, the failure pattern of the shield tunnel reinforced by channel steels is characterized by brittle shearing dislocation fracture of the circumferential joint. The load at which damage occurs in the reinforced tunnel model is 1.74 times and 2.04 times that of the non-reinforced staggered and straight jointed tunnels. The reinforcement reduces the horizontal convergence discrepancy of lining rings above the soft foundation spring and the adjacent lining rings, which improves the overall integrity of the tunnel structure.

Statistical Analysis of Traffic Crashes on Mountainous Freeway Tunnel Sections

Tunnels on mountainous freeways are affected by abrupt changes in brightness, complex geometric alignments, heavy traffic flow, bad weather, and other factors, some of which contribute toward tunnels having more traffic crashes than other sections of the freeway. Previous research, however, has given limited attention to tunnel length and heterogeneity in the parts of the tunnels, such as at the tunnels’ entrance and exit zones. Focusing on 36 tunnels on the Guidu Freeway in China’s Guizhou Province, this study collects data on crashes and their influencing factors over 2 years (2020–2021), constructs a negative binomial panel data random effects model, and analyzes single-vehicle crashes, multi-vehicle crashes, and total crashes. The results show that: 1) multi-vehicle crashes occur throughout the tunnel sections, 2) crashes are more likely to occur in long tunnel sections, 3) the crash frequency from the tunnel entrance zone to the mid zone is higher than in other areas of the tunnel, 4) the crash frequency is higher for circular curve/easy curve tunnel sections than for straight tunnel sections, 5) the crash frequency is higher for downhill and concave curve sections than for flat sections, 6) the crash frequency increases with heavy traffic flow and adverse weather conditions, and 7) the crash frequency increases as road surface skidding resistance and ride quality decrease. These findings can provide theoretical support for engineering improvement and the formulation and revision of specifications for designing freeway tunnel sections, especially in mountainous areas.

Dynamic Response of Curved Tunnels under Vertical Incidence of Transversal SV Waves

Long tunnels often have curved sections when alignment designs are influenced by topography, adverse geology, and environmental factors. When the transversal SV wave is incident vertically, the curved section of the tunnel is subject to a connection between longitudinal and transversal loads, which are asymmetrical about the tunnel longitudinal axis. Compared to straight tunnels, curved tunnels are more complex in terms of forces and deformations and may become a key control section limiting the seismic safety of curved tunnels. To investigate the seismic response of curved tunnels, numerical simulations of curved tunnels with different radii of curvature under transversal SV seismic waves were carried out in this study. Local artificial boundaries were programmed and used for the 3D rock tunnel interaction system model to simulate semi-infinite rock and to eliminate fake reflections of seismic waves on local boundaries. The results show that longitudinal deformation and cross-sectional deformation occurred simultaneously in curved tunnels when the transversal SV wave was incident vertically. As the curvature increased, the longitudinal deformation of the curved tunnel increased. The cross-section of the tunnel was in oblique compression, and the cross-sectional internal force showed significant asymmetry. When the radius of curvature was 250 m, the difference in bending moment between the left and right haunch was 35.2%. These characteristics differ from those of straight tunnels and should be paid attention in the seismic design of curved tunnels.

Analysis of Excavation Parameters on Face Stability in Small Curvature Shield Tunnels

This study investigates the face stability of small curvature shield tunnels during excavation and its relationship with various excavation parameters. The stability of the excavation face is critical to the safety and efficiency of underground construction projects. Despite the increase in the use of small curvature shield tunnels in urban areas, research works on this type of tunnel are limited and the existing literature focuses only on straight shield tunnels. This study addresses this research gap through numerical simulations, analyzing the effects of different excavation parameters such as jacking force, cutting speed, and soil conditioning on face stability. The results of the study show that the excavation parameters significantly affect face stability. The findings can be used to optimize the performance of small curvature shield tunnels and support their continued development in urban areas.

Influence of Small Radius Curved Shield Tunneling Excavation on Displacement of Surrounding Soil

In contrast to straight tunnels, the mechanisms of displacement of surrounding soil induced by shield excavation of small radius curved tunnels are more complex. Based on field monitoring data of surface settlement and horizontal displacement of a small radius curved shield tunnel in a section of Zhengzhou Metro Line 3, a numerical model using three-dimensional a finite element method is established to evaluate factors of the displacement of surrounding soil. The results verify the validity of numerical simulation by comparison with field monitoring data and the influence of unbalanced additional thrust at tail jacks, curvature radius of a tunnel and tail grouting pressure on surface settlement and horizontal displacement of surrounding soil. Maximum surface settlement and horizontal displacement of surrounding soil at the outer side and inner side of curved tunnel axes are positively related to thrust ratio, while negatively related to curvature radius and grouting pressure. The ultimate objective of this study is to ascertain factors of displacement of surrounding soil induced by small radius shield excavation and provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the design and construction of similar tunnel.

