Stability Analysis of Metro Tunnel Against Settlement and Deformation Characteristics for Various Loading Conditions
摘要
Metro tunnels are strategic elements in transportation and are increasingly being seen as an environmentally preferable means of providing infrastructure to densely populated urban areas thus posturing several utility networks in any metropolitan city. This rapid urbanization and increasing reliance on metro tunnel systems for public transportation have necessitated a thorough understanding of the stability of metro tunnels, particularly against stability and deformation. This study focuses on the stability analysis of metro tunnels by examining the settlement and deformation characteristics under various geological and loading conditions. The methodology consists of a combination of numerical modeling by finite element method (PLAXIS 2D) and analytical approaches to evaluate the impact of an interaction effect, tunnel depth, and external loads on tunnel behaviour. For this work operational metro tunnel systems were considered for a particular stretch. Key parameters such as ground displacement (horizontal and vertical displacements), internal forces (axial force, shear force, and bending moment), and lining deformation are analysed for a critical stretch to assess the potential risks of structural failure for a specific case study. This study highlights the critical factors influencing tunnel stability and provides insights into effective mitigation and environmental sustainability strategies to minimize lining failures.