Abstract
Forward prospecting to predict the location of high-risk geological zones during tunnel boring machine (TBM) tunneling is important for safe and efficient tunnel construction. Seismic forward-prospecting methods are sensitive to geological structures and have been widely used in areas with relatively well-developed structures, such as mountainous areas with active tectonics. The Gaoligongshan Tunnel in Yunnan, China, with an advance pilot tunnel, was chosen for this study. The advantages of seismic while tunneling and active source methods for different detection distances were investigated, and the methods were combined to determine the geological conditions. An excavate geological study of the tunnel had identified fractured zones ahead of the tunnel face. Our seismic prospecting results were basically consistent with this conclusion. On the basis of these data, the excavation rate was slowed and tunnel support was increased; excavation through the area was then able to proceed without incident. The presence of a pilot tunnel was found to create interference in the seismic signals. We modeled this effect with numerical simulations. On the basis of the results, we discuss appropriate observation systems for use in tunneling projects with pilot tunnels. We demonstrate that seismic signals received by geophones coupled to the wall further from the pilot tunnel reflected the geological conditions for both seismic while tunneling and active source methods. The seismic source should thus be placed on the tunnel wall further from the pilot tunnel to improve results.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ashida Y (2001) Seismic imaging ahead of a tunnel face with three-component geophones. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 38(6):823–831. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1365-1609(01)00047-8
Barton N (2012) Reducing risk in long deep tunnels by using TBM and drill-and-blast methods in the same project–the hybrid solution. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 4(2):115–126. https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1235.2012.00115
Bensen GD, Ritzwoller MH, Barmin MP, Levshin AL, Lin F, Moschetti MP, Yang Y (2007) Processing seismic ambient noise data to obtain reliable broad-band surface wave dispersion measurements. Geophys J Int 169(3):1239–1260. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.2007.03374.x
Chen G, Wu ZZ, Wang FJ, Ma YL (2011) Study on the application of a comprehensive technique for geological prediction in tunneling. Environ Earth Sci 62(8):1667–1671. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-010-0651-y
Denis A, Marache A, Obellianne T, Breysse D (2002) Electrical resistivity borehole measurements: application to an urban tunnel site. J Appl Geophys 50(3):319–331. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0926-9851(02)00150-7
Jetschny S, Bohlen T, Kurzmann A (2011) Seismic prediction of geological structures ahead of the tunnel using tunnel surface waves. Geophys Prospect 59(5):934–946. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2478.2011.00958.x
Jiao YY, Tian HN, Liu YZ, Mei RW, Li HB (2015) Prediction of tunneling hazardous geological zones using the active seismic approach. Near Surface Geophysics 13(4):333–342. https://doi.org/10.3997/1873-0604.2015017
Li S, Liu B, Xu X, Nie L, Liu Z, Song J, Sun H, Chen L, Fan K (2017) An overview of ahead geological prospecting in tunneling. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 63:69–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2016.12.011
Li S, Liu B, Ren Y, Chen Y, Wang Y, Jiang P (2020) Deep-learning inversion of seismic data. IEEE Trans Geosci Remote Sens 58(3):2135–2149. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2019.2953473
Liu B, Chen L, Li S, Song J, Xu X, Li M, Nie L (2017) Three-dimensional seismic ahead-prospecting method and application in TBM tunnelling. J Geotech Geoenviron 143(12):04017090. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001785
Liu B, Zhang F, Li S, Li Y, Xu S, Nie L, Zhang C, Zhang Q (2018a) Forward modelling and imaging of ground-penetrating radar in tunnel ahead geological prospecting. Geophys Prospect 66(4):784–797. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2478.12613
Liu B, Chen L, Li S, Xu X, Liu L, Song J, Li M (2018b) A new 3D observation system designed for a seismic ahead prospecting method in tunnelling. Bull Eng Geol Environ 77:1547–1565. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-017-1131-3