Influence and Optimization of Geometric Parameters for Small-Radius Curved Tunnel Based on Response Surface Method

Compared with straight tunnels, small-radius curved tunnels are more common and have more complex influencing factors in urban underground traffic. Therefore, the seismic evaluation of small-radius curved tunnels is of great significance for the safe operation of underground structures. This paper used numerical analysis and the response surface method to analyze the influence of buried depth, curve angle and curve radius on the seismic response of a small-radius curved tunnel. For this purpose, seventeen three-dimensional (3D) numerical analysis models of the small-radius curved tunnel considering different geometric parameters are established. In addition, the optimal geometric parameters of displacement response and acceleration response of the small-radius curved tunnel are studied by using the method of multi-objective optimization design. The results show that buried depth has a pronounced influence upon the displacement response of the small-radius curved tunnel, whilst the buried depth and curve radius are the key parameters affecting the acceleration response of the small-radius curved tunnel. The optimal parameter configuration of the small-radius curved tunnel is the maximum buried depth, the maximum curve angle and the maximum curve radius within the value domain.

Measurements and Modeling of Large-Scale Channel Characteristics in Subway Tunnels at 1.8 and 5.8 GHz

Radio propagation characteristics in subway tunnels are significant for designing reliable wireless communications. To obtain large-scale channel characteristics, extensive propagation measurements are conducted in a straight subway tunnel at 1.8 and 5.8 GHz, respectively. Based on the measurements, some typical large-scale channel parameters are extracted and modeled, such as path loss, shadow fading, and channel correlation. The path loss exponents are found to be 2.83 and 2.55 at 1.8 and 5.8 GHz, respectively, with shadow fading standard deviation of 1.58 and 2.58 dB. Shadow fading decorrelation distance is 8.71 m for 1.8 GHz and 11.65 m for 5.8 GHz, respectively. Moreover, cross-correlation coefficient of shadow fading in two dual-link scenarios is around 0.1, which shows that there is fairly low cross-correlation in a subway tunnel. The results in this letter are useful for link budget, handover scheme design, and network planning of subway communication system.

Numerical investigation of critical velocity in curved tunnels: Parametric study and establishment of new model

Curved tunnels are more likely to have an accident and a fire source due to their physical characteristics. Using a 3D computational fluid dynamics tool with body-fitted grids, three different fire locations were investigated numerically in a series of curved tunnels with a turning radius of 50–1000 m and a heat release rate of 5–15 MW. Results showed that the critical velocity increased with increasing tunnel turning radius, and the straight tunnel had the highest critical velocity in all scenarios. For a tunnel with a 10 MW heat release rate, the critical velocity increased by 19 % from R = 50 to 1000 m. Furthermore, it was shown that the critical velocity was proportional to one-third power of the heat release rate. A gradual increase in critical velocity was also observed as the fire source was displaced from the tunnel's center to the walls. Furthermore, this increment increased as the fire source approached the internal curvature. During the displacement of the fire to the inner and outer walls of a tunnel with R = 100 m and a 10 MW heat release rate, the critical velocity increased by 7.7 % and 5.6 %, respectively. Therefore, the worst fire scenario occurs when a fire is close to a tunnel's internal curvature and has the largest turning radius and the maximum heat release rate. Tunnel curvature and fire location are not considered in normal dimensionless analysis (commonly used for tunnels). Thus, the numerical results were unified in a non-dimensional form, and a modified formula was developed to calculate critical velocities in curved tunnels. The proposed formula includes tunnel curvature, heat release rate, and fire location with a coefficient of determination of 0.98. Numerical simulations confirmed the predictions of the proposed formula. Compared to other models in straight and curved tunnels, the predicted correlation developed in the present study can accurately predict critical ventilation velocity in curved tunnels.

Numerical Study on Smoke Diffusion and Smoke Control in Urban Underground Curved Tunnel

Effects of the radius and fire heat release rate on the smoke propagation and smoke control in curved tunnel are studied by the numerical methods. Six radiuses as 70 m, 150 m, 200 m, 250 m, 300 m and 400 m and two different fire sizes as 5 MW and 30 MW are involved. Numerical results show that comparing with the smoke flow in the straight tunnel, smoke temperature distributions across the cross-section is not symmetry with the centerline in the curved tunnel, and the smoke diffusion close to the outside boundary appears to be fast. At the higher level of the curved tunnel, such as 3 m above the tunnel floor, the smoke temperature would decrease with the distance from the fire increasing. However, at the lower level of the tunnel, the temperature would increase firstly and then decrease, maximum temperature would occur in the bend region of the curved tunnel. When the fire heat release rate is big, this temperature might be high enough to injure the people. Smoke ventilation system would run in time under this condition. Critical velocity in curved tunnel is larger than that in the straight tunnel.

