Browsing by Subject "Tunnels"
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Item Groundwater inflow into rock tunnels(2010-08) Chen, Ran; Tonon, Fulvio; Rathje, Ellen; Eichhubl, Peter; Sharp, John M.; Zornberg, Jorge G.Prediction of groundwater inflow into rock tunnels is one of the essential tasks of tunnel engineering. Currently, most of the methods used in the industry are typically based on continuum models, whether analytical, semi-empirical, or numerical. As a consequence, a regular flow along the tunnel is commonly predicted. There are also some discrete fracture network methods based on a discontinous model, which typically yield regular flow or random flow along the tunnel. However, it was observed that, in hard rock tunnels, flow usually concentrates in some areas, and much of the tunnel is dry. The reason is that, in hard rock, most of the water flows in rock fractures and fractures typically occur in a clustered pattern rather than in a regular or random pattern. A new method is developed in this work, which can model the fracture clustering and reproduce the flow concentration. After elaborate literature review, a new algorithm is developed to simulate fractures with clustering properties by using geostatistics. Then, a discrete fracture network is built and simplified. In order to solve the flow problem in the discrete fracture network, an existing analytical-numercial method is improved. Two case studies illustrate the procedure of fracture simulation. Several ideal tunnel cases and one real tunnel project are used to validate the flow analysis. It is found that fracture clustering can be modeled and flow concentration can be reproduced by using the proposed technique.Item Large tunnels for transporation purposes and face stability of mechanically driven tunnels in soft ground(2010-08) Kim, Seung Han; Tonon, Fulvio; B�ppler, Karin; Zornberg, Jorge; El Mohtar, Chadi; Kallivokas, LoukasWith the advent of the large diameter tunnel boring machine (TBM), mechanically driven large diameter tunnel is becoming a more attractive option. During operation, a large diameter tube allows for stacked deck configuration with shafts dropped to platform level (no station caverns). The extensive information has been compiled on innovative TBM tunneling projects such as the Barcelona Line 9, where the concept of continuous station has been used for the first time, stormwater management and roadway tunnel in Malaysia, where the floodwater bypass tunnel and the road tunnel are incorporated in a single bore tunnel. The decision making process that led to the construction of large bore tunnel is also presented. A detailed study has been carried out to determine the necessary face support pressure in drained conditions (with ideal membrane), and undrained conditions. The effects of tunnel diameter, cover-to-diameter ratio, at-rest lateral earth pressure coefficient, and soil shear strength parameters on the local and global stability of the excavation face of mechanically-driven tunnels have been investigated. The relation between the face support pressure and the calculated tunnel face displacement gave the minimum face support pressure that should be applied on the tunnel face to avoid abrupt movement of the tunnel face. Simple expressions have been developed for the support pressure as a function of tunnel diameter, cover depth, lateral earth pressure coefficient, and soil strength parameters. The required face support pressures are compared to the analytical solutions available from the literature. It has been found that analytical stability solutions generally underestimate the required face support pressure and excessive deformation will take place in the ground near the tunnel heading when these solutions are used. By using plastic limit analysis, a rigid and deformable prism-and-wedge model has been developed; in undrained conditions, upper bound solutions against collapse load are derived for face pressure. Deformable blocks enabled to take into account the effect of non-uniform support pressure due to the unit weight of the supporting medium. The upper bound solution derived as a function of tunnel diameter and cover depth, normalized undrained shear strength ratio, and unit weight of the ground and the supporting medium was compared with a solution available from the literature. Largest face support pressure was obtained when the uniform face support pressure was applied and it was smallest when identical unit weight was used for the ground and the supporting medium.Item Risk analysis in tunneling with imprecise probabilities(2010-08) You, Xiaomin; Tonon, Fulvio; Rathje, Ellen M.; Gilbert, Robert B.; Manuel, Lance; Smirnoff, Timothy P.Due to the inherent uncertainties in ground and groundwater conditions, tunnel projects often have to face potential risks of cost overrun or schedule delay. Risk analysis has become a required tool (by insurers, Federal Transit Administration, etc.) to identify and quantify risk, as well as visualize causes and effects, and the course (chain) of events. Various efforts have been made to risk assessment and analysis by using conventional methodologies with precise probabilities. However, because of limited information or experience in similar tunnel projects, available evidence in risk assessment and analysis usually relies on judgments from experienced engineers and experts. As a result, imprecision is involved in probability evaluations. The intention of this study is to explore the use of the theory of imprecise probability as applied to risk analysis in tunneling. The goal of the methodologies proposed in this study is to deal with imprecise information without forcing the experts to commit to assessments that they do not feel comfortable with or the analyst to pick a single distribution when the available data does not warrant such precision. After a brief introduction to the theory of imprecise probability, different types of interaction between variables are studied, including unknown interaction, different types of independence, and correlated variables. Various algorithms aiming at achieving upper and lower bounds on previsions and conditional probabilities with assumed interaction type are proposed. Then, methodologies have been developed for risk registers, event trees, fault trees, and decision trees, i.e. the standard tools in risk assessment for underground projects. Corresponding algorithms are developed and illustrated by examples. Finally, several case histories of risk analysis in tunneling are revisited by using the methodologies developed in this study. All results obtained based on imprecise probabilities are compared with the results from precise probabilities.Item Un-deterring fences, why is Gaza still attacking?!(2011-08) El Nakhala, Doaa' Hamdi; Pedahzur, Ami; Gavrilis, GeorgeMany contemporary states and historic political entities walled their borders stressing the idea that these barriers would protect their homelands from external threats and thus, achieve security. Although this security argument has prevailed, the political science literature fails to offer a systematic empirical examination of the relationship between barriers and cross-border threats. This research attempts to bridge this gap by answering the question: What are the actual security outcomes of physical barriers on borders? And thus, under what conditions do barriers succeed/fail to achieve security? This paper posits that, in some cases, building barriers on borders to stop non-state actors’ attacks escalate conflict. It demonstrates that when militants have supply institutions, they will manage to increase their attacks and shift to new tactics despite the barrier. It also studies the Israeli Gaza Strip Fence and offers an analysis based on patterns of the relationships between features of the barrier and the Gaza attacks. these patterns are derived from a quantitative dataset built by the researcher and are also supplemented by qualitative data about the case.