Ground collapse caused by shield tunneling in sandy cobble stratum and its control measures

This study investigated several ground collapses in sandy cobble strata induced by shield tunneling in two intervals of Lanzhou Metro Line 1 and proposed corresponding control measures. Ground collapses were classified into three types (A, B, and C). The distribution of low-compactness zones was the primary cause of the collapses that occurred after steady excavation (A-type), indicating that advanced grouting should be conducted beneath these zones. The grouting area should be a semi-circular ring in the transverse section, with a grouting ring height and thickness of 1.05 m and 0.51 m, respectively. A poor tunneling state caused by fluidity reduction in the cutter chamber was the main reason for collapses caused by restarting the shield after long-term shutdown (B-type). We suggest rotating the cutterhead every 12 h during long-term shutdown and supplementing the bentonite until the cutterhead torque falls below 3500 kN·m. Collapses caused by cutterhead blockage (C-type) were mainly due to encountering large boulders during tunneling. We suggest pulling the front shield back with hinge equipment when the cutterhead is blocked, with a backward distance greater than the penetration distance (35 mm) and a face pressure above the limit support pressure calculated using the method presented in this paper.