Technical Booklet 01

PRECAST LINING DESIGN

“Our strategy is to escort and ensure our clients with a
valuable design which allows to save money and time
following the rules of art.
We believe that it is necessary to balance a considered
mix of good engineering design with exploration and
innovation”

Nima Noroozipour
SWS ​​France Director
 Steckdübel Injektiionsschlauch

99
3.9
Dowel Injection Pipe
Ø50 Steckdübel
1.1

83
Einsatz für Steckdübel

99

129.2
Dowel Sleeve Dowel

129.2
3

200

200
3
200

200
24
10 3

2
10 3

21

2.7

3
3
2.7

2
33

37

30.8
26
33

37

30.8
26
7.5

2.1
A CHALLENGING
8

30

24.8
7.5

2.1
40

35
8

30

25

10.3
10

10
10
10 10.3

DESIGN TASK
Einsatz für Steckdübel 10 10
Dowel Sleeve

LÄNGSFUGE VERSCHRAUBT M 1:2 LÄNGSFUGE VERSCHRAUBT M 1:2

BOLTED LONGITUDINAL JOINT scale 1:2 BOLTED LONGITUDINAL JOINT scale 1:2

Nut für Dichtprofil aussen

Kantenschutz aus GFK External Gasket Groove
VTR Corner Support

Shield tunnel is only apparently a simple construction with solid VTR Corner External
Gasket
cylindrical shape; it is in fact an articulated structure made of
segments arranged to form consecutive rings in staggered layout.
9
139.

Segments are usually bolted together at longitudinal joints

225
34.7

to make up rings, which in turn are connected via dowels at

circumferential joints.
7
449.

124
20.6°

198.1
7
311.

Several modelling techniques exist to account for the presence

Ø34
.9
45
40

of joints, each with diverse degree of accuracy: given the

25°

41.7°

74.1
repetitiveness of tunnel construction, built as a sequence of
multiple rings, even little optimization in the analysis of the
8
2.9

.
VAR
175
21

single component may lead to significant overall cost reduction.

30

100.9

Steel
98

Internal
Bolt Pocket Bolt Bolt Sleeve
50.1

Mastering the available approaches thus allows tuning the Gasket

60

analysis effort to the required design level, in order to satisfy

106.
2

Schraubendübel

Client’s requirements as appropriate.

Schraubentasche Schrauben
Schraubentasche Bolt Sleeve
Bolt Pocket Steel Bolt
Bolt Pocket
Nut für Dichtprofil innen
internal Gasket Groove

> ABOVE: TYPICAL DETAIL OF A BOLTED LONGITUDINAL JOINT (BBT project)

> LEFT PAGE: DETAILED REPRESENTATION OF A UNIVERSAL RING (6+1 layout)

5 ∙ PRECAST LINING DESIGN

AN ANCIENT
STRUCTURAL CONCEPT

Although precast tunnel lining is a modern construction technique, Key Segment Circumferential
Joint
the underlying structural concept is much less recent.

In fact, tunnel rings are arranged in a staggered layout to

prevent longitudinal joints being in the same position, and this
configuration allows mutual force transfer between rings, typical of
3D reciprocal frame. These structures date back to Mesopotamian
Era and have been further studied by Leonardo da Vinci.
Longitudinal
Joint
Rationale of tunnel lining reciprocity is that single rings with
internal hinges (i.e., longitudinal joints between segments) are Guiding
Bar Groove
inherently unstable.
Standard Segment
Only the connection of multiple rings makes the tunnel statically
determinate, provided the joints are staggered, otherwise the
Base Segment
entire tunnel becomes unstable.

> ABOVE: CONCRETE LINING INVENTOR MODEL (KOVALINCH project)

> LEFT PAGE: TRI RF-UNITS RECIPROCAL STRUCTURE CONCEIVED BY LEONARDO DA VINCI

7 ∙ PRECAST LINING DESIGN

TRADITIONAL
DESIGN APPROACH

For years, tunnel linings have been studied as solid rings with TOTAL
DISPLACEMENT
uniform flexural rigidity, thus ignoring the localized stiffness m
0.00e+000

decrease at longitudinal joints. 2.50e-003

5.00e-003
7.50e-003
1.00e-002
1.25e-002
1.50e-002

This simplification allowed the development of analytical solutions, 1.75e-002

2.00e-002
2.25e-002

under specific loading conditions, and is generally able to provide 2.50e-002

3.00e-002
3.25e-002

safe design for tunnel segments. 3.50e-002

3.75e-002
4.00e-002
4.25e-002
4.50e-002
4.75e-002

The “solid ring” approach is in fact widely present in technical 5.00e-002

Standards and Guidelines, and refined by Muir Wood [1] via the
introduction of a reduction coefficient for bending stiffness (an
equivalent rigidity of the entire lining can reflect the reduction
of rigidity at segment joints).
-57.5 -55 -52.5 -50 -47.5 -45 -42.5 -40 -37.5 -35 -32.5 -30 -27.5 -25 -22.5 -20 -17.5

