DISPLACEMENTS AROUND TUNNELS IN SOILS

This report summarizes one year of research on ground movements around tunnels in soil. Data from available case histories of tunnels constructed in sands and gravels, stiff clays, and soft clays is combined with the results of field observations and a model study to describe sources and volumes of ground lost around tunnels, the relationship between volume of ground lost and volume of surface settlement, and the shape of the surface settlement trough. Horizontal strains occurring with the surface settlement trough are described, and their implications for building damage are discussed. The volume of surface settlement is affected not only by the volume of lost ground, but also by the volume of expansion or compression in the soil around a tunnel. The surface settlement trough can be approximated by relationships presented by Peck (1969), except in cases where the settlements are very small (elastic) or very large (greater than 0.5 percent of the tunnel depth). In these cases, the settlement trough may be wider or narrower, respectively, than estimated. The results of field and analytical studies of interference effects between settlement troughs for multiple tunnels are presented. The results of a field observation program of settlement measurements on the Washington, D.C. Metro Section F2a tunnels are presented. A third section of the report is a progress report on a model study in which ground movements around a model tunnel in sand were measured using photogrammetric procedures and displacement gages.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  205 North Mathews Avenue
  Urbana, IL  United States  61801-2352

  Department of Transportation

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Federal Railroad Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Cording, E J
  • Hansmire, W H
  • MacPherson, H H
  • Lenzini, P A
  • Vonderohe, A P
• Publication Date: 1976-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 208 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Clay; Construction; Dislocation (Geology); Earth movements (Geophysics); Earth pressure; Engineering geology; Gravel; Photogrammetry; Properties of materials; Sand; Seismicity; Settlement (Structures); Soft clays; Soil mechanics; Soils; Strain (Mechanics); Troughs (Geology); Tunneling; Tunnels
• Identifier Terms: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
• Uncontrolled Terms: Earth movements; Model tests; Soil properties
• Old TRIS Terms: Settlement structural; Strains; Troughs
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00158949
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/TST-76T-22 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-FR-30022
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 4 1977 12:00AM