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Urban Underground Engineering: Excavation, Monitoring, and Control: 2nd Edition

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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2024) | Viewed by 9509

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Prof. Dr. Pengfei Li

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Key Laboratory of Urban Security and Disaster Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Interests: tunneling; braced excavation; numerical simulation; underground engineering
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Prof. Dr. Qian Fang

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Key Laboratory for Urban Underground Engineering of Ministry of Education, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
Interests: big data; excavation; tunneling; numerical simulation; numerical modeling
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Dear Colleagues,

The urban underground space has rapidly developed. With the exploitation of underground space and the construction of high-rises in urban spaces, a large number of underground projects have appeared lately, and their scale and depth are increasing constantly. During the construction of urban underground engineering, there are problems such as penetrative destruction, dewatering in local, uplift pressure and corrosivity, etc. Research on urban land and underground space currently only focuses on engineering technology, but this is not enough for the analysis of the whole situation of urban land and underground space. Therefore, we invite investigators to contribute to this Special Issue on “Urban Underground Engineering: Excavation, Monitoring, and Control: 2nd Edition” with original research papers. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

Laboratory-based experimental investigations of urban underground engineering;
Monitoring techniques in urban tunnels and deep foundation excavations;
Theoretical models for urban underground engineering;
Numerical modeling of structure failure in urban tunnels;
Applications of field monitoring of tunnels and other related aspects.

Prof. Dr. Pengfei Li
Prof. Dr. Qian Fang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

urban tunnels
laboratory test
monitoring
theoretical analysis
numerical modeling

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Related Special Issue

Urban Underground Engineering: Excavation, Monitoring, and Control in Applied Sciences (40 articles)

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 4357 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study on Karst Cave Collapse Based on Improved Terzaghi Theory and Upper Limit Analysis

by Weilong Yan, Rui Liu, Shugao Tian, Fei Tan, Hao Wen and Jiahe Lv

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(18), 8252; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188252 - 13 Sep 2024

Viewed by 535

Abstract

Karst areas exhibit intricate geological attributes, and the geological and environmental issues caused by urban development cannot be ignored, especially the issue of karst surface collapses. In this study, we developed two analytical methods and analyzed the stability of the overburden stratum of 3D spherical karst caves with surface load, vacuum absorption erosion force, and groundwater table considerations. The first analytical method is based on the improved Terzaghi theory, while the second analytical method is based on the upper limit analysis. A case study was conducted in Wuhan, China. The results from both analytical methods indicated a potential susceptibility to collapse, suggesting the excellent accuracy of these two methods. The results were also compared with the numerical solutions from previous studies. Notably, the accuracy of the upper limit analysis was inversely proportional to the depth ratio, while the results obtained through the improved Terzaghi theory were consistent with those of the numerical solutions, particularly under conditions of relatively high depth ratios. This study examined various facets, including the development of karst caves, soil shear strength, groundwater table fluctuations, and boundary failure angles. Furthermore, we explored the effects of geometric and geotechnical parameters on the stability of karst caves. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Underground Engineering: Excavation, Monitoring, and Control: 2nd Edition)

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18 pages, 25896 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Groundwater Fluctuations on the Stability of Super-Large-Diameter Caissons before and after Reinforcement

by Leisi Dou, Haitao Wang, Bin Li, Yulin Yang and Danyang Di

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(12), 4971; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14124971 - 7 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 615

Abstract

Super-large-diameter caissons, serving as working wells for trenchless pipe jacking technology, are being extensively constructed alongside the increasing adoption of trenchless technology in urban areas. However, being regarded merely as ancillary structures, the structural stability of a caisson during both construction and operation phases are often neglected. This study, centered on the super-large-diameter caissons within the Jinshui River flood control project in Zhengzhou, China, systematically monitored the mechanical behavior of caisson structures and surface settlement during construction and operational phases. Utilizing a validated FE method, the influence of groundwater fluctuations on the structural stability of caissons during operational phases was examined. Furthermore, potential occurrences of loose soil, voids, and caisson tilting were considered. Subsequently, the applicability of permeable polymer, foam polymer, and anchor rod reinforcement techniques were evaluated, followed by an analysis of the structural stability of the caissons post reinforcement during long-term operations. The findings demonstrate the minimal horizontal displacement of and stress variation in caissons under seasonal groundwater fluctuations, without significant structural alterations. Nevertheless, the presence of loose soil, voids, and caisson inclinations may decline the caisson’s support force and bearing capacity. With the increase in non-compactness, void size, and inclination, the structural stability of caissons notably diminishes. Reinforcing loose soil with permeable polymers, filling voids with foam polymers, and utilizing anchor rods are all effective methods for strengthening caisson structures and enhancing their stability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Underground Engineering: Excavation, Monitoring, and Control: 2nd Edition)

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22 pages, 5481 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of the Numerical Simulation and Measured Data of an Existing Tunnel Subjected to Multiple Disturbances: A Case Study

by Haoran Li, Fei Ye, Xingbo Han and Xin Han

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 4717; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14114717 - 30 May 2024

