Field measurements and parametric studies for the thermal environment of underground tunnel entrance in cold climate zones

Abstract

In frozen regions, especially metro tunnel portal sections, which are vulnerable to an externally low-temperature atmosphere, would lead to frozen damage affecting traffic safety. To clarify how the air temperature field at tunnel portal sections varies with periodically changing atmospheric temperature, a site test was conducted on Metro Line 1 in Hohhot in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and the basic heat transfer equation and principle of energy conservation were introduced to establish a basic theoretical model, which was compared with the results from other regions. By comparison with testing results in other regions, the theoretical model was essentially consistent with the variation rules of the tested temperature. Therefore, the research could theoretically direct the heat preservation and freeze prevention of key facilities and equipment in metro tunnel portal sections in frozen regions.