Enhancing tunnel cold resistance in cold regions with overlapping-tiles cold-proof wall

Tunnels in cold regions are susceptible to freeze damage. The overlapping-tiles cold-proof walls (OTCW) proposed in this study can effectively block cold airflow into the tunnel and mitigate freeze damage. The anti-freezing ability of OTCW was validated through model tests and numerical simulations,...

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Main Authors: Ke Yin, Rui Wang, Licai Zhao, Hafiz Muhammad Irfan, Xingtong Wang, Yinlei Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25010160
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author Ke Yin
Rui Wang
Licai Zhao
Hafiz Muhammad Irfan
Xingtong Wang
Yinlei Wang
author_facet Ke Yin
Rui Wang
Licai Zhao
Hafiz Muhammad Irfan
Xingtong Wang
Yinlei Wang
author_sort Ke Yin
collection DOAJ
description Tunnels in cold regions are susceptible to freeze damage. The overlapping-tiles cold-proof walls (OTCW) proposed in this study can effectively block cold airflow into the tunnel and mitigate freeze damage. The anti-freezing ability of OTCW was validated through model tests and numerical simulations, and the structural design was recommended based on the prevailing wind direction. The results indicate that OTCW effectively blocks cold airflow, with its blocking capacity increasing as the number of wallboards increases. When the angle between the wind direction and the tunnel's transverse is 30°, 45°, or 60°, the average wind speed at the tunnel entrance without a portal structure is 1.8, 2.8, and 3.3 m/s, respectively. OTCW with 1, 3, and 4 layers of wallboards completely blocks the cold airflow. When the wind direction angle is 75°, the wind speed without a portal structure is 3.6 m/s. OTCW with 7 layers of wallboards reduces the wind speed by 72.2 %. Under cold region meteorological conditions, significant low-temperature zones appear in the surrounding rock when no portal structure or open cut tunnel (OCT) is installed. When OTCW is set, most of the low-temperature zones disappear. The anti-freezing effect of OTCW is significant.
format Article
id doaj-art-1401de55bb9e41eb9ace94e42521879b
institution Kabale University
issn 2214-157X
language English
publishDate 2025-10-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
spelling doaj-art-1401de55bb9e41eb9ace94e42521879b2025-08-20T03:34:29ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2025-10-017410675610.1016/j.csite.2025.106756Enhancing tunnel cold resistance in cold regions with overlapping-tiles cold-proof wallKe Yin0Rui Wang1Licai Zhao2Hafiz Muhammad Irfan3Xingtong Wang4Yinlei Wang5School of Civil Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an, 710061, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an, 710061, China; Corresponding author.China Railway 19th Bureau Group Third Engineering Co. LTD, Shenyang, 110136, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an, 710061, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710043, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an, 710061, ChinaTunnels in cold regions are susceptible to freeze damage. The overlapping-tiles cold-proof walls (OTCW) proposed in this study can effectively block cold airflow into the tunnel and mitigate freeze damage. The anti-freezing ability of OTCW was validated through model tests and numerical simulations, and the structural design was recommended based on the prevailing wind direction. The results indicate that OTCW effectively blocks cold airflow, with its blocking capacity increasing as the number of wallboards increases. When the angle between the wind direction and the tunnel's transverse is 30°, 45°, or 60°, the average wind speed at the tunnel entrance without a portal structure is 1.8, 2.8, and 3.3 m/s, respectively. OTCW with 1, 3, and 4 layers of wallboards completely blocks the cold airflow. When the wind direction angle is 75°, the wind speed without a portal structure is 3.6 m/s. OTCW with 7 layers of wallboards reduces the wind speed by 72.2 %. Under cold region meteorological conditions, significant low-temperature zones appear in the surrounding rock when no portal structure or open cut tunnel (OCT) is installed. When OTCW is set, most of the low-temperature zones disappear. The anti-freezing effect of OTCW is significant.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25010160TunnelAnti-freezing measureOverlapping-tiles cold-proof wallModel testTemperature field
spellingShingle Ke Yin
Rui Wang
Licai Zhao
Hafiz Muhammad Irfan
Xingtong Wang
Yinlei Wang
Enhancing tunnel cold resistance in cold regions with overlapping-tiles cold-proof wall
Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Tunnel
Anti-freezing measure
Overlapping-tiles cold-proof wall
Model test
Temperature field
title Enhancing tunnel cold resistance in cold regions with overlapping-tiles cold-proof wall
title_full Enhancing tunnel cold resistance in cold regions with overlapping-tiles cold-proof wall
title_fullStr Enhancing tunnel cold resistance in cold regions with overlapping-tiles cold-proof wall
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing tunnel cold resistance in cold regions with overlapping-tiles cold-proof wall
title_short Enhancing tunnel cold resistance in cold regions with overlapping-tiles cold-proof wall
title_sort enhancing tunnel cold resistance in cold regions with overlapping tiles cold proof wall
topic Tunnel
Anti-freezing measure
Overlapping-tiles cold-proof wall
Model test
Temperature field
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25010160
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AT licaizhao enhancingtunnelcoldresistanceincoldregionswithoverlappingtilescoldproofwall
AT hafizmuhammadirfan enhancingtunnelcoldresistanceincoldregionswithoverlappingtilescoldproofwall
AT xingtongwang enhancingtunnelcoldresistanceincoldregionswithoverlappingtilescoldproofwall
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