Three Dimensional Modeling and Analysis
Three Dimensional Modeling and Analysis
4, 2021
Abstract: Urban train infrastructures are very important for reliable urban mobility. This
paper proposes a three-dimensional modeling of mechanized drilling corridors. Drilling in
urban areas is always a risky and complex project. One of the most important issues during
the construction of subway tunnels is the investigation of the impact of drilling steps on the
ground subsidence and impact on existing structures. For this purpose, different types of
mechanized drilling methods are often used, resulting in a considerable reduction in the
displacements caused by tunnel drilling. In this study, part of the route of an urban train
tunnel, that passes under a traffic interchange, is examined. The shear strength capacity of
the slab pile was calculated, using the relevant equations, and then, the modeling of the soil
mass was performed, using the PLAXIS 3D finite element program. The proposed depth of
the tunnel construction, by the consulting company, is 18 meters. Due to drilling problems,
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a depth of 14 meters has been suggested as an alternative. Analysis of both the depths of 14
and 18 meters, showed that the displacements at both depths, were approximately the same.
However, the impact of the tunnel, on the capacity of the piles' tip, at a depth of 18 meters,
is greater than at the depth of 14 meters. Thus, the suggested optimum depth is 14 meters,
which is more suitable, than the initial suggested depth of 18 meters.
1 Introduction
Urbanization and urban development have necessitated the need for effective
public transportation systems [1-5]. The urban train network is one of the most
important transportation systems in a city [6-9]. The construction of the train
network above ground is less costly, but, because of land restriction and
increasing surface congestion, the underground train network is more preferable
[10]. For the construction of underground tunnels in urban areas, engineers often
perform excavation operations near underground services, cultural heritage
monuments and residential/commercial buildings. The prediction of the tunneling-
induced settlement and the related impact on existing structures help engineers to
estimate potential damage [11]. Due to the low depth of these underground
tunnels, train stations are usually built on soft soils. The construction of tunnels in
soft soils results in soil movement. This issue could lead to the instability of the
integrity and damage to existing structures [12]. Thus, the optimal implementation
of these underground spaces and ensuring their security during the long-term
construction process, is a factor that has been taken into account, by designers of
underground structures. To decrease these movements, engineers utilize Tunnel
Boring Machines (TBM) for the creation of tunnels in urban areas. Because of
temporary supports and face pressure, the TBM diminishes soil disturbance, due
to tunneling, providing protection to existing structures [13-15].
Evaluation of tunnel construction using TBM and its impact on the soil movement
requires 3D soil-structure interaction modeling. Due to limitations of the
analytical approaches and also, the development of computer coding, the use, by
engineers, is increasing. Muniz de Farias et al. and Negro and Queiroz
summarized the finite element models used for tunneling studies before 2000 [16,
17]. They showed that the most popular approach is the finite element method
(FEM). The numerical mechanized tunneling modeling aims to take into
consideration of processes that take place during tunnel excavation. In order to
take into account all considerations, a three-dimensional numerical model should
be used. Nowadays, software packages such as PLAXIS 3D [18-20], Abaqus [21,
22], and FLAC 3D [23-28] are normally used for 3D analysis. As a main aspect of
the tunnel excavation, the behavior of the ground must be taken into account.
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2.1 Materials
Similar to many metropolitan cities in Iran, Shiraz is known as a tourist hub.
Therefore, it needs a subway network to reduce urban congestion. Metro line 2 of
Shiraz has a length of approximately 14 kilometers, comprising of 13 stations.
Figure 1 shows this metro line. According to geotechnical studies, tunnel
excavation from Ghahramanan Station to Azadi Station was designed by earth
pressure balance (EPB) and TBM machines, with a diameter of 6.88 m, in two
twin tunnels. TBM drilling in the soil is always associated with sedimentation.
Therefore, controlling the possible displacements and settlements for an
underground structure is a critical parameter in project management, especially the
project in which both TBMs must pass under existing vital structures. One of
these structures is Mianrood Bridge. This bridge has frictional piles. Mianrood
Bridge is located on the Ring Road of Shiraz. The bridge piles are frictional.
The slab of the middle bases has dimensions of 6.8 x 16.4 meters. This slab is
constructed on 8 piles with a diameter of 1.2 meters and a length of 25 meters.
The side slabs are 6.8 x 17.43 meters and are located on 10 piles with a diameter
of 1.2 meters and a length of 27 meters. Reducing displacements of ground level
and pile slabs should be considered in the tunnel route design under this bridge.
Reducing impacts on the bearing capacity of the piles is another important issue
that should be considered. Based on the designed tunnel profile by the project
consultant, the depth of the tunnel under the Mianrood Bridge is 18.1 m.
