DESIGN OF SEISMIC JOINT FOR SAN FRANCISCO BAY TUNNEL

A PREFABRICATED TUNNEL WAS CONTRUCTED UNDER SAN FRANCISCO BAY FOR THE BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM. THE TUNNEL IS IN AN AREA SUBJECT TO EARTHQUAKES, AND A FLEXIBLE SLIDING JOINT WAS DEVELOPED TO PERMIT DIFFERENTIAL MOVEMENTS BETWEEN THE TUNNEL SECTIONS AND THE VENTILATION BUILDINGS WERE JOINED TO THEM. THE JOINT PERMITTED MOTIONS UP TO 6 IN. IN ANY DIRECTION ALONG A VERTICAL PLANE AND 3 IN. IN A LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION. A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OF THE JOINT WAS INSTITUTED PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION TO INSURE THE DESIGN ASSUMPTIONS WERE VALID. FOUR SEPARATE JOINTS WERE CONSTRUCTED FOR THE PROJECT. THE JOINTS ENABLE THE TUNNELS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AN AREA SUBJECT TO EARTHQUAKES AND ALSO ALLOW FOR DIFFERENTIAL SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE TUNNELS AND THE BUILDING. /AUTHOR/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 97, No ST4, PROC PAPER 8040, PP 1129-1141
• Authors:
  • Douglas, W S
  • Warshaw, R
• Publication Date: 1971-4

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Journal of the Structural Division
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Couplers; Earthquake resistant design; Earthquake resistant structures; Flexibility; Joints; Prefabricated structures; Seismology; Structural design; Tunnels
• Uncontrolled Terms: Tunnel design
• Old TRIS Terms: Flexible couplings; Joint
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00209415
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 22 1971 12:00AM