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Geo-Environmental Problems Caused by Underground Construction

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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 May 2023) | Viewed by 14289

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Prof. Dr. Bing Bai

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School of Civil Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
Interests: soft soil foundation treatment; geo-environmental engineering; engineering construction in special soil; energy underground structure construction; disposal and construction of contaminated sites; thermo-hydro-mechnical processes
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Geo-environmental disturbance refers to significant changes in the physical, mechanical and chemical properties of soils that are closely related to interrelated multi-physical field coupling systems of solid particles, water and gas in the shallow stratum, which are caused by underground engineering construction. In fact, the evaluation of possible geo-environmental hazards is an important topic worthy of the attention of researchers and engineers working in the construction of large-scale underground engineering. This is related to the suitability of civil engineering construction, especially for some complicated geological conditions such as saturated super-soft soil, laterite, loess, sand gravel stratum, saline soil, frozen soil, and karst stratum with rich water.

In recent years, an increasing number of geo-environmental problems have attracted many scholars and engineers, promoting the development of geotechnical engineering and its close intersection with other disciplines. These concerns include the settlement of ground surfaces, the collapse of underground supporting structures, landslides of soil slope, debris flows, the protrusion and blockage of tunnels, etc. For this purpose, it is necessary to investigate the micro-structures, physico-mechanical properties, deformation and strength evolution, and seepage characteristics of various geotechnical media.

This Special Issue titled Geo-Environmental Problems Caused by Underground Construction will address the most recent developments in the interaction between coupled multi-physical fields and underground structures, as well as geo-environmental effects, to stimulate fruitful technical and scientific interaction between professionals.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

Disturbance effect of underground construction;
Geo-environmental problems in special soils;
Landslides under long-term ground water action;
Risk assessment and decision in underground construction;
Coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical constitutive models;
Environmental influence of energy pile construction;
Seepage and prevention under multi-field coupling;
Environmental effect of geothermal utilization;
Geo-environmental geotechnics.

Prof. Dr. Bing Bai
Guest Editor

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Keywords

disturbance effect of underground construction
geo-environmental problems in special soils
landslides under long-term ground water action
risk assessment and decision in underground construction
coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical constitutive models
environmental influence of energy pile construction
seepage and prevention under multi-field coupling
environmental effect of geothermal utilization
geo-environmental geotechnics

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

2 pages, 159 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue on the Geo-Environmental Problems Caused by Underground Construction

by Bing Bai

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(19), 10754; https://doi.org/10.3390/app131910754 - 27 Sep 2023

Viewed by 486

Abstract

Geo-environmental disturbances refer to the significant changes in physical, mechanical, and even chemical properties of soils; are closely related to interrelated multi-physical field coupling systems of solid particles, water, and gas in the shallow stratum; and are caused by underground engineering construction [...] [...] Read more.

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Environmental Problems Caused by Underground Construction)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

18 pages, 5891 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Deformation Law of Tunnels Using Double-Sidewall Guide Pit Method under Different Excavation Sequences

by Yanmei Ruan, Xu Luo, Jin Li, Yang Li, Shan Lin, Chengkun Ling and Bingxiang Yuan

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(23), 12764; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132312764 - 28 Nov 2023

Viewed by 638

Abstract

The double-sidewall guide pit method finds extensive application in the construction of large cross-section tunnels in soft rock strata due to its minimal disruption to the surrounding rock, thereby enhancing tunnel stability. To investigate the loading and deformation patterns of the surrounding rock and tunnel support using the double-sidewall guide pit method, this study compares the impacts of various construction sequences on surface settlement, surrounding rock stress, and lining stress using indoor model tests. The experimental results show that after excavating the upper guide hole on one side, the excavation of the lower guide hole on the same side is carried out. The upper and lower support structures form a closed loop, and the structure can better constrain the surrounding rock and control the deformation of the surrounding rock, whereas the lower structure can share the stresses suffered by the upper structure. Therefore, compared with the upper and lower excavation methods, the surface settlement caused by the left and right excavation methods is smaller, the disturbance to the surrounding rock is smaller, and the supporting structure is more evenly and stably stressed in the excavation process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Environmental Problems Caused by Underground Construction)

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20 pages, 6726 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Bedding Strength and Angle on Fracture Characteristics of Sandstone under Three-Point Bending Conditions

by Guobo Wang, Tao Meng, Gan Feng, Lifeng Ma, Weimin Yang, Yi He, Zhijiang Zhang and Xufeng Liang

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(14), 8216; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13148216 - 15 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 950

