TUNNEING TECHNIQUES

CENG 7032

Dr.-Ing. Henok Fikre

2020
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
COURSE CONTENT

 Concept
 Geotechnical Investigations

 Detailed design
 Design procedures
 Geometric Considerations
 Stress around openings
 Design methods
 Construction methods and procedures
 Post Construction Considerations

 Applications with software

 Case Histories
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN

 Design procedure
 Geometric Considerations

 Stress in openings (tunnels)

 Design options and methods

TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN
 States of stresses in excavations
 Stress state (Loading Condition) under ground
differs from surface structure. How?
 In conventional surface structures, the geometry
of the structure and its operating duty define
the loads imposed on the system.
 For an underground rock structure, the rock
medium is subjected to
 Primary (Insitu) stresses
 Secondary stresses (excavation induced)
 Post construction stresses (after support)
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN
 States of stresses in excavations
 Stress state (Loading Condition) under ground
differs from surface structure. How?
 In conventional surface structures, the geometry
of the structure and its operating duty define
the loads imposed on the system.
 For an underground rock structure, the rock
medium is subjected to
 Primary (Insitu) stresses
 Secondary stresses (excavation induced)
 Post construction stresses (after support)
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Primary stress conditions
• the condition of the ground before tunnel construction

Vertical, pv = γ· h Horizontal, ph = k0· γ · h

TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Primary stress conditions
• Lateral pressure coefficient K0 (0.1 ≤ K0 ≤ 3.0)
a) Silo: K0 = μ/(1-μ) (Poisson‟s ratio)
0 < μ < 0.5 0 < K0 < 1.0 (Possible range)
0.2<μ<0.35 0.25<K0<0.54 (realistic range)
Not plausible for (rocks with) K0 > 1
(due to elastic assumptions)
Historical developments of the ground important

Ph= 1/3 · γ · h
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Primary stress conditions
• Lateral pressure coefficient K0 (0.1 ≤ K0 ≤ 3.0)
b) Ice time pre-loading (K0 > 1)

Glacial ice
(previous)
pv = γ· h2


GL (Today) ph = γ · h1· K0,previous

= γ · h2· K0,today
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Primary stress conditions
• Lateral pressure coefficient K0
c) Layered formation with saddle

small

large
Tension cracks

K0 ≈ 1
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Primary stress conditions
• Lateral pressure coefficient K0
d) Joints
Smaller K0 in case of open joints, or joints filled with
weak material or water

Smaller lateral
pressure
Joints
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DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Primary stress conditions
• Lateral pressure coefficient K0
e) Hanging side
Smaller K0 in case of near to surface area due to higher
weathering possibility

Smaller K0
Smaller K0
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Primary stress conditions
• Lateral pressure coefficient K0
f) In groundwater
weight due to effective soil weight and water
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Primary stress conditions
• Lateral pressure coefficient K0
usually used values in Germany
(from statistical values)

Ground type
Soil
Cohesive
Silt
Granular soil
Rock
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 In-situ Stresses
 Simple statics requires that the vertical normal
stress component at a sub-surface point be given by

 γ is the rock unit weight, and z is the depth below ground

surface
 Failure to satisfy this equilibrium condition in any
field determination of the initial state of stress may
be a valid indication of heterogeneity of the stress
field.
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DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Specifiying Pre-construction Stresses
 For elastic rock mass behaviour, horizontal normal stress
components are then given by

 This equation is based on assumption of uniaxial strain

(„complete lateral restraint‟) during development of
gravitational loading of a formation by superincumbent rock,
which is actually unjustifiable.
 For the case where the shear stress comoponents are zero, the
above 2 equations give values of principal stresses
 But experience indicate that for depths of stress
determinations of mining engineering interest, the vertical
direction is rarely a principal stress and the lateral stresses
cann not be calculated using the given relationship
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DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 For soils, the ratio of the horizontal and vertical in-situ
stresses is treated as “Lateral Earth Pressure at Rest.”
 In soil mechanics k is approximated from the angle of
internal friction. For cohesion less soils:

