Muir Woon, A. M, (1975). Gdorechuigue 26, No, 1, 115-127 | The circular tunnel in elastic ground ; A. M, MUIR WOOD, MA, FICE* Neither the ground around a tunnel nor, usally, the ‘tunnel ining, behaves in an elastic manner, Never ‘theless the linear characteristic ofan elastic o¢viseo- clastic analyss has great merit, particularly when, 25 frequently occurs, timitations of knowledge of the behaviour of the ground do not justify grester elaboration, This Paper sets out (0 establish the loading on circular tunnel in the “elliptical” mode of deforma: tion, making certain simplifying assumptions. The effects of shear forces between ground and lining are first ignored and subsequently introduced in an explicit manner. Bending moments in a lining are related to a stfiness factor, Ry While a higher mode of defermation of a tunnel Fining is only applicable to problems of stablity for ‘hin Hinings, nevertheless, consideration ofthis eon- ition allows the coefficient of ground reaction A to be evaluated for conditions of asymmetrical dora ation. Direct radial loading of a tunnel lining i related to its compressibility factor R. The component of ‘radial loading caused by migration of water towards the tunnel is also established, Some aspects of application of the method are dis cussed including the effects of joints in a ining and the benefits established on account of the deliberate “variation of R,. The method has serious limitations bat frequently serves as a rst, and very useful, indi- salion of the relstive importance of the principal factors, prior to & more refined analysis. An important point, frequently overlooked, concerns the effect of variation of Poisson's ratio of the eround 85 loads change, which may greatly affect the stress Aistribution inthe ground and, in consequence, the loads on the lining. Nile terrain autour du tunnel, ni généralement Je tunnel proprement dit, ne s© comportent ine manigre elastique. Nétnmoins, les earactéristiqies Linéaires d'une analyse dastique ou vseo-si ont beancoup de mite, particulirement quand, comme cela arive fréquemment, les limittions det connaissances Ju comportement du sol ne justifent as une plus grande précis Cette communication tence c'étabir le chargemeat sur un tunnel cculaie se déformant d'une maniere clliptique en fasant coctalnes simplifications. dans les hypothises, Les forces de cisalllement entre fo sol et le tunnel sont en premitre phase ignorées et ensuite intro- duites d'une manitre explicit, Les moments Algchissants dens le voote sont reliés un coecient de raideur Ry. Alors qu'un mode de déformation plus important une vote de tunnel est seulement applicable aux problémes de siablté des tunnels minces, on con- sidére néanmoins que cette condition conduit & in coeficient de réaction du sol A évalué pour les con sitions de déformation asyméirigue. ‘Le chargement direct radial d'un Cunnel est relié & son facteur do compressibiité Ry. La composante de la charge rediale provoguée par Ie migtation de eau vers le tunnel ett aussi éiaie. Quelgues aspects de Papplication de Ia méthode sont discutés y compris les elles det Joints dans un tunael et i béndlicerésutant de Ta prise en compte des variations délibérées de R. La méthode a de sieuses limitations, mals sect feéquemment comme premitre et tris uille indication pour mettre en Svidenoe importance relative des principaux fac: teurs avant une analyse plus vadinge. Us point important, fréquemment néallgé, con- come les effets de variation du coeficient de Poisson 4 sol lors des modifications do charges, ce qui peat ‘ravement atffecter Ia distribution des contraiates dans Je sol ot en conséquence les charges sur Te tunnel, true for tunnels for which the degree of confidence in the properties of the ground, including provisions for heterogencity and variability, rarely justifies the more prodigious exercises in numbers cate sents © Partner, Sie Willa Halorow and Pertnrs. ching. A special virtue of the simple method is that itean serve quickly to indi ly of the solution across the range of possible ground parameters.116 Ase Mom wood ‘An clastic analysis, entailing linear stress-strain relations throughout, has the great merit, that several factors may be exemined individually and the sum of the