Parametric Study of Tunnel Behaviour Under Static Loading Condition

The expansion of urban areas has resulted in a scarcity of land in metropolitan regions, leading to various transportation challenges. Constructing underground structures has proven to be a highly effective solution to these issues. However, tunnels can experience deformation from different types of loading, such as static load and dynamic load. Especially, when tunnels are built in geologically unstable formations, it becomes crucial to prioritize evaluating potential failure caused by the stresses they encounter. This research assesses the deformation behaviour of tunnels in terms of the magnitude resulting from static loading, including the scenario when different rock materials exist in the tunnel span. First, a finite element simulation model is developed and validated with experiments, and then it is used to examine the behaviour of lined Circular tunnels with different layer strata. In this investigation, the rock's unconfined compressive strength is used to provide maximum vertical loads to the tunnel lining. In the simulation model, Mohr–Coulomb Plasticity model is applied for different rock types. The findings indicate that the deformation characteristics of tunnels are influenced by the presence of layered strata within the tunnel span and can be used to predict the deformation curves for tunnels.