 For overconsolidated soils, it is commonly approximated

by

 For rocks, attempts were made to verify the simplistic

equation given as a function of poissons ratio. However,
it commonly underestimate.
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DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Field investigation showed that the ratio of horizontal to
vertical overburden pressure is high at shallow depth and it
decreases with depth.
 Shoerey (1994) developed elasto-static thermal stress model
of the earth, considering curvature of the crust, variation of
elastic constants, thermal expansion coefficients through the
crust and mantle:
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DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Ratio of horizontal to vertical stress, using Sheorey‟s
equation and varying moduli
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DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Secondary stress conditions
• Stress condition which exists after construction of the
tunnel
• New equilibrium condition after all the stress
redistribution process is completed
• Q??? How to determine the magnitude?
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Seconday stersses (stresses around openings)
 stress computations are based on the following assumptions:
 The rock is isotropic with respect to its elastic properties
 Any change in the state of stress in the rock is instantaneously
followed by the corresponding change in strain
 The relation between stress and strain is determined by Hooke’s law
 The stresses no where exceed the elastic limit of the rock
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS

• Load transfer through bending • Load transfer through axial load

• Deformation – horizontal ellipse • Deformation – inwards
contraction (radius reduction)
 Shell friendly loading
 Tunneling Techniques
Detailed design – Stress in Openings
 Stresses about Circular Excavation
 Figure below shows the circular cross section of a long
excavation in a medium subject to biaxial stress, defined by
Pyy = P, and Pxx = kP.
 The stress distribution around the opening may be readily
obtained from the Kirsch equations, by superimposing the
induced stresses associated with each of the field stresses Pyy
and Pxx,
 In these expressions σrr, σϑϑ, σrϑ are total stresses after tunnel
excavations
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Stresses about Circular Excavation
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DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Stresses about Circular Erxcavation
o Kirsch Equation for circular opening

 Where k is the ratio of horizontal to vertical stress

 What would be the values for hydrostatic stress
condition?
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Stresses about Circular Excavation
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DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Stresses about Circular Erxcavation
o Kirsch Equation for circular opening (hydrostatic)

 Axisymmetric
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DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Stresses about Circular Erxcavation (zone of
influence)
o At what distance would you design (and construct) an
excavation from an already constructed excavation of
the same size (for the hydrostatic case?
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Stresses about Circular Excavation (zone of influence)
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Stresses about Circular Erxcavation
o Assignment:
Derive equations of radial, tangential and shear
stresses for circular opening for the K values given
below and plot the results as in terms of the distance
from the end of the circle (r)
 K = 0.15*n
Determine the reccommendable distance from the
edge of a circular excavation where another excavation
can be located.
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Stresses about Elliptical Excavation
 Bray (1977) produced a set of formulae which results in
considerable simplification of the calculation of the state of
stress at points in the medium surrounding an elliptical
opening.
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Stresses about Elliptical Erxcavation
 Stress components
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DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Stresses about Elliptical Excavation
 Where the geometric parameters are:
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DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Effect of planes of weakness (refer Brady)
 The following discussion takes account of the low
shear strengths of discontinuities compared with
that of the intact rock.
 It is assumed that a discontinuity has zero tensile
strength, and is non-dilatant in shear, with a
shear strength defined by:

 although the following discussion is based on a

circular opening, for purposes of illustration, the
principles apply to an opening of arbitrary shape
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Effect of planes of weakness: case 1, θ = 0

 The shear stress on the plane of weakness is zero, and

there is no tendency for slip on it

TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Effect of planes of weakness: case 2, θ = 90o

 No shear stress on the plane of weakness is -no tendency for

slip on it
 if K> 1/3, elastic stress distribution is unaltered by either slip
or separation
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DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Effect of planes of weakness: case 2, θ = 90o
 For K < 1/3 , separation on the plane of weakness leads to de-
stressing of a region in the crown of the opening.
 A reasonable estimate of the extent of the de-stressed zone, for
purposes of support design, for example, can be obtained by
considering the circumscribed ellipse, illustrated in the Figure.
 Separation on the plane of weakness is critical when бB = 0;
this occurs when
or