The first robotic STORRM: A case report

Abstract Parastomal hernias present a continued challenge to the general surgeon. There are a myriad of techniques available, with hernia recurrence rates varying between 10 to greater than 50%. Mesh reinforcement and underlay or sublay placement are associated with lower hernia recurrence rates. Many patients with parastomal hernia have associated comorbidities which increase their risk for perioperative wound complications. Robotic and minimally invasive techniques offer decreased rate of wound complications, but can be challenging to perform if the stoma needs to be relocated. For patients with complex parastomal hernias requiring abdominal wall reconstruction with transversus abdominis release and retromuscular mesh placement, it can be difficult to align the layers of the abdominal wall and create an aperture in the mesh to allow for a straight passage of the conduit and prevent subsequent angulation of the bowel. Stapled Transabdominal Ostomy Reinforcement with retromuscular mesh, or STORRM technique, has been previously described elsewhere as a technique whereby a circular EEA (End-to-End Anastomoses) stapler is used to create a straight tunnel through the mesh and abdominal wall layers, standardize sizing, fixate the mesh, and substitute traditional cruciate incisions with a stapled reinforcement of the aperture in the mesh/tissues.

Effect of Horizontal Curve on the Response of Road Tunnels under Internal Explosion

Internal explosion in a tunnel is a complex loading phenomenon where the tunnel lining is subjected to not only direct impact of explosion but also loading due to multiple reflection of blast waves which could be of magnitude higher than that of incident blast wave. This kind of loading is complex in nature and difficult to predict using simple analysis tools. Further, it poses a serious threat to its structural integrity. Studies have been conducted in the past to understand the behaviour of tunnel under internal explosion. However, they have been focused on straight tunnels ignoring the convex and concave shapes introduced due to horizontal and vertical curves. Shape of the target surface has significant effect on the characteristics of blast wave. This study investigates the effect of horizontal curves on the damage behaviour of tunnel lining due to internal explosion. A series of numerical simulation are performed on box-shaped tunnel with varying curvature radius and the results are compared with that of straight tunnel adopting Multi-Material Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (MM-ALE) method using LS-DYNA®. Explosive and air are modeled using ALE formulation, whereas, tunnel and soil are modeled using Lagrangian formulation. Further, Jones-Wilkins-Lee equation of state is used to model the explosion. Damage to the tunnel lining is measured in terms of peak particle velocity (PPV) and von-Mises stress. It is observed that walls of curved tunnels undergo more PPV compared with straight tunnel wherein concave wall show the highest PPV. Propagation of blast wave along the tunnel length is significantly affected due to the introduction of curvature resulting in change in reflection patterns. This further leads to variation in stress contours on tunnel lining with higher concentration of stress in curved tunnels than in straight tunnel.

Experimental and numerical simulation of the propagation law of shock waves in corrugated steel-lined tunnels

Corrugated steel support structures are widely used in engineering tunnels owing to their rapid construction and high bearing performance, allowing for the complex propagation of shock waves. To clarify the propagation law of shock waves in a corrugated steel tunnel with interior lining, a 30-m-long straight tunnel was built to explore the propagation of an explosion shock wave, and three different tunnel inner walls were designed, namely, a concrete inner wall and two types of corrugated steel linings. Based on the data on the monitored shock wave, the propagation law of shock waves in the tunnel was obtained, and the influence of corrugated steel linings on the shock waves was analyzed. A finite element model of the channel was established to verify the results of experiment and determine the model and related parameters. This model was also used to perform a numerical simulation of explosion shock wave propagation in corrugated steel-lined tunnels of various sizes. Based on the experimental and numerical simulation results, a prediction model of shock wave overpressure in corrugated steel-lined tunnels was obtained. Research showed that the shock-wave energy of wavefronts near walls was diverted, the formation and propagation of waves reflected from walls was affected by corrugated steel linings, which effectively improved the attenuation efficiency of shock waves in tunnels.

Influence of Small Radius Curve Shield Tunneling on Settlement of Ground Surface and Mechanical Properties of Surrounding Rock and Segment

Compared with straight tunnels, over-excavation occurs on the inner side of the curved section during shield construction of small radius curved tunnels, and the disturbance to the ground surface and mechanical properties of surrounding rock and segment are more severe. This paper establishes the numerical models of small radius curve tunnels and straight tunnels to study the characteristics of surface deformation caused by the shield excavation of small radius curved tunnels and the influence of shield construction parameters on ground settlement, surrounding rock deformation, and segment force. The maximum error between the numerical simulation results and the measured surface settlement curve is 7.3%, which is in good agreement. The results show that: (1) The maximum value of the surface settlement of the small radius curve tunnel appears inside the curve section, and with the decrease in the curve radius, the surface settlement increases, and the distance between the peak settlement point and the tunnel center is larger. (2) When the curve radius of the tunnel is smaller, the lateral displacement of the ground surface moves farther to the inner side, and the range of soil mass with lateral displacement in the inner side is also wider. (3) Increasing the heading face pressure and grouting pressure can reduce surface settlement, but the heading face pressure should not exceed 350 kPa, and the grouting pressure should not exceed 250 kPa. (4) When the curve radius is smaller, the deformation of surrounding rock and the segment stress is larger.