Abstract

The fracture characteristics of bedded sandstone determine the stability and safety of in situ coal gasification technology. Four semicircular stratified sandstone specimens with different strengths (0.3, 0.6, 1.0, and 1.5 times that of rock matrix) and seven different bedding angles (θ = 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90°) were numerically simulated using RFPA2D-Basic V2.0 software. The SCB specimen had no prefabricated crack, and its radius was 25 mm. The loading rate was 0.000001 m/step. The results show that the fracture characteristics of the sandstone are affected by both the strength of the laminae and the angle; the fracture toughness and peak strength of the ultra-weak sandstone, as well as the weak sandstone, are reduced and more easily affected by the bedding angle; the strength rate of the strong sandstone is higher than that of the homogeneous sandstone, and the difference between the fracture characteristics of the two is not significant. This paper suggests that the key mechanism of this phenomenon is the anisotropy between the bedding and the sandstone, along with the competition/synergy between the main crack and the bedding plane bias crack during fracture propagation. These research results can provide a theoretical reference for the safety and stability of underground engineering in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Environmental Problems Caused by Underground Construction)

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13 pages, 5298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of the Construction of the Urdinbide Road Tunnel on the Autzagane Aquifer in Biscay (Spain)

by José-Manuel Baraibar, Miguel Gil and Iñigo Escobal

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(12), 7034; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13127034 - 11 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 982

Abstract

The Urdinbide road tunnel goes through the Autzagane aquifer. This important aquifer is located within the hydrogeological area of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, one of the most important biosphere reserves in the Iberian Peninsula, and it is also used as a source of drinking water for some urban areas in the municipality of Amorebieta-Etxano. The construction of the tunnel could pose a potential risk to the normal functioning of the aquifer, so its design included a special procedure for injecting cement and microcement to waterproof the surrounding area of the drilling, preventing the tunnel from functioning as a drain for the aquifer. The project initially included an intensive hydrogeological characterization of the rock massif, as well as a monitoring phase during the construction works, which allowed a real-time verification of the influence of the tunnel construction on the functioning of the aquifer and the restoration of its normal functioning once the works were completed. The work carried out has shown that the construction of the tunnel has not caused a significant impact on the Autzagane aquifer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Environmental Problems Caused by Underground Construction)

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18 pages, 7157 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Numerical Simulation of the Subsidence Reduction Effect of Different Grouting Schemes in Multi-Coal Seam Goafs

by Hai Wang, Yan Qin, Yuxi Guo and Nengxiong Xu

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 5522; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13095522 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 807

Abstract

Grouting is the most widely used technology for treating coal goafs. In this study, a numerical simulation method was used to establish a model of multi-seam goafs with different spacing conditions to investigate the subsidence reduction effects of various grouting schemes on multi-coal seam goafs. By varying the range and opportunity of grouting treatments, the effects of coal seam spacing, grouting treatment range, and grouting opportunity on subsidence reduction were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) With constant overburden (OB), the subsidence reduction ratio of the subgrade center increases linearly as the interburden (IB) decreases (1 ≤ OB/IB ≤ 2), then increases exponentially (2 < OB/IB), and eventually becomes stable. (2) When treatment is conducted based on the half-width of the subgrade, the width of the subgrade, and the range of the trapezoid, residual surface subsidence tends to adopt an inclined ‘W’-shape in open cutting. The surface residual subsidence exhibits a symmetrical ‘W’-shape when full-range grouting is adopted. (3) For a multi-coal seam goaf with longer mining stoppage time, the subsidence reduction ratio of the subgrade center is lower, and it is exponentially related to the grouting opportunity. As the grouting opportunity is extended and OB/IB decreases, the subsidence reduction ratio of the subgrade center declines exponentially. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Environmental Problems Caused by Underground Construction)

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21 pages, 6226 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of the Excavation of a Hydraulic Tunnel on Groundwater at the Wuyue Pumped Storage Power Station

by Tong Jiang, Xun Pei, Wenxue Wang, Longfei Li and Shihao Guo

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(8), 5196; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13085196 - 21 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1325

