Effects of different processes of tunneling on displacements soil using 3D Finite Element Method

The excavation process of tunnels induces stresses and deformation in the surrounding soil. The method of excavation is one of the major problems related to the safety of the operators and the ground stability during the construction of underground works. So, it is necessary to choose an ideal method to minimize the displacements and stresses induced by tunneling.

The main aim of this study is to simulate numerically the effect of different processes of tunneling on ground displacements, the settlements at surface soil and the internal efforts induced in the lining tunnel; in order to select the best process of excavation, which gives us a less effects on displacements generated by tunneling, thus, ensuring the stability and the solidity of the underground constructions. In addition, this study allows us to control and to predict the diverse movements generated by tunneling (displacements, settlements, efforts internes) exclusively for the shallow tunnel nearby to the underground constructions in the urban site. This modeling will be done by employing five different processes for tunnel excavation using the NATM (New Austrian Tunneling Method) method.

The first process, the modeling of the excavation tunnel, is done almost in the same way as in reality; the partial face excavation, with seven slices, made by the excavation. The second process, by partial face excavation, is divided into eleven slices, next, we used the partial face excavation by nine slices, and then in thirteen slices. Finally, the dig is made by full-face excavation.

The paper contributes to the prediction of the response of the soil environment to tunnel excavation using the NATM method and to minimize the diverse movements generated by tunneling. The appropriately chosen methodology confirms that displacements and subsidence are strongly influenced by the tunneling method. The three-dimensional Finite Elements Method using Plaxis3D program has been applied in the numerical simulation. The study resulted in the recommendation of a process that minimizes the effect of excavation on subsidence and ground displacement for a particular Setiha tunnel.