Simplified finite element modeling of TBM tunneling
Simplified finite element modeling of TBM tunneling
Numerical modelling of TBM tunneling remains a difficult problem due to the complexity of the phenomena involved and the large number of parameters that need to be taken into account. Conventional numerical models generally associate stress relaxation forces on the tunnel contour and compressive forces representing the action of both the TBM and the grout on the ground. These models have certain drawbacks, the main one being the difficulty of calibrating the parameters used. In this paper, we propose a model that takes as input data the control parameters of the TBM and models the injection of the grout by applying compressive forces to the contour of a zone of the mesh. This model combines stress relaxation forces and compressive forces in a single step by applying the final stress directly to the tunnel contour. In particular, it allows the grouting pressure to be taken into account only where it is greater than the initial mean stress in the soil. The approach is implemented in the finite element code CESAR and compared with experimental data from the TULIP project (Tunneling and Limitation of Impacts on Piles); in particular, the influence of the model parameters on the width of the surface settlement trough and the lateral displacements of the soil at different depths are discussed.
H. Zaiter; Hussein Mroueh; Emmanuel Bourgeois
18th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ECSMGE2024)
A - New developments on structural design
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