Viewed by 626

Abstract

As urban underground spaces continue to develop, new engineering projects are increasingly closer to existing operating tunnels. This study focuses on the impact of excavation work, such as a new tunnel or deep excavation, on an existing shield tunnel. However, few studies have examined the simultaneous effects of excavation and over-crossing tunneling on operational tunnels. This paper presents a case study of Section 2 of Hangzhou Metro Line 7, employing MIDAS GTS to simulate the settlement of the existing tunnel and analyze the data collected through automatic measurements. Both methods demonstrated that excavating a foundation pit near the existing tunnel results in the tunnel’s settlement while over-crossing tunneling of the new tunnels leads to the uplift of the existing tunnel. The excavation prompted the existing tunnel to move horizontally toward the foundation pit, whereas over-crossing tunneling pushed it horizontally away. The numerical simulation revealed minor vertical displacement but significant horizontal displacement, aligning closely with the measured data. The impacts of foundation pit excavation and over-crossing tunneling on the vertical and horizontal displacement of existing tunnels are contrary, suggesting that the two construction stages will offset each other. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Underground Engineering: Excavation, Monitoring, and Control: 2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 5592 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Simulation of Tunnel Face Support Pressure in Layered Soft Ground

by Bihan Xiao, Xibing Li and Linqi Huang

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(7), 2943; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14072943 - 31 Mar 2024

Viewed by 839

Abstract

In shield construction, the limit support pressure of the tunnel face has an important influence on ground settlement and construction safety. In this study, MIDAS GTS NX software was used to conduct a series of three-dimensional finite element simulations to investigate variations in excavation face support pressure under different layered ground conditions. By changing the shear strength parameters of the top or bottom layers, the influence of composite layers with different formation boundaries on the support pressure of the excavation face was studied. It was observed that when the formation boundary is placed above the axis, the support pressure of the excavation face is more sensitive to a change in the parameters in the lower part of the formation than in the upper part. Conversely, when the formation boundary lies below the axis, this sensitivity becomes reversed. Additionally, we derived a robust and accurate equation to estimate the limiting face support pressure in layered soft ground based on numerical modeling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Underground Engineering: Excavation, Monitoring, and Control: 2nd Edition)

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19 pages, 5491 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bearing Capacity of a Concrete Grouting Pad on the Working Surface of a Highway Tunnel Shaft

by Tengfei Fang, Zongzhi Zhao, Jianxun Chen, Yanbin Luo, Weiwei Liu, Dong Li, Ruibin Yu and Jian Li

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(7), 2933; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14072933 - 30 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 926

Abstract

A grouting pad is the key structure for the construction of water inrush grouting on the shaft working surface. Previous methods of calculating the bearing capacity have limitations due to a lack of understanding of the failure mode. To investigate the bearing capacity of a concrete grouting pad on the working surface of a shaft, this paper establishes a mechanical model for the punching shear failure of a grouting pad under symmetrical loading conditions. A unified solution for the bearing capacity is derived, and the influence of parameters is discussed. In addition, a new method for designing the plastic limit thickness is proposed based on this research. The results show that the reason for the grouting pads’ punching shear failure resulted from the formation of peripheral grouting holes “weak ring” caused by the reduction of the bearing capacity. When the thickness of B₀ remains constant, the bearing capacity q_u of the grouting pad is inversely proportional to the ratio of the diameter and the area of the bottom load. Therefore, following the method of “dividing, interval, and jumping holes” during grouting construction is recommended. The greater the thickness of the grouting pad, the greater the bearing capacity q_u will be. When the grouting pad diameter is 2r₂ and the thickness B₀ is constant, the bearing capacity q_u increases with the material tensile strength f_t. When designing grouting pads, following the principles of “large thickness, uniform strength theory, high strength materials” will improve bearing performance. The findings have been implemented in the design of the grouting pad thickness for the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel shaft project, which can successfully solve the problem of frequent cracking caused by the weak bearing capacity of a grouting pad. The findings can provide a theoretical basis and reference for the design and construction of grouting pads in a highway tunnel shaft. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Underground Engineering: Excavation, Monitoring, and Control: 2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 6118 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on Composite Fracture Characteristics and Hydraulic Fracturing Behavior of Hard Rock

by Xiaoyu Tang, Wen Wan, Zhenxing Lu and Wei Chen

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 2585; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14062585 - 20 Mar 2024

Viewed by 899

Abstract

To investigate the influence of non-singular terms (T stress) in the stress field on the composite fractures of hard rock Type I–II, such as rock splitting failure and hydraulic fracture propagation, this study focused on hard rocks in metallic mines. Through splitting tests and hydraulic fracturing experiments, the impact of T stress on the characteristics of Type I–II composite fractures in hard rocks was analyzed. Utilizing the generalized maximum tangential (GMTS) stress criterion considering T stress, the stress intensity factors of hard rock Type I–II composite fractures with different pre-existing crack angles were predicted. The critical fracture pressure expression for hard rocks was derived based on the maximum tangential stress (MTS) criterion. The results indicate that the GMTS criterion, considering T stress, is more suitable for describing the characteristics of Type I–II composite fractures under rock-splitting loads. However, under hydraulic fracturing, T stress has a minor influence on the fracture characteristics of hard rock hydraulic fractures. Therefore, when predicting the critical fracture pressure of hydraulic fractures, T stress can be disregarded. This study provides a scientific basis and guidance for hard rock hydraulic fracturing engineering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Underground Engineering: Excavation, Monitoring, and Control: 2nd Edition)

