On the role of constitutive behaviour in the response of squeezing ground to tunnelling

Rock Pressure, Tunnel, Tunnelling, Gotthard, Gibraltar Tunnel

Squeezing conditions in tunnelling are characterized by the occurrence of large deformations of the opening or high rock pressure that may overstress the lining. Squeezing is associated with poor quality rock. Tunnelling in squeezing ground involves great uncertainties. It is therefore very important to gain a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms.

Triaxial testing is the main source of information in order to understand the mechanical features of squeezing ground. Despite the complexity of the squeezing mechanism and the behaviour observed under relatively simple loading conditions, most of previous research work and engineering design practice considers the ground as a linearly elastic, perfectly plastic material obeying the Mohr-Coulomb yield criterion. While the MC model is capable of predicting the final strength and post-failure volumetric behaviour of the squeezing rock, it cannot map some potentially important pre-failure features or the occasionally observed contractant plastic deformation.  In addition, the MC model usually leads to an overestimation of the strength under undrained conditions, which is unsafe for tunnel design.

The present thesis mainly addresses the influence of constitutive modelling on predictions about the response of squeezing ground to tunnelling in order to provide some general guidelines for basic engineering analysis. This objective is achieved by investigating the behaviour of squeezing rocks theoretically and experimentally, using samples from several tunnel projects, including the Gotthard base tunnel and the planned Gibraltar strait tunnel.

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