efects obtained by super- imposition, ‘There may be, however, considerable economic benefits in the design of a tunnel lining by taking advantage of a degree of plastic deformation of the ground, often of a time-dependent nature; the concept of a competence factor (Muir Wood, 1972), ic, the ratio of ground strength in simple compression to the vertical overburden pressure, is at east. first indicator in assessing whether the assumption of linearity is likely to be acceptable within the limitations of any two- dimensional tunnel analysis. ‘Two-dimensional analysis usuelly assumes that the tunnel bas materialized instantaneously and that the lining has developed its full strength at the instant of excavation. As will be shown, an elastic analysis may be undertaken in two or more phases, with different values for + the elastic moduli for each, and thus achieve a somewhat greater simulation of actuality. Several commentators have observed that the paper by Morgan (1961) on stresses around @ circular tunnel contains a basic error, apart from the intentional simplifying assumptions ‘This Paper sets out to correct the ettor, to extend the technique, as a result of twelvo years’ further experience in the general approach to tunnel design based on the method, and to clarify its application. There are several empirical approaches to the problems of tunne! design in clastic ground but many of these make arbitrary and improbable essumptions which lead to ‘excessive loadings and in consequence generally to uneconomic designs (Schulze and Duddeck, 1964). The present situation is not aided by several records of strain measurements in tunnel linings which, on account of instrumental defects, have been incorrectly interpreted in terms of stress. Records of direct stress measurements knowa to the Author support the view that there is a great merit in the light, flexible lining, NOTATION a,b, ¢, d, A, B, constants m mode of distortion of fining cohesion (in effective stress terms) number of sogments in a ring of lining E Young's modulus for lining (ceplaced p normal pressure between ground and by E((.—»9) where fining continuous lining along tunnel) 3 mean value of p £, Young's modulus for ground 5 maximum value of & (p—A) F stress function Po excess of p on vertical axis over p on Fe competence factor horizontal axis G, modulus of rigidity of the ground Pe value of p on vertical axis of tunnel T second moment of area of lining per g discharge of water per unit area of ‘unit Jength of tunnel ground in unit time 1, effective value of fora jointed lining radius (and as sufix in radial direction) 4 effective value of Fa «joint na ning, ragga to exrados of tunnel lining K coefcient of permeability for water Re _ compressibility Factor Ky coeficient of earth pressure at rest fee nee er 1 (as suff) longitudinal direction 1 shear stress between ground and lining M_ bending moment in lining per unit { fective thickness of lining Tength of tunel u radial movement of ground ratio of horizontal to vertical pressures lo value of wat r=ro in the undisturbed ground fig maximum value of 6‘THE CIRCULAR TUNNEL fy ELASTIC OROUND un — { a a tacnae Fig. {. Reference disgram for Initiat loading on turmel prior to deformation Woo circumferential movement of ground at angle (and as suffix in circumferential rte direction) % piszomettic pressure at steady state of A coeficent of ground reaction flow of ground water » Poisson's ratio for ground 4rq uniform radial deflexion of lining v1 Poisson's ratio for lining 4p uniform vatiation in p eros Pics seen i ‘shear stress in ground inr,@ plane see ee ie rou ¢ — Airy stress function 7 ratfo of radius of fining centroid to that ¢’ angle of fiction (in effective stress of extrados terms) BENDING IN THE ‘ELLIPTICAL’ MODE. Morgen obtained a solution by considering a circular lining deformed into the “elliptical” mode in elastic ground (Fig. 1), neglecting shear stresses between exttados and ground; this ‘omission is conservative and greatly simplifies the solution (Schmid, 1926; Engelbreth, 1961) ‘The solution then uses the Airy stress function in polar co-ordinates b= GP +brser-24d) 00528. . -@ where 1 Ta oe = (20+ 6er~+4Acr-*) c08 20 caer @ oie ee (2a+ 12br* + 6cr-¥) cos 20 i 8 $B) = ~(6or-4-2d-%)sin26 @ From the assumed boundary condition, r=0 where r= for small displacements u (weer). Hence d= ~3ero-* from equation (4) a= b=0 since ¢, 0 as r-» co, Thus, from og @) and (3) a = ~60(p-*— 246-479) cos 28 : © 6er-*co520 ©us Aca. MUR wooo “The error in Morgan's paper concerns the assumption, as for the thick pipe problem, that plane strain entails plate stress, i. that o4-+e,—constant (which would follow from the simul- taneous requirement of ¢~=0 and «,=constant), Tt can readily be shown that e +e,=con- stant requites aetreno ie ale and invariable with respect to @. Plane strain requires. Hasta} = 0 a= Hento) Pee @ and as (ooo) eee -® rom equations (7) and (8) og = OE fost) v0] : © «vith the convention of positive compression. By substitutingin equation (9) for equations (5) and (6), radial displacement x is given by a Ey EP bet ert tre eer) 00828 (10) 42) gh 92s) 424 2s 20 ton Since w=+0 86 rr 0, constant=0, 90 dell») tr GED thao 0829 hence tip = 272 (4455-6) c0820 or = t= fgcos2 (1) ‘where 4p represent the maximum displacements. ‘The coefficient of ground reaction is defined as a1). 3h te TSO ; sata compared with A=3B/(i+v)ro deducible from Morgan. For v=0:25, 4=0-685 E,{re com- pared ith b=24 Bry by Morgan and for v=05, X= Ear compared with A=2Ere by Morgan, ‘Taking into account the stiffness of the lining and the loading transmitted to the ground around the extrados, starting from an applied normal loeding to the lining p= pr B(-c0s2) (3) a it can seadily be shown (Morgan, 1961) that, from consideration of chango in curvature around the tunnel, the induced maximum bending moment Maus = 30H EEE eee eS)» y a» ae by nd 1B) and oy ‘THE CIRCULAR TUNNEL NY ELASTIC GROUND 19 But the corresponding maximum moment applied by the ground loading (equation (13) is Poe? 6 Note that £ should be replaced by £/(1--»?) for a continuous lining, The reduction of iy resulting from the stiffness of the lining leads to the following telation- ship between Myge and pp defn!) Barre? Maas (14 Te) as re - es 5) ive, from equation (12) Moony = 4 BeevtBML + 13-6) . 8 * GEIL NG— 6) + DyreBy ‘where equation (14) permits evaluation of de corresponding to the value of Mug reduced on account of passive resistance of the ground, ‘The stiffness ratio, R, (Muir Wood, 1970) represents the ratio of the stiffness of the tunnel lining (to deformation in the ‘elliptical’ mode) to that of the surrounding ground. Thus, 3EIL+)G—6) __9et on and the reduction in bending moment to be carried by the lining is immediately apparent in relation to its flexibility, since equation (16) may be written Max dbporo (RIA +R)) — - oa . (18) Lyons and Reid (1974) provide some typical values for J and By R BRRECT OF SHEAR FORCES BETWEEN GROUND AND LINING For simplicity, shear forces between the grotind and the lining have so far been neglected, and it should be noted that this always leads to conservative solutions. However, its known that appreciable shear may be developed (Muir Wood, 1969) and the theory is not greatly complicated if an explicit value for groundjlining shear stress is inserted and 2 means provided for establishing its compatibility with these criteria @its maximum value must not exceed permissible shear stress between tunnel and atound (© the related circumferential movement of the ground at r==ry, assumed to be caused by drag as the ring deforms, must not exceed that of the corresponding point on the deformed Fing, ‘The introduction of shear stress between ground and lining implies that for ra Tsin 28 Where Tis the value of shear stress'at 6==7/4, Thus, from equation (4) d= ~ (Gero? +47h) and hence, ~28er-*—Gor-Fry"4@—Te-*H C0829... (19) Ger" cos 20 He 20) and sag = — (Ger *—Gor-*ry-8— Ty resin 28 2 @D ‘The equation corresponding to equation (10) may then be written Tr *r2M(1 =) 6er*L +99] 608,28120 Ast wore woo [(2cr-8—12er~ry-8— Tr g4(L—1) + 2ovr~*] cos 20 -eonstant 80 vo = 4 n[S—6) +g TMI] cos20 @) tnd from equations (19) and (22) vote} 3) (Ger 4 Ger 2r5"8— Teng) a oT eS 2049 aer%4 TH) (24) Considering the lining as inextensible, then ty fdts\? (@ap=22 whore y= [ (84) r= rot 00828 wee a | ea so v= et P1264 98 conan or since, iy & ro top> [22 c05 2 00 arld ~ f (ig fa 08 26) 40—nrald ie See eaitet - 05) Criterion (6) then gives, from equations (24) and (25) 2049 erg 94TH) # os + (26) criterion (a) implies that Teesptng 2... - en ‘where jis the value of the normal pressure betieen ground and 14, 3/4, be. the in value of this pressure between its extreme values at 8=0, and at @=7/2, 37/2. The initial pressure between the ground and the lining, given by equation (13), comprises a uniform. ‘component (p,~po/2)(=P), Which is unvaried by the deformation ofthe lining in bending, and 2 variable component po/2 cos 28, It may readily be shown by the use of equation (18) that, in equilibrium, the variable component Rt R) |3) ) vat, 1 CIRCULAR TUNNEL IW mLASTIC GROUND 12 Thus the normal pressure on the extrados of the deformed tunnel may be represented as pm pres 2... 1... C8 Tt will be noted that equation (13) allows constant c to be evaluated in equations (22) or (26) in terms of the variable loading # by way of equation (19), since for r=ro and Ald =o, = (Gerg"*+2T) allowing the substitution (R-WMYoro“* es ND with a direct evaluation of Too=¥ Vc Oanateeeetsfaneeseenetreedt 0) for equation (11) when 7=0 and since n=, cos 24, ty may be evaluated from equation (22) whence 7 1. From the foregoing, the basic Airy equation corresponding to equation (43) is $= (+d) 005 md for the boundary conditions that o»=6,==0 where r-+co. By a similar process to that represented by equations (2) and (11) vo = 2 4G 1) (Ont 42) 08 MO whence in combination with the equivalent to equation (5) the coafiicient of ground rection may be determined to Aeeemrol) = Gm) Gay In Fig. 2 Ais plotted against m as a continuous curve applicable to the special circumstances of ‘thin pipes and of tunnel deformations in orthotropic ground (Browntigg and Wood, 1973)I | F } | i f : I 14 Aa 2007R WOOD Fig, 2, Relationship betwoon cooficfent of ground reaction 2. and unde of deformation mfor different values ‘of Poisson's ratio ¥ “which do not precisely correspond to the condition of m being an integer. It will be noted that the assumption of A being constant for any number of deformation lobes, or for distortion represented by a Fourier series, is unlikely to introduce error beyond the uncertainty of the other physical factors. APPLICATION OF THE METHOD ‘The design method described in this Paper is applied to changes of loading in the ground and not as most other design methods (Hewett and Johannesson, 1922 Schulze and Duddeck, 1964) directly to the overburden pressure at the level of the tunnel, Clearly if @ tunnel were inserted into the ground without relaxation of the initial state of stress then the values of py and (p,~ps) to be inserted into equations (13) would represent the initial conditions of vertical and horizontal ground load; waere the degree of relaxation is unknown, itis safe but possibly very conservative to select these initial values. Consideration of a circalar tunnel seen as a hole being drilled through an elastic solid suggests that at the face the state of stress in the r, @ plane will be intermediate between the intact and the perforated condition, @. the value of con = PaH(n-B-cnrl) 8 tnd the loads on the tunnel lining can be derived by consideting such an initial value. Panet (1973) suggests that, as the face is not maintained effectively plane only about 4 (and not $ as suggested above) of inward movement of ground had occurred at the plane of the face. Panet does not consider how this fraction is affected by the distance between the face and the leading edge of effective tuancl support. Even when the problem is treated as an elastic one, in reality, for cobesive ground, it is known that a visco-elastic condition should be considered. Atits simplest, this may imply a reduction of F, with time.so that it would be unacceptable to assume any appreciable reduction in effective load as suggested by equation (44). The three- dimensional time-dependent state of stress around an advancing tunnel has a complexity be- yond the scope of this Paper but reasonable upper and lower limits of the fraction of p, and (@e—1¢) may be postulated for particular circumstances to check whether the range of uncer- tainty may be so great as to merit its reduction by experiment and analysis in the interest of economy. It is generally far easier to