Research on the Construction Mechanical Behavior and Deformation Characteristics of Lining Structure—2nd Edition

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Structures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 7764

Special Issue Editors

School of Civil Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
Interests: tunnel and underground engineering; construction mechanics of large and complex underground structures; research and development of underground engineering construction machinery and equipment; selection and intelligent control of tunnel construction equipment in extreme environments; application of renewable fiber materials in concrete lining structures
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Guest Editor
School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, China
Interests: structure system and deformation control of tunnels in complex and unfavorable geological environments with weak surrounding rocks; foundation pit support structures
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lining is a permanent support structure constructed with reinforced concrete and other materials around the tunnel body to prevent the deformation or collapse of surrounding rock.

With the huge demand for transportation and thus the rapid development of tunnels and other underground engineering construction technologies, some tunnels that are operating have entered the life cycle of closure and repair. As a support structure, lining has been confirmed to play an important role in engineering construction, operation, and maintenance.

This Special Issue encourages all professionals, researchers, managers, and planners engaged in the construction, operation, and maintenance of civil engineering, tunnels, and corresponding underground engineering, to share their projects.

Dr. Heng Zhang
Dr. Huayun Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • tunnel engineering
  • underground engineering
  • construction mechanics
  • lining structure
  • support parameters
  • deformation control
  • surrounding rock characteristics

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 9063 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Reasonable Reserved Deformation of Deep-Buried Tunnel Excavation Based on Large Deformation Characteristics in Soft Rock
by Zhen Yang, Peisi Liu, Bo Wang, Yiqi Zhao and Heng Zhang
Buildings 2024, 14(10), 3159; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14103159 - 3 Oct 2024
Viewed by 725
Abstract
This study studies the deformation characteristics of the diversion tunnel of Jinping II Hydropower Station in order to guarantee the safety of the excavation of a large-section soft rock tunnel with a depth of 1000 m and increased ground stress. Using field data, [...] Read more.
This study studies the deformation characteristics of the diversion tunnel of Jinping II Hydropower Station in order to guarantee the safety of the excavation of a large-section soft rock tunnel with a depth of 1000 m and increased ground stress. Using field data, theoretical computations, and numerical modeling, the proper reserved deformation of a deep soft rock tunnel is investigated, taking into consideration the size, in situ stress, and grade of the surrounding rock. The study reveals that (1) The diversion tunnel’s incursion limit, which is typically between 20 and 60 cm, is serious; (2) The surrounding rock level > geostress > tunnel size are the influencing parameters of reserved deformation that remain unchanged while using the numerical simulation method, which is more accurate in simulating field conditions; (3) The west end of the Jinping diversion tunnel has a 30–60 cm reserved deformation range for the chlorite schist tunnel. The deformation law of a large-section, 1000 m-deep soft rock tunnel is better understood, and it also offers important references for high-stress soft rock tunnel engineering design, construction, and safety management. Full article
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22 pages, 5560 KiB  
Article
Prediction of the Temperature Field in a Tunnel during Construction Based on Airflow–Surrounding Rock Heat Transfer
by Guofeng Wang, Yongqiao Fang, Kaifu Ren, Fayi Deng, Bo Wang and Heng Zhang
Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2908; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092908 - 14 Sep 2024
Viewed by 564
Abstract
It is important to determine the ventilation required in the construction of deep and long tunnels and the variation law of tunnel temperature fields to reduce the numbers of high-temperature disasters and serious accidents. Based on a tunnel project with a high ground [...] Read more.
