Prediction and analysis of subsidence induced by shield tunnelling in the Madrid Metro extension

Abstract

The development of tunnelling projects under heavily populated cities has been rapidly increasing around the world during the last decades. Since tunnel construction can have disastrous effects on buildings, structures, and utilities near the excavation, construction methods have necessarily to provide maximum safety inside and outside the tunnel. To predict and correct dangerous ground movements due to the tunnelling works, the authors developed a numerical model to simulate the earth pressure balance (EPB) excavation procedure and injection to complement some deficiencies found in previous analytical or empirical subsidence estimating procedures. This model takes into account the full excavation sequence and has been validated by a large amount of monitoring data from the previous Madrid Metro extension. In the present paper, several predictive methods are used to predict the ground movements generated during a new Madrid Metro extension project consisting of 48 km of tunnel (1999–2003). At the end of the works the results will be compared with data from monitored sections placed in all five cities linked by the extension. Conclusions about the applicability and accuracy of the methods will be established with the aim of helping researchers and engineers in their future projects.Key words: ground movements, monitoring, numerical modelling and analysis, settlement, tunnels.