control the stiffness ratio R, of the tunnel lining (equation (17)) than its compressibility factor R, (equation (36)) as for a given lining raaterial, B, the ratio between stress and strain at acceptable working load limit cannot easily be varied; but hingest { I ‘HE CIRCULAR TURAL MY ELASTIC GROUND ms ang ety @S=8) don eee rm tie * — \ aon, a Fig. 3._ Diagrammatic reprsentation ofthe bene of aa nal phase of high compcessibiity of Haig fa ‘relation fo Its ultimate condition of loading, 5 A, - _ ‘cau be introduced into the lining. For stee! or concrete £ is about an order of magnitude {00 high for optimum load sharing in a wide range of ground calling for permanent support, There are several methods which might be adopted to inerease the compressibility ratio, which are as follows. ‘Temporary peripheral jacks can be used in the lining, for example allowing a controlled de- sree of closure of the ring by Keeping a constant load on each jack, ‘The period of jacking iust depend on the speed of tunnel advance and the time-dependent ground properties, This ‘method could be used for an expanded lining, Frangible packing between ground and lining could be used to control maximum radial loading, Such a method, which could be attempted by the use of aerated grout outside a ring of lining, would require much care to avoid uneven loading, Use could be made ofa first stage compressibic lining of a shotetete varity with deliberately reduced B. Yielding arches and supports could be used, a long standing practice in mines (usually hydraulic supports) and small diameter rock tunnels (usually depending upon friction joints), placed before a permanent lining, Compressible radial packings could be inserted in rings of lining to achieve reduced effective Yalue of £ for the ining until a certain predetermined circumferential strain has been reached, aller which the value of F appropriate to the principal lining material would supervene (Muir Wood, 1973). ‘The criterion for stability of the ground, however, must always satisfy the Moht-Coulomb condition Kran < PGES + cos “ ean) Such expedients permit an analysis of loading, using equation (37) up toa certain value of Arulrsptovided by the deliberately increased compressibility ratio with subsequent loading for the ultimate ring compressibility added thereto. Fig. 3 shows simply how this anaysis may be combined with a reduced value for Eto provide a more realistic provision for the eects e¢ aquasielstic eeep, For a high enough competence factor F, (Muir Wood, 1972) the ling say alternatively be delayed until a lerge fraction of inward movement ofthe ground hes bene completed. Ia all such expedients regard must be paid to the effets of relaxation on other structures. Fora simple approach to this problem see Muie Wood (1970),126 ‘A.M. Mak WooD ‘Where a lining is composed of segments, the stiffness at the joints may be approciably less than elsewhere and, for abutting joints, clearly the effective stifiness will be increased as the ratio of hoop stress to bending stress increases. If the second moment of area at the joint is designated as J, the corfesponding effective value of I for the ring, J to be used in equation (17) for determining R,, may be approximately calculated. While generally the load around the tunfel will have two maxima and two minima, for four or fewer segments the existence of Joints may not affect ring stiffness. For an increased number of equal segments, say 7», we ‘may assume as a first approximation a parabolic envelope to bending moment around a seg ment such that La Tent hn> 4 0 ee es BD ‘and thus, where [, « [for an expanded and articulating lining of, ay, eight segments, [y= 1/4. For the special ease of an elliptical tunnel in orthotropic ground whose elastic moduli axe approximately in the ratio of the axes of the ellipse (the greater ground modulus being parallel to the major axis) it is possible, fora first approximation, to transform the problem into that of a circular tunnel with appropriate factors for correction. Where the value of IV corresponds approximately to the ratio of orthotropic ground moduli, there will be no bending moment in the lining. An approach of this nature has served as a fist guide to the behaviour of elliptical