Liu B, Pang Y, Mao D, Wang J, Liu Z, Wang N, Liu S, Zhang X (2020a) A rapid four-dimensional resistivity data inversion method using temporal segmentation. Geophys J Int 221(1):586–602. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggaa019
Liu B, Guo Q, Li S, Liu B, Ren Y, Pang Y, Xu G, Liu L, Jiang P (2020b) Deep learning inversion of electrical resistivity data. IEEE Trans Geosci Remote Sens 58(8):5715–5728. https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2020.2969040
Mahrer KD, List DF (1995) Radio frequency electromagnetic tunnel detection and delineation at the Otay Mesa site. Geophysics 60(2):413–422. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1443778
Parise M, De Waele J, Gutierrez F (2008) Engineering and environmental problems in karst—an introduction. Eng Geol 3(99):91–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2007.11.009
Petronio L, Poletto F (2002) Seismic-while-drilling by using tunnel boring machine noise. Geophysics 67(6):1798–1809. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1527080
Petronio L, Poletto F, Schleifer A (2007) Interface prediction ahead of the excavation front by the tunnel-seismic-while-drilling (TSWD) method. Geophysics 72(4):G39–G44. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.2740712
Poletto F, Petronio L (2006) Seismic interferometry with a TBM source of transmitted and reflected waves. Geophysics 71(4):SI85–SI93. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.2213947
Price DG (2008) Engineering geology: principles and practice. Springer Science & Business Media
Ryu HH, Cho GC, Yang SD, Shin HK (2011) Development of tunnel electrical resistivity prospecting system and its application. Berichte Geol. B.-A., 93. International Workshop on Geoelectric Monitoring 179–183. http://hdl.handle.net/10203/171746
Sattel G, Sander B, Amberg F, Kashiwa T (1996) Predicting ahead of the face. Tunnels & Tunnelling International http://worldcat.org/issn/0041414X
Shang J, Luo X, Gao F, Hu J, Zhou K (2012) Advanced predication of geological anomalous body ahead of laneway using seismic tomography technique. Procedia Engineering 43:324–330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2012.08.056
Shang J, West LJ, Hencher SR, Zhao Z (2018) Geological discontinuity persistence: implications and quantification. Eng Geol 241:41–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2018.05.010
Shapiro NM, Campillo M (2004) Emergence of broadband Rayleigh waves from correlations of the ambient seismic noise. Geophysical Research Letters 31(7). https://doi.org/10.1029/2004GL019491
Tiantian S, Zhengxue X, Huayou SUE, Xiaoxia L (2004) Engineering geological analysis of 2• 22 blockage accident in TBM construction of Shanggongshan tunnel. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 23(4):544–544
Vibert C, Gupta SC, Felix Y, Binquet J, Robert F (2005) Dul Hasti hydroelectric project (India): experience gained from back analysis of the excavation of the head race tunnel. Proceedings of Geoloine: 23–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2012.08.056
Widess MB (1973) How thin is a thin bed? Geophysics 38(6):1176–1180. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1440403
Yin J, Shang Y, Fu B, Qu Y (2005) Development of TBM-excavation technology and analyses & countermeasures of related engineering geological problems. Gongcheng Dizhi Xuebao. J Eng Geol 13(3):389–397
Yokota Y, Yamamoto T, Shirasagi S, Koizumi Y, Descour J, Kohlhaas M (2016) Evaluation of geological conditions ahead of TBM tunnel using wireless seismic reflector tracing system. Tunneling and Underground Space Technology 57:85–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2016.01.020
Zhang J, Fu B (2007) Advances in tunnel boring machine application in China. Yanshilixue Yu Gongcheng Xuebao. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 26(2):226–238
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Yungui Railway Yunnan Co., Ltd., China Railway Tunnel Group and the China Railway Engineering Equipment Group Co., Ltd. for their contributions and assistancein the publication of this paper.
Funding
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant numbers 51739007, U1806226, 51922067 and 51809155, the National Key Research and Development Plan under Grant number 2016YFC0801604.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Xu, X., Zhang, P., Guo, X. et al. A case study of seismic forward prospecting based on the tunnel seismic while drilling and active seismic methods. Bull Eng Geol Environ 80, 3553–3567 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-020-02088-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-020-02088-z