Three-dimensional undrained tunnel face stability in clay with a linearly increasing shear strength with depth

摘要

The undrained tunnel face stability in clay with a linearly increasing shear strength with depth was investigated by three-dimensional finite element analysis. Three parametric studies were performed to study the effects of the cover depth ratio, overburden stress factor and linear strength gradient ratio on the load factor of the undrained tunnel face stability. The influence of the linear strength gradient ratio on the predicted failure mechanism of the undrained face stability was discussed and examined. An approximate closed-form solution was proposed for three-dimensional undrained tunnel face stability in clays with constant or linearly increasing shear strength profiles with depth. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.