tunnels with horizontal axis approximately 1-5 times the vertical axis in Lias Clay and in London Clay, For the general case of orthotropic ground Brownrigg and Wood (1973) per- mit estimation of the value of effective F, to be assumed for best application of the simple elastic case for the circular tunnel. CONCLUSIONS ‘There is real meri in applying a simple method of analysis to a tunnel design problem which ‘ay givo far moro insight into the relative importance of the relevant factors than immediate recourse to computer methods, which may as a second stage far better serve in reproducing ‘a more valid representation of the problem. ‘An elastic method may serve to indicate upper and lower limits, even where cyclic tests on the ground indicate considerable departures from a linear relation between stress and strain, From multi-cyclical load tests, lines of slope of B, may be selected as corresponding to the Jowest and the highest reasonable value for E,, ‘The most awkward factor in any elastic method relates to the choice of value for Poisson's ratio ». A simple illustration may be provided by assuining that elzstic ground of low pet- meability has, when unsaturated or for slow loading, values of Young's modulus and Poisson’s ratio, B, and y respectively. For rapid loading in plane strain of total loads 9, and 0, the strains ¢, and cg will each be reduced by ((1-+1)/E:}e where ty is pore-pressure (assuming & value of unity for pore-pressure factor 4), and thus the apparent bchaviour in total stress terms will imply that Poisson's ratio is variable with values varying between O'S and y. Where drainage occurs towards the tunnel excess pore-pressures will have a higher value away from ‘the tunnel and thus the distribution of load in the ground will be more favourable than that assumed for the simple elastic case, Clearly the variation of v in effective stress terms merits considerably better understanding; ground testing and sample testing should be designed to- wards this end. Provided suflicient regard is paid to variability of the ground, jacking tests with circular and clongated pressure plates of comparable azea (approximately representing plane strain condition) may help in separately evaluating Zand v. Generally, tunnel loading problems should be treated in effective stress terms. In the absence of better information, a part of this Paper may serve to indicate the pattern of piezo- metric pressures for cohesive ground, on complction of consolidation.‘Tie CIRCULAR TUNNEL IN ELASTIC GROUND 12 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS jThe Author acknowledges much bereft from discussions over the years with colleagues and thers concerned with the application of these design methods. He also wishes to thank hi Frank Cooper, MSe, MICE, for erticisma and comment during drafting, REFERENCES Brojnsag,D_ RK & Wood W. L. (1973). Deformation of tunnel wih variable ground reaction, roe, Instn Co, Engrs 88, 479-486, Hidelbreth, K. (1961), Correspondence on Morgan, Géotechnique 11, No. 3, 246-248 Tyee B HL M. & lobannesson, §, (1922). Shield and compressed ar vemncling MoGrane- Hil Treas Ae Ca Reed, A.J.(1974), Moder cast iron tunnel and shat ings, 29d Ropid Eee we Tunnel Conf, San Francisco, ‘Morgan, H. D. (1961).” A contsibution to the analy 37-46, Naa neans SM, G99). Proc. ith Confrence of Int Soc, of Sel Mechanic and Foundetion Engr, Mexico 3, 363-365, seer Teed any $70), Sol sround tomneling. Techrology and Potential of Tum, Johannesburg 1, 167-174, and 2, 72-15, Mure Wood A: M. (1972). Tunnels for roads and motorways. Jal Beene Geol. 5, 111-125, Bale Woe, A.M: (1973), igh relaxaton tunnelling. Provisional patent Nox M0064/76. Panch HOOT). Laatabilié des ouvrages suerrains ~soutdnement et revtemvnts Rosner de recherche No, 28, Paris: Laboratoires des Ponts et Chaussées eee epnintion, AI. & Mohvaz,B.(1972).. State of theartin sft ground tunneling. Jt Rapid xe, ‘ad Tune! Conf, line 1, 255-286, se, elzO., Statche Probleme des Tunnel—ond Druckstolesbaues, Berlin: Springe, (Engl trans. US Bureau of Reclamn, "Tech, Memo. 262, 1931), Schulte H. & Dudieck, . (196), Spennungen in ehildVorgcebonen Tunaeln, Beton und Stahbeon, 17. of stress in a circular tunnel, Géotecinique U1, ae UNM las