Shaking Table Testing and Numerical Study on Aseismic Measures of Twin-Tube Tunnel Crossing Fault Zone with Extra-Large Section

As transportation networks continue to expand into mountainous regions with high seismic activity, ensuring the seismic safety of tunnels crossing active faults has become increasingly crucial. This study aimed to enhance our understanding of the impact of fault zones on the seismic behavior of tunn...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fengbing Zhao, Bo Liang, Ningyu Zhao, Bolin Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-03-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/6/2391
_version_ 1797242230726983680
author Fengbing Zhao
Bo Liang
Ningyu Zhao
Bolin Jiang
author_facet Fengbing Zhao
Bo Liang
Ningyu Zhao
Bolin Jiang
author_sort Fengbing Zhao
collection DOAJ
description As transportation networks continue to expand into mountainous regions with high seismic activity, ensuring the seismic safety of tunnels crossing active faults has become increasingly crucial. This study aimed to enhance our understanding of the impact of fault zones on the seismic behavior of tunnels and to provide optimized seismic design recommendations through a comprehensive experimental and numerical investigation. The focus of this research is the Xiangyangshan Highway Tunnel in China, which intersects a significant longitudinal fault. Large-scale shake table tests were performed on 1:100 scale physical models of the tunnel to analyze the seismic responses under various ground motion excitations. Detailed three-dimensional finite difference models were developed in FLAC3D and calibrated based on the shake table results. The tests indicated that strains, earth pressures, and accelerations experience localized amplification within 10–20 m of the fault interface compared to undisturbed ground sections. Common seismic mitigation measures, such as rock grouting, seismic joints, and shock absorption layers, were observed to effectively reduce the amplified seismic demands. Grouting, in particular, led to an average reduction of up to 56.3% in circumferential strain and 38.5% in earth pressure. It was concluded that 6 m thick grouted zones and 20 cm thick rubber interlayers between tunnel lining shells provide optimal structural reinforcement against the effects of fault zones. This study provides valuable insights for improving the seismic resilience of underground transportation corridors in seismically active regions.
first_indexed 2024-04-24T18:35:55Z
format Article
id doaj.art-b50b612cae8e445f9c3f5b842dfa920a
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2076-3417
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-24T18:35:55Z
publishDate 2024-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Applied Sciences
spelling doaj.art-b50b612cae8e445f9c3f5b842dfa920a2024-03-27T13:19:32ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-03-01146239110.3390/app14062391Shaking Table Testing and Numerical Study on Aseismic Measures of Twin-Tube Tunnel Crossing Fault Zone with Extra-Large SectionFengbing Zhao0Bo Liang1Ningyu Zhao2Bolin Jiang3School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, No. 66, Xuefu Road, Nan’an District, Chongqing 400074, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, No. 66, Xuefu Road, Nan’an District, Chongqing 400074, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, No. 66, Xuefu Road, Nan’an District, Chongqing 400074, ChinaChongqing Vocational Institute of Engineering, Chongqing 402260, ChinaAs transportation networks continue to expand into mountainous regions with high seismic activity, ensuring the seismic safety of tunnels crossing active faults has become increasingly crucial. This study aimed to enhance our understanding of the impact of fault zones on the seismic behavior of tunnels and to provide optimized seismic design recommendations through a comprehensive experimental and numerical investigation. The focus of this research is the Xiangyangshan Highway Tunnel in China, which intersects a significant longitudinal fault. Large-scale shake table tests were performed on 1:100 scale physical models of the tunnel to analyze the seismic responses under various ground motion excitations. Detailed three-dimensional finite difference models were developed in FLAC3D and calibrated based on the shake table results. The tests indicated that strains, earth pressures, and accelerations experience localized amplification within 10–20 m of the fault interface compared to undisturbed ground sections. Common seismic mitigation measures, such as rock grouting, seismic joints, and shock absorption layers, were observed to effectively reduce the amplified seismic demands. Grouting, in particular, led to an average reduction of up to 56.3% in circumferential strain and 38.5% in earth pressure. It was concluded that 6 m thick grouted zones and 20 cm thick rubber interlayers between tunnel lining shells provide optimal structural reinforcement against the effects of fault zones. This study provides valuable insights for improving the seismic resilience of underground transportation corridors in seismically active regions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/6/2391extra-large section tunnelshaking table testsurrounding rock groutingshock absorption layerseismic jointfault
spellingShingle Fengbing Zhao
Bo Liang
Ningyu Zhao
Bolin Jiang
Shaking Table Testing and Numerical Study on Aseismic Measures of Twin-Tube Tunnel Crossing Fault Zone with Extra-Large Section
Applied Sciences
extra-large section tunnel
shaking table test
surrounding rock grouting
shock absorption layer
seismic joint
fault
title Shaking Table Testing and Numerical Study on Aseismic Measures of Twin-Tube Tunnel Crossing Fault Zone with Extra-Large Section
title_full Shaking Table Testing and Numerical Study on Aseismic Measures of Twin-Tube Tunnel Crossing Fault Zone with Extra-Large Section
title_fullStr Shaking Table Testing and Numerical Study on Aseismic Measures of Twin-Tube Tunnel Crossing Fault Zone with Extra-Large Section
title_full_unstemmed Shaking Table Testing and Numerical Study on Aseismic Measures of Twin-Tube Tunnel Crossing Fault Zone with Extra-Large Section
title_short Shaking Table Testing and Numerical Study on Aseismic Measures of Twin-Tube Tunnel Crossing Fault Zone with Extra-Large Section
title_sort shaking table testing and numerical study on aseismic measures of twin tube tunnel crossing fault zone with extra large section
topic extra-large section tunnel
shaking table test
surrounding rock grouting
shock absorption layer
seismic joint
fault
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/6/2391
work_keys_str_mv AT fengbingzhao shakingtabletestingandnumericalstudyonaseismicmeasuresoftwintubetunnelcrossingfaultzonewithextralargesection
AT boliang shakingtabletestingandnumericalstudyonaseismicmeasuresoftwintubetunnelcrossingfaultzonewithextralargesection
AT ningyuzhao shakingtabletestingandnumericalstudyonaseismicmeasuresoftwintubetunnelcrossingfaultzonewithextralargesection
AT bolinjiang shakingtabletestingandnumericalstudyonaseismicmeasuresoftwintubetunnelcrossingfaultzonewithextralargesection