It is important to determine the ventilation required in the construction of deep and long tunnels and the variation law of tunnel temperature fields to reduce the numbers of high-temperature disasters and serious accidents. Based on a tunnel project with a high ground temperature, with the help of convection heat transfer theory and the theoretical analysis and calculation method, this paper clarifies the contribution of various heat sources to the air demand during tunnel construction, and reveals the important environmental parameters that determine the ventilation value by changing the construction conditions. The results show that increasing the fresh air temperature greatly increases the required air volume, and the closer the supply air temperature is to 28 °C, the more the air volume needs to be increased. The air temperature away from the palm face is not significantly affected by changes in the supply air temperature. Adjusting the wall temperature greatly accelerates the rate of temperature growth. The supply air temperature rose from 15 to 25 °C, while the tunnel temperature at 800 m only increased by 1.5 °C. Over a 50 m range, the wall temperature rose from 35 to 60 degrees Celsius at a rate of 0.0842 to 0.219 degrees Celsius per meter. The total air volume rises and the surface heat transfer coefficient decreases as the tunnel’s cross-section increases. For every 10 m increase in the tunnel diameter, the temperature at 800 m from the tunnel face drops by about 0.5 °C. Changing the distance between the air duct and the tunnel face has little influence on the temperature distribution law. The general trend is that the farther the air duct outlet is from the tunnel face, the higher the temperature is, and the maximum difference is within the range of 50 m~250 m from the tunnel face. The maximum difference between the air temperatures at 12 m and 27 m is 0.79 °C. The geological structure and geothermal background have the greatest influence on the temperature prediction of high geothermal tunnels. The prediction results are of great significance for guiding tunnel construction, formulating cooling measures, and ensuring construction safety. Full article
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22 pages, 6816 KiB  
Article
Factorial Experiments of Soil Conditioning for Earth Pressure Balance Shield Tunnelling in Water-Rich Gravel Sand and Conditioning Effects’ Prediction Based on Particle Swarm Optimization–Relevance Vector Machine Algorithm
by Xingzhong Nong, Wenfeng Bai, Jiandang Chen and Lihui Zhang
Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2800; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092800 - 5 Sep 2024
Viewed by 673
Abstract
The high permeability of gravel sand increases the risk of water spewing from the screw conveyor during earth pressure balance (EPB) shield tunnelling. The effectiveness of soil conditioning is a key factor affecting EPB shield tunnelling and construction safety. In this paper, using [...] Read more.
The high permeability of gravel sand increases the risk of water spewing from the screw conveyor during earth pressure balance (EPB) shield tunnelling. The effectiveness of soil conditioning is a key factor affecting EPB shield tunnelling and construction safety. In this paper, using polymer, a foaming agent, and bentonite slurry as conditioning additives, the permeability coefficient tests of conditioned gravel sand are carried out under different injection conditions based on the factorial experiment design. The interactions between different concentrations of conditioning additives are analyzed. A prediction model for soil conditioning during shield tunneling based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) and relevance vector machine (RVM) algorithms is proposed to accurately and efficiently obtain the soil conditioning parameters in the water-rich gravel sand layer. The experimental results indicate that the improvement effect of the foaming agent on the permeability of the conditioned gravel sand gradually diminishes with the growing concentration of bentonite slurry. Under conditions of high polymer concentration, further increasing the concentration of bentonite slurry and foaming agent has a weak impact on the permeability coefficient when the concentration of bentonite slurry exceeds 10%. The significance of main effects, first-order interactions, and second-order interaction on the permeability of conditioned gravel sand are as follows: polymer concentration (A) > foaming agent concentration (B) > bentonite slurry concentration (C) > first-order interactions (A × B, A × C, B × C) > second-order interaction (A × B × C). The first-order interaction mainly manifests as a synergistic effect, while the second-order interaction primarily exhibits an antagonistic effect. Case studies show that the maximum relative error between predicted and experimental values is less than 3%. A field application of shield tunneling demonstrates the good performance of real-time optimization of soil conditioning parameters based on the PSO–RVM algorithm. This research provides a new method for evaluating the effectiveness of soil conditioning in the water-rich gravel sand layer. Full article
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22 pages, 29823 KiB  
Article
Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Flexural Properties and Mesoscopic Failure Mechanism of Single-Shell Lining Concrete
by Jian Wu, Haijun Zou, Nengfang He, Haiyan Xu, Zhijie Wang and Xiaohao Rui
Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2620; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092620 - 24 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 453
Abstract
Despite ongoing research efforts aimed at understanding the structural response of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC), there is very limited research on the failure characteristics and mesoscopic damage mechanism of SFRC, specifically when under flexure. In this study, a four-point bending test of [...] Read more.
