Analysis of the Additional Stress and Ground Settlement Induced by the Construction of Double-O-Tube Shield Tunnels in Sandy Soils

Abstract

Double-O-tube shield tunneling has attracted increasing attention because it offers cost-efficiency in underground construction. Prediction of ground surface settlement and the variety of additional stresses induced by shield construction is crucial to underground construction in metropolises since excessive settlement could trigger potential damage to the surrounding environment. The additional stresses induced by the propulsion of double-O-tube shields are calculated by means of the Mindlin’s equations of elasticity. The characteristics of additional stresses are analyzed with compound Gauss-Legendre integral arithmetic, and the frontal additional thrust, the lateral friction, and the ground loss are taken into account. Subsequently, based on field measurements, the maximum settlement coefficient and width of the settlement trough coefficient of the typical Peck formula are modified. The predictive curve of the Peck formula is closer to the engineering measured data than that of the typical formula. The cut-off functions of ground surface settlement caused by double-O-tube tunnel shield construction are proposed and can predict the shape of ground surface settlement, such as single peak or double peak. The correctness of the proposed functions is verified based on an engineering project.