Abstract

The tailwater tunnel of the Wuyue pumped storage power station is located in bedrock and extends to depths between tens and hundreds of meters. It is impossible to analyze and evaluate the whole engineering area from geological exploration data, and the hydrogeological conditions are complicated. In the early stages of the tailwater tunnel’s construction, the drinking water wells in four villages dried up. This paper reports the results from a field investigation, in situ tests, laboratory tests, and numerical simulation carried out to determine how the groundwater was affected when the tunnel was excavated. A hydrogeological model of the region was established from the inverted regional natural flow field parameters. The model was validated, and an analysis of the errors showed that there was an average error of 1.98% between the natural flow field and the hydrogeological survey flow field. The model was then used to simulate the three-dimensional transient seepage fields under normal seepage conditions and limited seepage conditions, as far as was practical. The results showed that, as the excavation of the tailwater tunnel advanced, the water inflow to the tunnel also increased. When the water inflow increased from 1000 to 5000 m³/d, the water level at a distance of 100 m from the axis of the tunnel dropped from −0.956 to −1.604 m. We then analyzed how the water level changed as the water inflow varied and proposed a formula for calculating the extent of the influence on the groundwater. We studied how the water level changed at different well points to ascertain how a groundwater well became depleted and determined the factors that influenced seepage in the regional flow field. The water level in different areas of the project area was simulated and analyzed, and the extent of the groundwater area affected by the tunnel construction was clarified. We then studied how the groundwater in different areas of, and distances from, the project area was influenced by normal seepage conditions and limited seepage conditions and proposed a formula for calculating the extent of the influence on groundwater for different water inflows. We constructed a ‘smart site’ for visualizing data, sharing information, and managing the project. Time–frequency domain analysis was applied to explore the extent of the impacts and range of the vibration effects on residential housing at different distances from the project area caused by the different methods for excavating the tailwater tunnel. The results from this analysis will provide useful insights into how the excavation of this tailwater tunnel will impact the local residents and living areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Environmental Problems Caused by Underground Construction)

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8 pages, 2515 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Capillary Rise in Layered Soils

by Zhenhua Zhao, Zhenjiang Luo, Hongjie Sun, Haitao Li, Qiang Liu and Haiyan Liu

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(6), 3374; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13063374 - 07 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1357

Abstract

Capillary rise tests were conducted on soil columns containing of three layers of sandy soils with coarser over finer over coarser sandy soil to investigate the effect of the relatively finer soil interlayer. The capillary rise height, rate, and water distribution were observed in laboratory tests of four layered soil columns, with two homogeneous (without the interlayer) soil columns serving as the controls. The final maximum height of the capillary rise in the soil column with the interlayer was larger than that of the column without the interlayer when the interlayer was laid around the water entry value of the underlying soil. The water content was not continuous in the entire soil profile with the interlayer, and a small matric suction gap was observed in the relatively fine soil between the soil column with and without the interlayer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Environmental Problems Caused by Underground Construction)

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23 pages, 5436 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Stability Analysis of Filled-Slope Reinforced by Frame with Prestressed Anchor-Plates under Static Action

by Jun Zhang, Weili Li and Shuaihua Ye

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1615; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031615 - 27 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1394

Abstract

Because of the current situation where the stability research of filled-slope reinforced by a frame with prestressed anchor-plates lags behind the actual engineering application, based on the ultimate balance theory, the calculation formulas of stability factor under the four arc slip surface of filled-slopes reinforced by a frame with prestressed anchor-plates are derived by using the improved Bishop method; the corresponding search method of the most dangerous slip surface is given and the calculation formulas of the pullout force of anchor-plates are improved. Based on two examples, the stability results calculated by the proposed algorithm are compared with those calculated by PLAXIS 3D and GeoStudio 2012 finite element software, and the following conclusions are drawn. (1) The improved pullout force of anchor-plates takes into account the friction of the front and rear surface of the anchor-plate and the effect of cohesion of fill soil in the passive earth pressure on the front end of the anchor-plate, which makes the force of the anchor-plate more complete. (2) The stability factor of example 1 calculated by this method differs from the results simulated by PLAXIS 3D and GeoStudio 2012 by 4.6% and 7.1%, respectively; the stability factor of example 2 calculated by this method differs from the results simulated by PLAXIS3D and GeoStudio 2012 by 3.2% and 4.5%, respectively, which can meet the engineering requirements. (3) The stability analysis method of filled-slope reinforced by a frame with prestressed anchor-plates that is proposed is reasonable and suitable for any arc slip surface in the filled-slope reinforced by a frame with prestressed anchor-plates, and it provides some guiding values for the design of practical engineering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Environmental Problems Caused by Underground Construction)

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17 pages, 4689 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Large Scale Model Test Study of Foundation Pit Supported by Pile Anchors

by Tiantao Su, Yong Zhou, Zhengzhen Wang and Shuaihua Ye

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(19), 9792; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12199792 - 28 Sep 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2049