Despite ongoing research efforts aimed at understanding the structural response of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC), there is very limited research on the failure characteristics and mesoscopic damage mechanism of SFRC, specifically when under flexure. In this study, a four-point bending test of plain concrete (PC) and SFRC with different fiber contents is carried out to investigate the flexural performance of SFRC. The crack propagation process, cracking load, ultimate load, and load-deflection curves of PC and SFRC beams are obtained. Additionally, the discrete element method (DEM), using PFC2D 6.0 software, is adopted to explore the mesoscopic properties of PC and SFRC. The test and simulation results of PC and SFRC beams are compared and analyzed, and some conclusions are drawn. The results show that steel fiber can efficiently improve the compressive strength of concrete when the fiber content is 30 kg/m3, and significantly improve the deformation resistance, crack resistance, and flexural capacity of concrete. The refined numerical models of PC and SFRC beams are established based on compressive strength and aggregate screening results. Through the numerical four-point bending test, the mesoscopic mechanical behaviors of models reveal the damage mechanism of SFRC. The horizontally distributed steel fibers bridge both sides of the cracks to resist crack development, and the vertically distributed steel fibers guide the cracks to the place with strong contact, thus resisting crack height development. The test results show that, for flexural properties, the optimal steel fiber content of SFRC is 31 kg/m3. Full article
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17 pages, 13015 KiB  
Article
Research on Stress Characteristics of Rockburst in Over-Length Deep-Buried Tunnel
by Chun Luo, Shishu Zhang, Bihua Tang, Jun Chen, Chonglin Yin and Huayun Li
Buildings 2024, 14(8), 2298; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14082298 - 25 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 809
Abstract
As a unique geological hazard in a high-geo-stress environment, rockburst happens with strong suddenness, randomness, and destructiveness, but the mechanism of its occurrence in a deep-buried tunnel in a high-geo-stress environment needs further study. Based on the analyses of the stress field of [...] Read more.
As a unique geological hazard in a high-geo-stress environment, rockburst happens with strong suddenness, randomness, and destructiveness, but the mechanism of its occurrence in a deep-buried tunnel in a high-geo-stress environment needs further study. Based on the analyses of the stress field of the rockburst section of Ping’an Tunnel, which is over-long and deep-buried, the occurrence mechanism of rockburst is figured out. Furtherly, the intensity and location of rockburst are predicted by using the rockburst criterion. Results show that there exists large compressive stress at the side wall of the tunnel, which is the main cause of rockburst. Under a high-geo-stress condition, due to the existence of unfavorable factors like structural planes, high intensity rockburst is likely to happen in the middle of the tunnel face after the sudden release of original rock stress. Arranging stress-releasing holes in the rockburst section can effectively reduce the possibility of rockburst by releasing the original rock stress in advance. The research results can deepen the understanding of the mechanism of rockburst in a high-geo-stress environment and provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of rockburst in similar engineering projects. Full article
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18 pages, 8101 KiB  
Article
Limited Field Images Concrete Crack Identification Framework Using PCA and Optimized Deep Learning Model
by Yuan Pan, Shuangxi Zhou, Jingyuan Guan, Qing Wang and Yang Ding
Buildings 2024, 14(7), 2054; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14072054 - 5 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 737
Abstract
Concrete crack identification methods based on machine learning can greatly improve extraction efficiency and precision. However, in many cases, model training requires a large amount of sample data, and insufficient data makes it difficult to effectively obtain model parameters. This study introduces a [...] Read more.
