Study on Reinforcement Technology of Shield Tunnel End and Ground Deformation Law in Shallow Buried Silt Stratum

With the rapid advancement of urban underground space development, shield tunnel construction has seen a significant increase. However, at the initial launching stage of shield tunnels in shallow-buried weak strata, engineering risks such as face instability and sudden surface settlement frequently...

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Main Authors: Jia Zhang, Xiankai Bao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/7657
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author Jia Zhang
Xiankai Bao
author_facet Jia Zhang
Xiankai Bao
author_sort Jia Zhang
collection DOAJ
description With the rapid advancement of urban underground space development, shield tunnel construction has seen a significant increase. However, at the initial launching stage of shield tunnels in shallow-buried weak strata, engineering risks such as face instability and sudden surface settlement frequently occur. At present, there are relatively few studies on the reinforcement technology of the initial section of shield tunnel in shallow soft ground and the evolution law of ground disturbance. This study takes the launching section of the Guanggang New City depot access tunnel on Guangzhou Metro Line 10 as the engineering background. By applying MIDAS/GTS numerical simulation, settlement monitoring, and theoretical analysis, the reinforcement technology at the tunnel face, the spatiotemporal evolution of ground settlement, and the mechanism of soil disturbance transmission during the launching process in muddy soil layer are revealed. The results show that: (1) the reinforcement scheme combining replacement filling, high-pressure jet grouting piles, and soil overburden counterpressure significantly improves surface settlement control. The primary influence zone is concentrated directly above the shield machine and in the forward excavation area. (2) When the shield machine reaches the junction between the reinforced and unreinforced zones, a large settlement area forms, with the maximum ground settlement reaching −26.94 mm. During excavation in the unreinforced zone, ground deformation mainly occurs beneath the rear reinforced section, with subsidence at the crown and uplift at the invert. (3) The transverse settlement trough exhibits a typical Gaussian distribution and the discrepancy between the measured maximum settlement and the numerical and theoretical values is only 3.33% and 1.76%, respectively. (4) The longitudinal settlement follows a trend of initial increase, subsequent decrease, and gradual stabilization, reaching a maximum when the excavation passes directly beneath the monitoring point. The findings can provide theoretical reference and engineering guidance for similar projects.
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spelling doaj-art-bee9724c10dd4ea1b7a9aa20e009a15c2025-08-20T03:32:12ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011514765710.3390/app15147657Study on Reinforcement Technology of Shield Tunnel End and Ground Deformation Law in Shallow Buried Silt StratumJia Zhang0Xiankai Bao1China Railway 20th Bureau Group Southern Engineering Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 511300, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou 014010, ChinaWith the rapid advancement of urban underground space development, shield tunnel construction has seen a significant increase. However, at the initial launching stage of shield tunnels in shallow-buried weak strata, engineering risks such as face instability and sudden surface settlement frequently occur. At present, there are relatively few studies on the reinforcement technology of the initial section of shield tunnel in shallow soft ground and the evolution law of ground disturbance. This study takes the launching section of the Guanggang New City depot access tunnel on Guangzhou Metro Line 10 as the engineering background. By applying MIDAS/GTS numerical simulation, settlement monitoring, and theoretical analysis, the reinforcement technology at the tunnel face, the spatiotemporal evolution of ground settlement, and the mechanism of soil disturbance transmission during the launching process in muddy soil layer are revealed. The results show that: (1) the reinforcement scheme combining replacement filling, high-pressure jet grouting piles, and soil overburden counterpressure significantly improves surface settlement control. The primary influence zone is concentrated directly above the shield machine and in the forward excavation area. (2) When the shield machine reaches the junction between the reinforced and unreinforced zones, a large settlement area forms, with the maximum ground settlement reaching −26.94 mm. During excavation in the unreinforced zone, ground deformation mainly occurs beneath the rear reinforced section, with subsidence at the crown and uplift at the invert. (3) The transverse settlement trough exhibits a typical Gaussian distribution and the discrepancy between the measured maximum settlement and the numerical and theoretical values is only 3.33% and 1.76%, respectively. (4) The longitudinal settlement follows a trend of initial increase, subsequent decrease, and gradual stabilization, reaching a maximum when the excavation passes directly beneath the monitoring point. The findings can provide theoretical reference and engineering guidance for similar projects.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/7657shallow-buried muddy soil layershield tunneltunnel face reinforcementground deformation
spellingShingle Jia Zhang
Xiankai Bao
Study on Reinforcement Technology of Shield Tunnel End and Ground Deformation Law in Shallow Buried Silt Stratum
Applied Sciences
shallow-buried muddy soil layer
shield tunnel
tunnel face reinforcement
ground deformation
title Study on Reinforcement Technology of Shield Tunnel End and Ground Deformation Law in Shallow Buried Silt Stratum
title_full Study on Reinforcement Technology of Shield Tunnel End and Ground Deformation Law in Shallow Buried Silt Stratum
title_fullStr Study on Reinforcement Technology of Shield Tunnel End and Ground Deformation Law in Shallow Buried Silt Stratum
title_full_unstemmed Study on Reinforcement Technology of Shield Tunnel End and Ground Deformation Law in Shallow Buried Silt Stratum
title_short Study on Reinforcement Technology of Shield Tunnel End and Ground Deformation Law in Shallow Buried Silt Stratum
title_sort study on reinforcement technology of shield tunnel end and ground deformation law in shallow buried silt stratum
topic shallow-buried muddy soil layer
shield tunnel
tunnel face reinforcement
ground deformation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/7657
work_keys_str_mv AT jiazhang studyonreinforcementtechnologyofshieldtunnelendandgrounddeformationlawinshallowburiedsiltstratum
AT xiankaibao studyonreinforcementtechnologyofshieldtunnelendandgrounddeformationlawinshallowburiedsiltstratum