Three-dimensional numerical analysis of tunnelling induced damage: The influence of masonry building geometry and location

Recent tunnelling projects have received a great amount of media attention due to settlement induced damage. Due to the simplified approach of existing risk assessment methods, a new assessment system is in development, which can account for three-dimensional structural aspects of buildings. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of the position and geometry of masonry buildings on the development of damage, while undergoing tunnelling induced settlements. In line with previous research, three-dimensional finite element analyses are used as a tool to perform a parametric study. A parametric study consists of an evaluation of the parameters position, aspect-ratio, grouping and orientation. The position parameter is divided into three characteristics: the sagging zone, a combined settlement profile and the hogging zone. The aspect-ratio parameter is also divided into three characteristics: shallow buildings, square buildings and deep buildings. The grouping effect parameter also distinguishes three characteristics: small and large isolated buildings and grouped buildings. The orientation parameter includes seven different increasing angles of the building main axis with respect to the tunnelling axis. The maximum measured crack width in the buildings gives input for a classification of damage, according the system of Burland et al. (1977). An average trend in the damage classification indicates the sensitivity to tunnelling induced settlements of the parameters. Both during and after tunnelling, a position of the building in the combined settlement profile appears to be the most sensitive to differential settlements. Buildings far away from the tunnelling axis generally obtain no more than slight damage. Structures with a low aspect-ratio seem on average to obtain equal amounts of damage as buildings with an aspect-ratio of 1. Structures with a higher aspect-ratio are less affected, both during and after tunnelling. Grouping of the buildings seems to be an influential parameter. Small isolated buildings obtain far less damage than large or grouped buildings. In relation to the numerical analyses, the empirical Limiting Tensile Strain Method (LTSM) seems to overestimate the damage for an isolated small building, but underestimate the damage in large or grouped buildings. For buildings in the sagging zone, a building with a low orientation angle is the least sensitive to differential settlement, while the maximum measured crack width increases by increasing the angle. The difference in maximum crack width can grow to a factor 3. A building in the combined settlement profile or in the hogging zone displays opposite behaviour. Cases with low orientation angles are the most susceptible to damage, while increasing the angle to 90 degrees lowers the maximum measured crack width. The difference in results can grow up to a factor 2.Structural MechanicsStructural EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience