Response characteristics of rectangular tunnels in soft soil subjected to transversal ground shaking

A numerical parametric study was conducted on diverse soil-rectangular tunnel systems, aiming to shed light on critical response characteristics of rectangular tunnels subjected to transversal ground shaking. Salient parameters that affect the dynamic response, such as: (i) the soil-tunnel relative stiffness and interface properties, (ii) the shape, dimensions and burial depth of the tunnel section, (iii) the soil deposit characteristics, and (iv) the input motion characteristics, were accounted for in this study. This paper summarizes the key findings of this investigation, focusing on the complex deformation modes of the tunnels during shaking, the dynamic earth pressures and the soil dynamic shear stresses developed around the tunnel, and the dynamic lining forces. The numerical results indicated a combined racking rocking deformation pattern for the tunnels during shaking, while inward deformations of the slabs and the side-walls were also observed for flexible tunnels, when soil inelasticity was encountered. To quantify the racking deformation of rectangular tunnels, a series of numerical racking ratio - flexibility ratio (R-F) relations were developed and compared with existing analytical and empirical ones. The rocking response of rectangular tunnels was quantified by means of dimensionless relations (theta/gamma(ff)-F), similar to the R-F relations. The soil-tunnel relative stiffness, the interface characteristics and the soil yielding affected significantly the above relations, as well as the dynamic earth pressures, the soil dynamic shear stresses and the dynamic forces developed on the lining during shaking. The presented results lead to a better understanding of the seismic response of rectangular tunnels in soft soil, while the proposed relations contribute towards the improvement of the R-F analysis method. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.