The distance between the tunnel wall and the side piles of the bridge is
approximately 5 meters. The tunnel wall is far from the middle piles of the bridge
about 3 meters. According to Geotechnical studies, the soil of this area, up to the
depth of 29 meters, is made of lean clay. At the depth of 29 to 30 meters, there is a
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middle layer of Silty Sand. Also, the depth of the groundwater level in this area, is
about 4.75 meters. In this study, 3D modeling of the TBM crossing under the
foundations of the bridge, was performed at two depths of 14 meters (authors'
recommendation) and 18 meters (project consultant recommendation).
Figure 1
Shiraz metro line 2
Figure 2
Various settlement Areas Created in Tunneling by the Shield Method
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Zone 1
The settlement was caused by displacements created at the tunnel work front.
If the pressure of the tunnel work front is wrong, or the operator does not control
correctly, and the volume of soil exited from the work front exceeds the desired
soil volume then, displacements at the work front may continue until ground level.
Occasionally, the low pressure of the work front will overcome the water and soil
pressure and the work front falls to the shield. Thus, after the shield passes
through the area, the soil will be stressed and displaced and will settle again.
Of course, high pressure at the work front, will lead to a severe depreciation of the
cutting tools and related devices [30].
Zone 2
This area is within the shield length range (Figure 2). Usually, for easier
movement of the shield, the drilling diameter is 1 or 3 cm larger than the outer
diameter of the shield ends. They also form a spindle metal cylinder that reduces
the front and rear friction of shields. For this reason, this area of several meters
around the shield and the movement of the shield and its impact on ground
displacements, can cause settlement in this area. Bentonite slurry injected around
the shield during drilling, can be used to prevent this subsidence and to prevent
soil shield friction [30].
Zone 3
Due to the difference between the outer diameter of the concrete rings (6.6 m in
this project) and the drilling diameter (about 6.88 m), there is a gap between these
rings and the soil. This gap is filled by the grout slurry (Figure 2). The subsidence
in this region depends on the geological, resistive and grouting properties.
By summing this subsidence and subsidence of zones 1 and 2, the whole
subsidence of EPB Shield Tunneling is calculated [30].
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located in the critical area. Thus, in these two cases, the greater the horizontal
distance of the tunnel from this pile the less impact it has on the piles. In the case
of C, the tunnel can affect the bearing capacity of the wall and tip of the pile.
The closer the horizontal distance of the tunnel to the pile, the greater the impact,
and the closer the tunnel to the pile tip, the greater the impact on the bearing
capacity of the pile tip and the greater the bending moment on the pile. In most
optimum case of C, the tunnel should have a more horizontal distance from the
pile, and the depth of the tunnel should be chosen, so as, it has the least impact on
the bearing of the capacity of the pile tip and also has the least settlement and
displacement on the pile head and ground [31]. Figure 3 shows a schematic of the
effects of the tunnel impact zone and the ratio of pile head displacement to ground
displacement due to tunnel excavation and subsidence phenomena. In this figure,
if the piles are in area A and above the tunnel impact surface, it is possible to
move the pile head further than the ground surface displacement, above the tunnel
(R>1). In area B, the displacement is equal (R=1). And in area C, pile head
displacement is less than the ground level displacement above the tunnel (R<1)
[32]. Further details available in Figure 3 which is adapted from [31].
Figure 3
The Tunnel impact areas on the ground and piles settlement
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Figure 4
Variations of Nc∗and Nq∗values versus internal friction angle
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the pile wall, which, according to geotechnical studies, is equal to 50 kPa. The α
value is an experimental factor that decreases the adhesion of the shaft wall soil.
This coefficient is less than one. Based on Figure 5, the value of this coefficient is
0.6 adapted from [34].
Figure 5
The graph of Cu (KN/m2) versus α
Due to the geometry of the bridge and the designed piles, the piles of the middle
slab are 25 meters long and the side slabs are 27 meters long.
𝑄𝑢𝑠(25𝑚) = 25 × 1.2 × 3.14 × 0.6 × 75 = 4239𝐾𝑁
𝑄𝑢𝑠(27𝑚) = 27 × 1.2 × 3.14 × 0.6 × 75 = 4578𝐾𝑁
By determining the ultimate bearing capacity of the pile, load allowed per pile can
be calculated as:
𝑄𝑢𝑝 + 𝑄𝑢𝑠 (3)
𝑄𝑤 =
𝐹. 𝑆
where Qw is the permissible load on each pile (Kg). F.S is the safety factor for
each pile (4 in this study). From Eq. 3, the permissible bearing capacity of the pile
is:
𝑄𝑤 = (5774 + 4239)/4 The bearing capacity of piles in the middle slab
= 2503𝐾𝑁
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The number of piles in the middle and side slabs is 8 and 10, respectively. Also,
the middle slab area is 111 m2, and the side slab area is 129 m2. Considering the
bearing capacity of each pile and the number of piles, the load on each slab is
equal to:
q = (8*2503)/111= 180 KN/m2 Middle slab
Figure 6
Two scenarios for modeling of tunnels under Mianrood bridge
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Geometry: Due to the overburden and the distance of the tunnels at the cross-
section, length of 60 meters and depth of 35 meters are considered for all models.
