Dynamic response of flexible square tunnels: centrifuge testing and validation of existing design methodologies

A series of dynamic centrifuge tests were performed on a flexible aluminium square tunnel model embedded in Hostun dry sand. The tests were carried out at the centrifuge facility of the University of Cambridge in order to further improve knowledge regarding the seismic response of rectangular embedd...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tsinidis, Grigorios, Pitilakis, Kyriazis, Madabhushi, Gopol, Heron, Charles
Format: Article
Published: Thomas Telford ICE Publishing 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34819/
_version_ 1848794942644682752
author Tsinidis, Grigorios
Pitilakis, Kyriazis
Madabhushi, Gopol
Heron, Charles
author_facet Tsinidis, Grigorios
Pitilakis, Kyriazis
Madabhushi, Gopol
Heron, Charles
author_sort Tsinidis, Grigorios
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description A series of dynamic centrifuge tests were performed on a flexible aluminium square tunnel model embedded in Hostun dry sand. The tests were carried out at the centrifuge facility of the University of Cambridge in order to further improve knowledge regarding the seismic response of rectangular embedded structures and to calibrate currently available design methods. The soil–tunnel system response was recorded with an extensive instrumentation array, comprising miniature accelerometers, pressure cells and position sensors in addition to strain gauges, which recorded the tunnel lining internal forces. Tests were numerically analysed by means of full dynamic time history analysis of the coupled soil–tunnel system. Numerical predictions were compared to the experimental data to validate the effectiveness of the numerical modelling. The interpretation of both experimental and numerical results revealed, among other findings: (a) a rocking response of the model tunnel in addition to racking; (b) residual earth pressures on the tunnel side walls; and (c) residual internal forces after shaking, which are amplified with the tunnel's flexibility. Finally, the calibrated numerical models were used to validate the accuracy of simplified design methods used in engineering practice.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T19:24:13Z
format Article
id nottingham-34819
institution University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T19:24:13Z
publishDate 2015
publisher Thomas Telford ICE Publishing
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling nottingham-348192020-05-04T17:05:33Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34819/ Dynamic response of flexible square tunnels: centrifuge testing and validation of existing design methodologies Tsinidis, Grigorios Pitilakis, Kyriazis Madabhushi, Gopol Heron, Charles A series of dynamic centrifuge tests were performed on a flexible aluminium square tunnel model embedded in Hostun dry sand. The tests were carried out at the centrifuge facility of the University of Cambridge in order to further improve knowledge regarding the seismic response of rectangular embedded structures and to calibrate currently available design methods. The soil–tunnel system response was recorded with an extensive instrumentation array, comprising miniature accelerometers, pressure cells and position sensors in addition to strain gauges, which recorded the tunnel lining internal forces. Tests were numerically analysed by means of full dynamic time history analysis of the coupled soil–tunnel system. Numerical predictions were compared to the experimental data to validate the effectiveness of the numerical modelling. The interpretation of both experimental and numerical results revealed, among other findings: (a) a rocking response of the model tunnel in addition to racking; (b) residual earth pressures on the tunnel side walls; and (c) residual internal forces after shaking, which are amplified with the tunnel's flexibility. Finally, the calibrated numerical models were used to validate the accuracy of simplified design methods used in engineering practice. Thomas Telford ICE Publishing 2015-05-01 Article PeerReviewed Tsinidis, Grigorios, Pitilakis, Kyriazis, Madabhushi, Gopol and Heron, Charles (2015) Dynamic response of flexible square tunnels: centrifuge testing and validation of existing design methodologies. Geotechnique, 65 (5). pp. 401-417. ISSN 1751-7656 centrifuge modelling earthquakes numerical modelling soil/structure interaction tunnels tunnelling http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/10.1680/geot.SIP.15.P.004 doi:10.1680/geot.SIP.15.P.004 doi:10.1680/geot.SIP.15.P.004
spellingShingle centrifuge modelling
earthquakes
numerical modelling
soil/structure interaction
tunnels
tunnelling
Tsinidis, Grigorios
Pitilakis, Kyriazis
Madabhushi, Gopol
Heron, Charles
Dynamic response of flexible square tunnels: centrifuge testing and validation of existing design methodologies
title Dynamic response of flexible square tunnels: centrifuge testing and validation of existing design methodologies
title_full Dynamic response of flexible square tunnels: centrifuge testing and validation of existing design methodologies
title_fullStr Dynamic response of flexible square tunnels: centrifuge testing and validation of existing design methodologies
title_full_unstemmed Dynamic response of flexible square tunnels: centrifuge testing and validation of existing design methodologies
title_short Dynamic response of flexible square tunnels: centrifuge testing and validation of existing design methodologies
title_sort dynamic response of flexible square tunnels: centrifuge testing and validation of existing design methodologies
topic centrifuge modelling
earthquakes
numerical modelling
soil/structure interaction
tunnels
tunnelling
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34819/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34819/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34819/