Comparison of Squeezing Prediction Methods: A Case Study on Nowsoud Tunnel

摘要

According to the International Society of Rock Mechanics, squeezing is a time dependent large deformation occurring during tunnel construction around the tunnel associated with creep caused by exceeding a limiting shear stress (Barla in ISRM News J 2-M-A9, 1995). This research is conducted using a case study on the Nowsoud Tunnel, Iran. Being 14 km in length and 4.5 m in diameter, the tunnel is located in the western part of Iran near the Iraq border. Nowsoud tunnel, which was excavated using a double shield TBM, exhibited severe squeezing (with 8919 m) in its critical zone which resulted in excavation termination. In this research, the best approach for predicting squeezing among the recommended methods for reducing the damages caused by squeezing on TBM was determined. In this regard, approaches commonly used to predict squeezing are empirical, semi-empirical, and theoretical-analytical methods. Besides, these methods, numerical modeling is used to estimate convergence generated along the tunnel pathways, which is ultimately used to categorize squeezing. This paper compares squeezing prediction methods in 68 section of Nowsoud Tunnel. These 68 sections indicate that the empirical methods propose a general estimation/overview of squeezing.