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Numerical analysis of rock fall at Hanekleiv road tunnel

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Abstract

The twin tube, 1,765 m long Hanekleiv road tunnel is located in Southeast Norway. Ten years after completion of the tunnel, a serious rock fall occurred in the southbound tube, approximately 1.1 km from the northern tunnel entrance, in a fault zone containing swelling clay. In addition to swelling, gravitational collapse due to the very low internal friction played an important role in the development of the instability. Numerical analysis has been carried out for the rock slide. Modelling based on the support actually applied indicated cracks during tunnel excavation as well as the tunnel collapse. Simulation showed that even reinforced shotcrete ribs or 25 cm thick concrete lining, based on the Q-system, may not be sufficient for the fault zone.

Résumé

Le tunnel routier bi-tube de Hanekleiv, de 1,765 m de longueur, est situé dans le sud-est de la Norvège. Dix ans après l’achèvement de la construction du tunnel, un important éboulement a eu lieu dans le tube sud, approximativement à 1,1 km de l’entrée nord du tunnel, au niveau d’une zone de faille où des argiles gonflantes étaient présentes. Associé au gonflement de ces argiles, de très faibles valeurs des angles de frottement interne des matériaux expliquent le développement de l’instabilité. Une analyse numérique a été réalisée pour ce qui concerne le glissement rocheux. Une modélisation portant sur le soutènement réellement appliqué a montré qu’une fissuration des terrains pendant la phase d’excavation ainsi qu’un éboulement étaient prévisibles. Une simulation numérique a montré que même des anneaux de béton projeté renforcés ou un revêtement de béton de 25 cm d’épaisseur, défini à partir du Q-système, pouvaient ne pas être suffisants au niveau de cette zone de faille.

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Acknowledgments

Professor Stephen Lippard is gratefully acknowledged for improving the language of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Mineral Resources Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway

    Dawei Mao & Bjørn Nilsen

  2. SINTEF Rock Engieering, 7465, Trondheim, Norway

    Ming Lu

Authors
  1. Dawei Mao
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  2. Bjørn Nilsen
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  3. Ming Lu
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Correspondence to Dawei Mao.

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Mao, D., Nilsen, B. & Lu, M. Numerical analysis of rock fall at Hanekleiv road tunnel. Bull Eng Geol Environ 71, 783–790 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-012-0438-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-012-0438-3

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