Concrete crack identification methods based on machine learning can greatly improve extraction efficiency and precision. However, in many cases, model training requires a large amount of sample data, and insufficient data makes it difficult to effectively obtain model parameters. This study introduces a deep learning framework that integrates filters, principal component analysis, and attention mechanisms suitable for small sample sizes. Firstly, the histogram equalization method is used for the raw images, which can effectively enhance image contrast. Then, to acquire effective images of the crack, different methods are employed for crack detection, which are subsequently handled by principal component analysis (PCA) for optimal feature choice. Att-Unet and Att-Mask R-cnn segmentation models are used to design the detection for concrete cracks. To raise the learning ability of the segmentation models, an attention mechanism is applied to each feature layer of the decoder, and the loss function is evaluated using a combination of the Focal function and Cross Entropy. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, Deep Crack datasets and 76 sets of concrete crack data were collected for testing. Experimental results have shown that the method proposed can significantly reduce the model’s demand for data volume and improve training speed, which provides a new direction for small-sample crack extraction. Full article
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16 pages, 9161 KiB  
Article
Study of the Strain Law and Model of an Open-Air Steel Column under Daily Temperature Changes in Winter
by Xugang Lian, Chunyang Chen, Xinbin Zhan, Yucheng Chen, Yu Zhang, Yang Chen, Cheng Liu, Yongxin Cai and Qiang Yu
Buildings 2024, 14(7), 2011; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14072011 - 2 Jul 2024
Viewed by 632
Abstract
Steel structures with light weight, high rigidity, and easy assembly have become the first choice for large-span complex building materials. At the same time, transparent materials are widely used for the sake of practicality and aesthetics. However, steel structures will be deformed due [...] Read more.
Steel structures with light weight, high rigidity, and easy assembly have become the first choice for large-span complex building materials. At the same time, transparent materials are widely used for the sake of practicality and aesthetics. However, steel structures will be deformed due to changes in temperature, which will affect the accuracy of closure. The components are restricted from free deformation as a result of multiple statically indeterminate structures. A safety hazard will occur if the residual temperature stress is not released. At present, the strain law of open-air steel structures caused by temperature change is still unclear, and the corresponding temperature–strain model has not been established. This paper is based on the third-phase reconstruction and expansion project of Taiyuan Wusu Airport in Xiaodian District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province (37°45′ N, 112°38′ E, average altitude of 774 m), winter long time series temperature measured data, deduced daily temperature change laws, and the established relationship model between air temperature and steel surface temperature. Based on the measured data of long-term stress and strain in winter, the strain law of open-air steel columns under temperature change is discussed. According to the results, the air temperature can be utilized to determine the strain of the open-air steel column during winter. The determination coefficient of the temperature–stress model can reach 0.868, and the radial bending stress caused by the change in daily temperature cannot be ignored, accounting for 15.7% of the radial stress at the same time, which can provide a reference for stress calculations of similar structures. Full article
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17 pages, 22841 KiB  
Article
Research on Rock-Breaking Characteristics of Cutters and Matching of Cutter Spacing and Penetration for Tunnel Boring Machine
by Huipeng Zhang, Ming Xia, Fengyuan Huang and Zhiqiang Zhang
Buildings 2024, 14(6), 1757; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14061757 - 11 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 688
Abstract
Tunnel boring machine (TBM) tunnel construction in composite strata relies heavily on understanding the rock-breaking characteristics of TBM cutters and optimizing cutter spacing and penetration. Utilizing a full-scale rock rotary cutting machine (RCM), this study conducted rock-breaking tests with disc cutters under varying [...] Read more.
Tunnel boring machine (TBM) tunnel construction in composite strata relies heavily on understanding the rock-breaking characteristics of TBM cutters and optimizing cutter spacing and penetration. Utilizing a full-scale rock rotary cutting machine (RCM), this study conducted rock-breaking tests with disc cutters under varying rolling radii. An analysis of rock debris shape and cutter behavior provided insights into rock-breaking mechanisms. Two main types of rock fragments were identified, with both shear and compression failure observed during cutter–rock interactions. The influence of the rolling radius and cutter spacing on cutter forces was analyzed, along with numerical modeling using the particle flow method. Optimal cutter selection in soft–hard composite strata should prioritize cutter force, with the greatest force required in hard rock. Cutter force increases with penetration, while the force difference between cutters decreases with reduced cutter spacing. These findings offer practical guidance for efficient rock-breaking in composite geological formations during tunnel construction. Full article
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19 pages, 24867 KiB  
Article
Study on the Effect of Natural Wind on the Smoke Spread Law of Extra-Long Tunnel Fires with Inclined Shafts for Air Supply and Exhaust
by Yinjun Tan, Keli Wang, Zhiqiang Zhang, Zeyi Lu and Heng Zhang
Buildings 2024, 14(6), 1516; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14061516 - 23 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 802
Abstract
High-temperature smoke generated by tunnel fires is the most important factor causing casualties. To explore the influence of natural wind on fire smoke movement in an extra-long highway tunnel based on the Taihang Mountain Tunnel, the distribution law of natural wind in the [...] Read more.