Abstract

Due to the special time–space and environmental effects of the foundation pit, there are many unstable factors in the construction process of the field test. The indoor model test can avoid many uncertainties in the construction process due to its operability, which can reduce the interference with the test results and improve the accuracy of the test. In order to further discuss the force-bearing characteristics and deformation laws of loess pits’ support structure in Northwest China, a large model test of foundation pit supported by a pile anchor with a geometric similarity ratio of 1:10 was designed and completed. The force and deformation characteristics of the support structure were systematically studied by simulating the conditions of additional load at the pit edge, soil layered excavated, and anchors tensioned. The test results show that: for the pile-anchor support structure, the anchors have significant limiting effects on the displacement of the piles. Especially, when the position of the first row of anchors is closer to the pile top, the displacement of the pile is smaller. The stress state of the piles was changed by the prestressed anchor. The passive stress state of piles is changed from one side of tension and the other side of compression to the active stress state of “S” shape, which makes the distribution of the bending moment of piles more reasonable. The measured earth pressure in the process of soil unloading has a nonlinear distribution, which is different from the classical Rankine earth pressure distribution; specifically, the passive earth pressure in front of the pile is more obvious. In addition, the prestress applied to the anchors has a more significant effect on the internal forces of the other anchors. Compared with sequential tensioning, the prestress loss caused by interval hole tensioning is significantly reduced. The greater the number of spaced holes, the smaller the prestress loss and the better the anchoring effect of the anchor. The results of the study can provide reference for similar model tests, and also for related engineering applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Environmental Problems Caused by Underground Construction)

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19 pages, 3574 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Calculation for Permanent Displacement of Single Slip Surface of Multi-Stage Loess Slope Based on Energy Method

by Xiaobing Zhang, Xin Zhang and Shuaihua Ye

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(17), 8426; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12178426 - 24 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1181

Abstract

At present, there are still some gaps in the theoretical calculation of the permanent displacement of the multi-stage loess slope under the action of earthquake. Therefore, this paper firstly uses the GEO-Studio finite element software to explore the influence of the comprehensive slope rate on the permanent displacement when the slope rate of each grade of multi-stage loess slope changes and the stage of multi-stage slope changes. The results show that it is feasible to use the comprehensive slope rate to calculate the permanent displacement of the sliding body of the multi-stage loess slope under the action of earthquake. On the basis of this conclusion, in order to simplify the calculation of permanent displacement of potential sliding soil, the other geometric parameters of the multi-stage loess slope are replaced by the comprehensive slope rate, combined with the Newmark slider displacement analysis method and energy conservation principle, and then the calculation method of permanent displacement of potential sliding soil of multi-stage loess slope under the action of earthquake is deduced. Through an example, the permanent displacement calculated by the proposed algorithm are compared with those calculated by the PLAXIS 3D software and GEO-Studio software. The results show that the permanent displacement calculated by this method is close to that calculated by the GEO-Studio software, and the difference is only 2%, and thus, the rationality of the proposed method for calculating the permanent displacement of the multi-stage loess slope under the action of earthquake is verified. The algorithm proposed in this paper provides a theoretical reference for the calculation of the permanent displacement of multi-stage loess slope under the action of earthquake. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Environmental Problems Caused by Underground Construction)

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16 pages, 12588 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on Share Rate of Support Structure for Super-Large Span Twin Tunnels with Small Interval

by Xuwei Zhao, Keguo Sun, Yingzhou Zhen, Yiqin Hong and Huichao Zhou

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7498; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157498 - 26 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1212

Abstract

Super-large span twin tunnels, which can relieve traffic burden and improve the efficiency of roads, have been rapidly popularized in urban construction. Hence, it is very important to master the share rate of support structure in this sort of tunnel correctly. In this paper, some field monitoring and numerical simulation work has been carried out in such a tunnel in Daling, China. The content of field monitoring consisted of the vault settlement, stress of the concrete, and the sum pressure. Firstly, the calculation formula of rock pressure in this kind of tunnel had been deduced, which was based on the theoretical sliding failure mode. Then, the calculated rock pressure was applied to the load structure model step by step with 10% intervals (10%, 20%, …). By comparing the monitoring and the simulation results on vault settlement, the share rate of the primary support was ensured to be 40%. Similarly, by comparing the result on safety factors, the share rate of the secondary lining was obtained (40%). The remained load was born mainly by the surrounding rock itself and the advanced support. Finally, the reliability of the results were verified by the sum pressure. This paper can provide reference for the effective design of support structure in super-large span twin tunnels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geo-Environmental Problems Caused by Underground Construction)

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