Visualization and digitization of model tunnel deformation via transparent soil testing technique

TLDR

Urban tunnel construction is essential for transportation, yet the deformation and failure during excavation remain critical concerns, and few studies have systematically examined how ground loss ratio influences tunnel deformation and settlement trough volume. This study experimentally applies a transparent soil testing technique to visualize and digitize tunnel deformation. The experiment measures three‑dimensional deformation patterns of a single tunnel at the surface and underlying strata across varying ground loss ratios, and establishes relationships among settlement trough width, buried depth, depth–diameter ratio, and ground loss ratio.

Abstract

With the increasing demand for transportation infrastructure, the construction of urban tunnel systems linking different areas is indispensable. The deformation and the failure process during a tunnel excavation are essential concerns for geotechnical engineers. However, few studies have systematically investigated the effect of the ground loss ratio on tunnel deformation and the inequality between the ground loss ratio and the volume of the settlement trough. An experimental study using the transparent soil testing technique is performed herein for better visualization and digitization purposes. The three dimensional vertical and horizontal deformation patterns of a single tunnel are investigated for both the surface and the stratum right below considering different ground loss ratios. The relationship among the empirical constant of the settlement trough width, buried depth, depth–diameter ratio, and ground loss ratio is presented.