Synthesis of numerical methods for the design of segmental tunnel lining

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical study that aims to compare the behavior of the segmental tunnel lining using the direct, indirect and experimental methods. This model is based on a practical case applied in university of Tongji: a project of water conveyance tunnel. A reduction in the bending moment and increasing of the displacement in the tunnel lining is showed in numerical results, when taking into account the effect of the joints. It has been shown that the number of joints in the tunnel-lining structure highly affects the results in terms internal forces and displacements. Furthermore, the internal forces obtained by the continuous method are high compared to the other methods when the effects on segmental joints on tunnel lining behaviour are usually considered. Additionally, the bending moment of the direct method with behaviour of rotation spring linear and experimental method is comparable.