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27 pages, 8475 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of Disc Cutter Wear in Tunnel-Boring Machines (TBMs): Integration of Photogrammetry, Measurement with a Caliper, Weighing, and Macroscopic Visual Inspection

by Blaž Janc, Goran Vižintin and Andrej Pal

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 2443; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14062443 - 14 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1663

Abstract

During the construction of tunnels using tunnel-boring machines (TBMs), the wear of disc cutters is an unavoidable process. The timely replacement of worn disc cutters can have a positive effect on construction time and therefore on costs. The wear of disc cutters can be assessed using various measurement methods. The aim of this article is to show different methods of measuring and evaluating the wear of disc cutters and to present their main advantages and disadvantages. In this study, four different wear-measuring methods were used and applied to a worn double disc cutter: a macroscopic visual inspection, profile measurement with a caliper, weighing, and close-range photogrammetry. The results of the measurements showed that the worn disc cutter was subject to normal abrasive wear, with local steel chipping occurring. Based on the close-range photogrammetry measurements, a profile of the worn disc cutter was also created and compared with the original profile. It was found that the best results for the wear assessment of a disc cutter can be achieved by using several measurement methods simultaneously. The integration of different measurement and evaluation methods is therefore recommended for a comprehensive understanding of disc cutter wear. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Underground Engineering: Excavation, Monitoring, and Control: 2nd Edition)

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14 pages, 3917 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Influence of Deep Soil Liquefaction on the Seismic Response of Subway Stations

by Ming Shi, Lianjin Tao and Zhigang Wang

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 2307; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14062307 - 9 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1195

Abstract

Subway systems are a crucial component of urban public transportation, especially in terms of safety during seismic events. Soil liquefaction triggered by earthquakes is one of the key factors that can lead to underground structural damage. This study investigates the impact of deep soil liquefaction on the response of subway station structures during seismic activity, aiming to provide evidence and suggestions for earthquake-resistant measures in underground constructions. The advanced finite element software PLAXIS was utilized for dynamic numerical simulations. Non-linear dynamic analysis methods were employed to construct models of subway stations and the surrounding soil layers, including soil–structure interactions. The UBC3D-PLM liquefaction constitutive model was applied to describe the liquefaction behavior of soil layers, while the HS constitutive model was used to depict the dynamic characteristics of non-liquefied soil layers. The study examined the influence of deep soil liquefaction on the dynamic response of subway station structures under different seismic waves. The findings indicate that deep soil liquefaction significantly increases the vertical displacement and acceleration responses of subway stations compared to non-liquefied conditions. The liquefaction behavior of deep soil layers leads to increased horizontal effective stress on both sides of the structure, thereby increasing the horizontal deformation of the structure and posing a potential threat to the safety and functionality of subway stations. This research employed detailed numerical simulation methods, incorporating the non-linear characteristics of deep soil layer liquefaction, providing an analytical framework based on regulatory standards for evaluating the impact of deep soil liquefaction on the seismic responses of subway stations. Compared to traditional studies, this paper significantly enhances simulation precision and practical applicability. Results from this research indicate that deep soil layer liquefaction poses a non-negligible risk to the structural safety of subway stations during earthquakes. Therefore, the issue of deep soil liquefaction should receive increased attention in engineering design and construction, with effective prevention and mitigation measures being implemented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Underground Engineering: Excavation, Monitoring, and Control: 2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 4224 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Deep Foundation Pit Excavation on Adjacent Pipelines: A Case Study in Nanjing, China

by Bin Wu, Chenhe Ge, Pengfei Li, Meng Yang and Liulian Li

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(2), 572; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14020572 - 9 Jan 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1323

Abstract

To investigate the pipeline deformation pattern caused by the excavation of deep foundation pits in composite soil–rock strata, a comprehensive study integrating on-site monitoring and numerical simulation was conducted. This study centered on a deep foundation excavation project in the soft soil in Nanjing’s floodplain region. The analyses of pipeline settlement and deformation were performed based on field-measured data. This study investigated the impact of excavation on the mechanical properties of the surrounding soil that resulted in the progressive deformation of adjacent pipelines. Furthermore, numerical simulations were conducted using Plaxis 3D CONNECT Edition v22 finite element analysis software. This study elucidated the influence of factors such as pipeline–pit distance and burial depth on pipeline deformation, conducting a quantitative analysis of their effects. The results indicated that deformation primarily occurs unevenly near pit corners and is less pronounced in soil–rock strata than in single-type soil layers. This study established correlations between pipeline displacements and various factors, offering valuable insights for future excavation projects conducted under similar conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Underground Engineering: Excavation, Monitoring, and Control: 2nd Edition)

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