 Since q = W/H = 2a/H, the height h of the de-stressed zone above the
crown of the opening is given by:
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Effect of planes of weakness:
case 3, horizontal plane at an angle θ from central axis

 Considering the small element of the boundary, shown in Figure b,

the normal and shear stress components on the plane of weakness
are given by:
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Effect of planes of weakness:
case 3, horizontal plane at angle θ from central axis
 The limiting condition for slip under this state of stress is:

(*)

 The equilibrium state of stress at the boundary-plane of weakness

intersection can be established from equation (*)

 For , the condition can be satisfied only

if =0

 Thus the regions near the intersection of the opening and the plane of
weakness are either de-stressed, or at low confining stress. They may
be expected to be areas from which loosening of rock may commence,
and therefore deserve special attention in support design
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Effect of planes of weakness: case 4, θ = arbitrary
 Example of an arbitrarily inclined plane of weakness
intersecting an opening, here θ = 45o
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Effect of planes of weakness: case 4, θ = 45o
 Kirsch equation gives:

 The variation of the ratio is plotted in Figure b. The

maximum value of the ratio, 0.357 at r/a = 2.5, corresponds to
a mobilised angle of friction of 19.6◦.
 If the rock mass were in a state of limiting equilibrium under
the field stresses, the analysis indicates that the excavation
could develop an extensive zone of slip along the plane of
weakness. On the other hand, an angle of friction for the plane
of weakness exceeding 19.6o would be sufficient to preclude slip
anywhere in the medium.
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Effect of planes of weakness: case 5
 excavation close to, but not intersecting a plane of weakness
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Effect of planes of weakness: case 5
 The peak value of the shear stress/normal stress ratio corresponds
to a mobilized angle of friction of about 24O. If the angle of friction
for the plane of weakness exceeds 24O, no slip is predicted on the
plane, and the elastic stress distribution can be maintained.
 Example: For a plane of weakness with an angle of friction of 20 O,
the extent of the predicted zone of slip is shown in Figure b.
 Clearly a zone of slip is also predicted for the reflection of the
depicted zone about the vertical centerline of the excavation. For
both zones, the sense of slip produces inward displacement of rock
on the underside of the plane of weakness. This would be expressed
as increased boundary stresses in the segment between the fault
and the excavation. The effect of the fault is to deflect and
concentrate the stress trajectories in the region between the
excavation and the fault.
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Excavation shape and boundary stresses
 long opening of elliptical cross section, with axes parallel to
the pre-mining stresses

where бA and бB are boundary circumferential stresses in the

sidewall (A) and crown (B) of the excavation, and ρA and ρB
are the radii of curvature at points A and B.
 high boundary curvature (i.e. 1/ρ) leads to high boundary stresses
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Excavation shape and boundary stresses
 Case 1 - ovaloidal opening oriented with its major axis
perpendicular to the initial principal stress

 For W/H=3 & K=0.5 :

TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Excavation shape and boundary stresses
 Case 2 - A square hole with rounded corners, each with radius
of curvature = 0.2B

For b, considering an
inscribed ellipse :
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DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Excavation shape and boundary stresses
 Case 3 - arched opening
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DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Excavation shape and boundary stresses
 Case 3 - arched opening
 changing the shape of an opening presents a most effective
method of controlling boundary stresses
 Figure a: For a field stress ratio K of 0.3, an inscribed ellipse
indicates approximate sidewall stresses of 2.5p
 If the observed performance of the opening involved crushing
of the sidewalls, its redesign should aim to reduce stresses in
these areas.
 Inspection of the equation indicates this can be achieved by
reducing the excavation width/height ratio.
 W/H = 0.5 then the boundary stress will be 1.7 p

 the maximum boundary stress can be reduced if the opening

dimension is increased in the direction of the major principal
stress (Figure b)
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Excavation shape and boundary stresses
 Case 3 - arched opening
TUNNELING TECHNIQUES
DETAILED DESIGN – STRESS IN OPENINGS
 Excavation shape and boundary stresses
 Case 3 – Commom shape
Tunneling Techniques
Detailed design – Stress in Openings
 Exercise: Brady Prob. 7.4, 7.6