Response Characteristics of Cross Tunnel Lining under Dynamic Train Load

Featured Application The results of this paper provides a reference for the future design of new cross tunnels and the operation safety evaluation and damage analysis of existing high-speed railway tunnels. The crossing area is a vulnerable component of the interchange high-speed railway tunnel because of the high-static stress level and the long-term dynamic train load in the operation period. Although attention has been paid to this problem, the response characteristics of high-speed railway tunnel lining at the cross position under the dynamic train load may still need further research as very little investigation is available on this issue at present. In this paper, the initial stress state and dynamic response characteristics of tunnel lining were studied using the three-dimensional finite element method. Furthermore, the damage evolutionary characteristics of the tunnel inverted arch under dynamic and initial static loads were researched using a set of self-developed indoor fatigue test devices. The size of the test box is 400 x 300 x 250 mm (length x width x height). Numerical simulation results indicate that the displacement and stress levels of tunnel lining are very high at the cross position. The stress increment of tunnel lining due to the dynamic train load is more likely to induce a break in the tunnel lining at this position. The indoor fatigue tests reveal that the change of structural strain increment amplitude and strain ratio is obvious when the dynamic load stress level is higher. It is better for dynamic stress levels not to exceed 0.6 times of structural tensile strength to avoid the tunnel lining being damaged in the long-time service period. The initial static load has an influence on the tunnel inverted arch, and the static stress level should be lower than 0.65 times of structural tensile strength to ensure the tunnel has long-time serviceability. This paper provides a reference for the future design of new cross tunnels and the operation safety evaluation and disease regulation of existing high-speed railway tunnels.