Title: COLLAPSE SIMULATION IN VOUSSOIRED TUNNELS THROUGH THE FORMATION OF CONNECTIONS IN BEAMS.

Author(s): Enrique Tenorio Montero y Gelacio Juárez Luna.

Publication: IMCYC

Volume: 4

Issue: 2

Appears on pages(s): 43-55

Keywords: concrete segments, collapse, ovalization, joint, tunnel, hinge.

DOI:

Date: 1/1/2013

Abstract:
The collapse mechanism in segmental tunnels is studied by the finite element method. The tunnels were discretized with beam finite elements, longitudinal and rotational springs, the last have the capability to simulate the development of hinges and the longitudinal joints behavior, considering a moment-rotation constitutive behavior of concrete segments. In the supports, elastic axial springs were placed representing the soil stiffness. The tunnel collapse is attributed to the displacements caused by the ovalization of the ring, interrupting the normal forces transmission between the concrete segments. The computed numerical solutions for three tunnels were compared with those reported in the literature, showing relative differences of 2.30 % and 1.82 % in the displacements and in the bending moments, respectively, attributed to the modeling strategies, concluding that the finite used elements in this paper provide acceptable results.