Dimensions are chosen so as unrealistic boundary conditions do not affect the
model. Two depths of 14 and 18 meters are provided for the tunnels.
Boundary Conditions: After defining two-dimensional and three-dimensional
geometry, it is the turn of the boundary conditions. Hinged and roller conditions
were considered for the bottom of the model and the sides, respectively.
According to section 2.4.2, the slab load in the middle and side slabs are 180
KN/m2 and 200 KN/m2, respectively.
Geotechnical Properties of Aggregates: Tables (1) and (2) present the properties
of material, shields, and segments. Triangular elements are used to mesh.
The model is first trimmed in two-dimensional mode and then expanded to the
third dimension. Figure 7 shows the whole model and its three-dimensional mesh.
Table 1
Geotechnical properties of soil layers
Table 2
Shield and segment specifications
EA EI nu
ID Type
KN/m KN.m2/m
Plate Elastic 8200000 83800 0
Segment Elastic 10570000 107900 0.15
Figure 7
The three-dimensional model of tunnels crossing under the Mianrood bridge
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Figure 8
A complete drilling cycle with applied frontal and grout injection pressures and tunnel lining system
Figure 9
Displacement and impact area at 18 meters overburden
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Figure 10
Displacement and impact area at 14 meters overburden
Figure 11
The location of specified points by authors for comparing tunnel displacement
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Mechanized Excavation for Tunnel Boring Machines
Table 3
The displacement of specified points in the model at two overheads of 14 and 18 meters
14 m Overburden 18 m Overburden
Point
Dis. (mm) Dis. (mm)
A 17 17
B 20 22
C 14 15
D 13 13
E 15 16
F 11 12
G 11 12
H 11 12
I 15 15
J 13 14
Another important issue that should be considered is the distance from the bottom
of the tunnel to the tip of the pile. This distance affects the capacity of the pile tip.
Given that the depth of the piles in the middle slab of the bridge is 25 meters, if
the tunnel is located at a depth of 18 meters, the floor of the tunnel is
approximately 1.5 meters from the tip of the pile. When the tunnel is located at a
depth of 14 meters, the distance between the tunnel floor and the pile tip is greater.
Therefore, it is suggested that the designer changes the depth of the tunnel
overburden from 18 meters to 14 or 15 meters. Figures 12 and 13 show the effect
of the location of the tunnel on the pile tip.
Figure 12
The effect of tunnel displacement on the capacity of pile tip (14 meters overburden)
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Acta Polytechnica Hungarica Vol. 18, No. 4, 2021
Figure 13
The effect of tunnel displacement on the capacity of pile tip (18 meters overburden)
In this study, the simulation of crossing Shiraz metro line 2 under the Mianrood
bridge was done using the Plaxis-3D software. The suggested depth for the tunnel
by the project consultant was 18 meters. Nevertheless, the authors attempted to
optimize this depth. Therefore, they suggest that the depth of 14 meters is also
examined. After simulating the crossing of the tunnel, it was found that both the
depths of 14 and 18 meters, have a similar displacement. However, considering
the effect of the tunnel on the capacity of the pile tip, the depth of 14 meters is
more appropriate, because the distance of the tunnel bottom to the pile tip is less.
Consequently, the authors' recommendation is to design the tunnel at a depth of 14
meters.
Conclusions
This study aimed to study, model and optimize a part of the route of the Shiraz
metro line 2. The reason for choosing this part is that the tunnel in this part, passes
under a traffic interchange (Mianrood bridge). In fact, the main goal was to find
the optimum depth for the construction of the tunnel. The initial proposal for the
tunnel depth was 18 meters and was suggested by the project consultant. Due to
executive difficulties, as well as, the experiences of line 1, the authors have
suggested a depth of 14 meters. The soil mass modeling around the tunnel was
performed using the PLAXIS finite element program for the two depths of 14 and
18 meters. The modeling had two important consequences:
1) The displacements caused by tunneling at depths of 14 and 18 meters were
similar.
2) In the middle slab of the bridge, the piles are 25 meters in depth. In the 18
meters overburden, the tunnel floor is less distant from the tip of the pile.
Thus, the tunnel has a greater impact on the bearing capacity of the pile tip
(compared to the 14 meters overburden).
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As a result, the authors propose to change the tunnel depth, from 18 to 14 meters.
For future studies, the authors intend to analyze other parts of the tunnels.
Furthermore, modeling can be done using different software such as Abaqus and
Flac, then comparing the results with Plaxis 3D.
Acknowledgment
The support of the Hungarian-Mexican bilateral project (2019-2.1.11-TÉT-2019-
00007) is acknowledged.
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