This traditional approach is still valid for many applications, but

does not allow a precise definition of section force distribution
between segments and joints, which may be required for specific
needs and, in general, for design optimization. > ABOVE: RS2 MODEL DEVELOPED FOR A MECHANISED TUNNEL (BBT project)

[1] Muir Wood - The circular tunnel in elastic ground (1975) > LEFT PAGE: ALLOWABLE TUNNEL JOINT LAYOUT AND MOMENT TRANSFER MECHANISM

9 ∙ PRECAST LINING DESIGN

ADVANCED
DESIGN APPROACH

As a logical evolution of the traditional approach, actual joints Last Ring of the series
between segments and rings are included in the analysis.
Circumferential
Joint
For instance, Japanese Standards [1] describe “multi-hinged
ring models” and “beam-spring models”: the former simulate
longitudinal joints as perfect hinges; the latter include rotational
springs for joints between segments and shear springs for joints
between rings.
Although yielding evident improvement, these advanced
approaches are far from being exhaustive as neglect the presence
of friction and mechanical fasteners or require at least correct Longitudinal
Joint
tuning of spring stiffness.

A further, possibly ultimate, evolution in tunnel design approaches

may be the actual modelling of contact surface and the presence
of mechanical fasteners, thus avoiding undesired analysis 1st Ring of the series

simplifications and definition of complicated adjustment

techniques for spring stiffness. > ABOVE: TUNNEL 3D FE MODEL WITH STAGGERED RING LAYOUT (STRAND 7)

[1] Japan Society of Civil Engineers - Standard Specifications for Tunneling: Shield Tunnels > LEFT PAGE: TYPICAL REINFORCEMENT LAYOUT OF A TUNNEL SEGMENT

11 ∙ PRECAST LINING DESIGN

CIRCUMFERENTIAL JOINT WITH SPECIAL DOWEL CIRCUMFERENTIAL JOINT WITH BICONE SHEAR DOWEL
NON-LINEAR
JOINT BEHAVIOR
A8

SWS followed this design evolutionary path until developing a Non - Linear Non - Linear
Fibres (σn) Connection (τ)
modelling approach that simulates the actual non-linear joint
behaviour.

The reduced contact surface between segments, due to gasket

grooves and stress relieves, is modelled via “fibre elements”

B
characterised by concrete nonlinear stress-strain relationship:

join
t
in case of large thrust eccentricity in the ring, the contact surface
further decreases as fibres in tension are progressively excluded
by the solver. Linear Lining
Element

Bs
eg
Shear force transfer is modelled by friction at contact elements

m
en
t
and eventually by bolt and guiding rod elements, if present. y

Connection between consecutive rings is simulated via dowel Lining Axis z

x
elements.

Inclusion of these technological components, with their respective

stress-strain relationships, allows non-linear models to provide > ABOVE: SCHEMATIC OF SWS MODELLING APPROACH FOR LONGITUDINAL JOINTS
correct section force and deflection distribution along the ring > LEFT PAGE: TYPICAL DOWEL CONNECTORS IN CIRCUMFERENTIAL JOINTS
and gives insight into the local performance of tunnel devices.

13 ∙ PRECAST LINING DESIGN

ACHIEVED
ADVANTAGES

SWS design method allows optimization of precast segment design

SIMPLIFIED DESIGN SWS DESIGN
because, unlike simplified approaches, the actual distribution
APPROACH APPROACH
of forces between segments and joints is accounted for, without
need for spring stiffness tuning required by codified advanced
APPROXIMATE EVALUATION ACCURATE EVALUATION
approaches.
OF JOINTS PERFORMANCE OF JOINTS PERFORMANCE

Furthermore, forces in the mechanical fasteners and guiding

rods between segments are directly determined by the solver,
making their check straightforward. CONSERVATIVE FORCE CALCULATION DESIGN OPTIMISATION
POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN POTENTIALLY LEADING TO
NON-REQUIRED BOLTS INSTALLATION NO BOLTS INSTALLATION
Longitudinal joint check against compressive stress in the contact
surface is automatically verified by convergence of non-linear
analysis. APPROXIMATE ESTIMATION ACCURATE CALCULATION
OF CONCRETE LINING OF CONCRETE LINING
Finally, detailed modelling of contact surface provides strategic WATER TIGHTNESS WATER TIGHTNESS
information on the pressure distribution within longitudinal joints,
necessary to evaluate gasket water tightness and overall tunnel
sealing performance. > ABOVE: SCHEMATIC COMPARISON BETWEEN SIMPLIFIED AND SWS DESIGN APPROACHES
SWS engineering
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