Investigation of the spatial distribution of tunnel seepage under varying drainage capacities in water-abundant regions

Effective control of the tunnel seepage field is crucial in water-abundant regions to ensure the safety and stability of underground structures. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the effects of the geological factors and tunnel permeability parameters on the drainage capacities of such stru...

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Main Authors: Qing Xu, Pengfei Li, Chongbang Xu, Siqing Wang, Sulei Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-08-01
Series:Underground Space
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2467967425000479
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author Qing Xu
Pengfei Li
Chongbang Xu
Siqing Wang
Sulei Zhang
author_facet Qing Xu
Pengfei Li
Chongbang Xu
Siqing Wang
Sulei Zhang
author_sort Qing Xu
collection DOAJ
description Effective control of the tunnel seepage field is crucial in water-abundant regions to ensure the safety and stability of underground structures. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the effects of the geological factors and tunnel permeability parameters on the drainage capacities of such structures. The Tongzi Tunnel was subjected to model tests using a self-developed testing apparatus to investigate the spatial distribution of tunnel seepage under varying conditions of sand permeability, number of primary support layers, and number of primary support openings. Subsequently, numerical models were developed to validate the observed tunnel seepage field based on experimental conditions. On this basis, an effective water pressure ratio η is proposed to evaluate the hydraulic safety of the tunnel spatial distribution. The results indicated a positive correlation between the tunnel water discharge and sand permeability, primary support layers, and primary support openings. Among these factors, the primary support openings exhibited the highest sensitivity to tunnel water discharge, whereas the impact of the primary support layers was relatively low. Additionally, the external water pressure in the tunnel exhibited a negative correlation with sand permeability, primary support layers, and primary support openings. The sensitivity ranking of the structural water pressure fluctuations to the parameters is as follows: primary support openings > sand permeability > primary support layers. Furthermore, the longitudinal water pressure values in the tunnel gradually increase from Section A (circular drainage section) to Section B (middle circular drainage section). Model tests and numerical simulations were performed to demonstrate the data reliability. Finally, with the increase of sand permeability and the number of primary support openings, the effective drainage area (η < 0.6) around the tunnel spatial gradually expands. Besides, the tunnel longitudinal effective drainage interval progressively degrades from the vault (A1 area) to the tunnel bottom (A7 area), and even the tunnel bottom areas are not effectively drained (η > 0.6).
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spelling doaj-art-2443b3294cdb4a498628ab32e24693552025-08-20T03:16:02ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Underground Space2467-96742025-08-012334336110.1016/j.undsp.2025.02.010Investigation of the spatial distribution of tunnel seepage under varying drainage capacities in water-abundant regionsQing Xu0Pengfei Li1Chongbang Xu2Siqing Wang3Sulei Zhang4Key Laboratory of Urban Security and Disaster Engineering, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaKey Laboratory of Urban Security and Disaster Engineering, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China; Corresponding author.Research Institute of Highway Ministry of Transport, Beijing 100088, ChinaBeijing Municipal Engineering Research Institute, Beijing 100037, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, ChinaEffective control of the tunnel seepage field is crucial in water-abundant regions to ensure the safety and stability of underground structures. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the effects of the geological factors and tunnel permeability parameters on the drainage capacities of such structures. The Tongzi Tunnel was subjected to model tests using a self-developed testing apparatus to investigate the spatial distribution of tunnel seepage under varying conditions of sand permeability, number of primary support layers, and number of primary support openings. Subsequently, numerical models were developed to validate the observed tunnel seepage field based on experimental conditions. On this basis, an effective water pressure ratio η is proposed to evaluate the hydraulic safety of the tunnel spatial distribution. The results indicated a positive correlation between the tunnel water discharge and sand permeability, primary support layers, and primary support openings. Among these factors, the primary support openings exhibited the highest sensitivity to tunnel water discharge, whereas the impact of the primary support layers was relatively low. Additionally, the external water pressure in the tunnel exhibited a negative correlation with sand permeability, primary support layers, and primary support openings. The sensitivity ranking of the structural water pressure fluctuations to the parameters is as follows: primary support openings > sand permeability > primary support layers. Furthermore, the longitudinal water pressure values in the tunnel gradually increase from Section A (circular drainage section) to Section B (middle circular drainage section). Model tests and numerical simulations were performed to demonstrate the data reliability. Finally, with the increase of sand permeability and the number of primary support openings, the effective drainage area (η < 0.6) around the tunnel spatial gradually expands. Besides, the tunnel longitudinal effective drainage interval progressively degrades from the vault (A1 area) to the tunnel bottom (A7 area), and even the tunnel bottom areas are not effectively drained (η > 0.6).http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2467967425000479Tunnel seepage fieldModel testNumerical simulationTunnel drainage capacityEffective water pressure ratio
spellingShingle Qing Xu
Pengfei Li
Chongbang Xu
Siqing Wang
Sulei Zhang
Investigation of the spatial distribution of tunnel seepage under varying drainage capacities in water-abundant regions
Underground Space
Tunnel seepage field
Model test
Numerical simulation
Tunnel drainage capacity
Effective water pressure ratio
title Investigation of the spatial distribution of tunnel seepage under varying drainage capacities in water-abundant regions
title_full Investigation of the spatial distribution of tunnel seepage under varying drainage capacities in water-abundant regions
title_fullStr Investigation of the spatial distribution of tunnel seepage under varying drainage capacities in water-abundant regions
title_full_unstemmed Investigation of the spatial distribution of tunnel seepage under varying drainage capacities in water-abundant regions
title_short Investigation of the spatial distribution of tunnel seepage under varying drainage capacities in water-abundant regions
title_sort investigation of the spatial distribution of tunnel seepage under varying drainage capacities in water abundant regions
topic Tunnel seepage field
Model test
Numerical simulation
Tunnel drainage capacity
Effective water pressure ratio
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2467967425000479
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AT chongbangxu investigationofthespatialdistributionoftunnelseepageundervaryingdrainagecapacitiesinwaterabundantregions
AT siqingwang investigationofthespatialdistributionoftunnelseepageundervaryingdrainagecapacitiesinwaterabundantregions
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