Contributions to Géotechnique 1948–2008: Tunnelling

Abstract

The response of the ground and nearby structures to tunnelling constitutes a complex soil–structure interaction boundary value problem. Géotechnique papers published over the past 60 years that have dealt with this subject are summarised and discussed here. The papers have been organised according to their subject matter, including historical perspectives, various forms of theoretical and numerical analyses, small-scale modelling, and full-scale field monitoring. The number of papers written has steadily accelerated with time, thus indicating the growing interest in tunnelling and its effects, particularly in the urban environment, and an increase in our understanding of the subject. However, our knowledge is far from complete, and there are still many challenges to be tackled, particularly concerning the effects of tunnelling on existing infrastructure.