High-temperature smoke generated by tunnel fires is the most important factor causing casualties. To explore the influence of natural wind on fire smoke movement in an extra-long highway tunnel based on the Taihang Mountain Tunnel, the distribution law of natural wind in the tunnel was obtained by on-site monitoring of the meteorological conditions at the tunnel site. A three-dimensional fire dynamics tunnel model considering an inclined shaft smoke exhaust was established, and the influence of natural wind on tunnel temperature distribution, smoke spread and smoke exhaust efficiency was studied. The results show that the natural wind speed of the Taihang Mountain Tunnel is mainly concentrated at 0~3 m/s. The main wind direction of the natural wind on the left tunnel is opposite to the driving direction, and the distribution probability of the main wind direction in each section is 81.27% and 72.15%, respectively. The main wind direction of the right tunnel is the same as the driving direction, and the distribution probability of the main wind direction in each section is 56.78%, 69.73%, 67.32% and 64.65%, respectively. The negative natural wind can inhibit the smoke spread downstream of the smoke exhaust port, but it is not conducive to the smoke exhaust. The positive natural wind promotes the smoke spread to the downstream of the smoke exhaust port, and the larger the natural wind speed, the longer the spread length. Natural wind reduces the smoke exhaust efficiency. For positive or negative natural wind with a guaranteed rate of 70%, the smoke exhaust efficiency is reduced by 27.76% and 15.59%, respectively, compared with the condition without natural wind. The research results can provide a useful reference for the design of fire smoke exhausts and smoke control schemes in extra-long highway tunnels. Full article
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14 pages, 6810 KiB  
Technical Note
Innovative Approaches and Challenges in the Demolition of Large-Span Post-Tensioned Beams: Insights from a Case Study
by Mohammad Jonaidi, Adam Kaplan and Ali Keyvanfar
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1380; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051380 - 11 May 2024
Viewed by 1176
Abstract
Large-span, post-tensioned (PT) beams play a crucial role in maximizing the benefits of post-tensioning techniques. Bonded and unbonded systems are prevalent, with the latter being more widespread in the United States. While bonded systems are advantageous for creating long spans when multiple tendons [...] Read more.
Large-span, post-tensioned (PT) beams play a crucial role in maximizing the benefits of post-tensioning techniques. Bonded and unbonded systems are prevalent, with the latter being more widespread in the United States. While bonded systems are advantageous for creating long spans when multiple tendons are grouped in ducts, limited studies in the literature exist on their demolition. With a case study, this paper addresses the unique challenge of demolishing large-span-bonded, post-tensioned beams that occurs due to a building’s functional change. Emphasizing insights for engineers, it explores the use of cutting and dismantling methods, thereby considering the presence of prestressed cables. The demolition process is distinctive due to the presence of numerous prestressed cables along the beams, necessitating a specialized and cautious cutting approach. This is accomplished through the use of a drilling technique that selectively distresses the tendons, ensuring they are not all affected simultaneously. An intriguing observation discussed in this paper pertains to the occurrence of horizontal cracks accompanied by loud sounds following the drilling process, thereby offering insights from the design perspective of PT systems. This paper details an innovative method for safely demolishing large-span, bonded PT beams using ground-penetrating radar and computer models to navigate structural complexities and ensure nearby structures’ safety. Full article
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