Validation of a New 2D Failure Mechanism for the Stability Analysis of a Pressurized Tunnel Face in a Spatially Varying Sand

• Published in: Journal of engineering mechanics Vol. 137; no. 1; pp. 8 - 21
• Main Authors: Mollon, Guilhem, Phoon, Kok Kwang, Dias, Daniel, Soubra, Abdul-Hamid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reston, VA American Society of Civil Engineers 01.01.2011
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Engineering Sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Fracture mechanics (crack, fatigue, damage...); Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Geotechnics; Materials; Mechanics; Physics; Soil mechanics. Rocks mechanics; Solid mechanics; Static elasticity (thermoelasticity...); Structural and continuum mechanics; TECHNICAL PAPERS; Tunnels, galleries; Collapse; Discontinuity; Spatial variability; Internal friction; Sand; Parameters; Variability; Mechanism analysis; Rupture; Shear strength; Active pressure; Limit analysis; Spatial variation; Modeling; Soil mechanics; Failures; Local weakness; Dimensional analysis; Strength; Slip surface; Ultimate load; Tunnels

A new two-dimensional (2D) limit analysis failure mechanism is presented for the determination of the critical collapse pressure of a pressurized tunnel face in the case of a soil exhibiting spatial variability in its shear strength parameters. The proposed failure mechanism is a rotational rigid bl...