Abstract
The Sichuan-Tibet transportation corridor is prone to numerous active faults and frequent strong earthquakes. While extensive studies have individually explored the effect of active faults and strong earthquakes on different engineering structures, their combined effect remains unclear. This research employed multiple physical model tests to investigate the dynamic response of various engineering structures, including tunnels, bridges, and embankments, under the simultaneous influence of cumulative earthquakes and stick-slip misalignment of an active fault. The prototype selected for this study was the Kanding No. 2 tunnel, which crosses the Yunongxi fault zone within the Sichuan-Tibet transportation corridor. The results demonstrated that the tunnel, bridge, and embankment exhibited amplification in response to the input seismic wave, with the amplification effect gradually decreasing as the input peak ground acceleration (PGA) increased. The PGAs of different engineering structures were weakened by the fault rupture zone. Nevertheless, the misalignment of the active fault may decrease the overall stiffness of the engineering structure, leading to more severe damage, with a small contribution from seismic vibration. Additionally, the seismic vibration effect might be enlarged with the height of the engineering structure, and the tunnel is supposed to have a smaller PGA and lower dynamic earth pressure compared to bridges and embankments in strong earthquake zones crossing active faults. The findings contribute valuable insights for evaluating the dynamic response of various engineering structures crossing an active fault and provide an experimental reference for secure engineering design in the challenging conditions of the Sichuan-Tibet transportation corridor.
Similar content being viewed by others
Availability of Data/Materials: The datasets of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request and within the framework of cooperation agreements and scientific research projects.
References
Adanur S, Altunişik AC, Bayraktar A, et al. (2012) Comparison of near-fault and far-fault ground motion effects on geometrically nonlinear earthquake behavior of suspension bridges. Nat Hazards 64: 593–614. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-012-0259-5
Anastasopoulos I, Gazetas G, Drosos V, et al. (2008a) Design of bridges against large tectonic deformation. Earthq Eng Eng Vib 7: 345–368. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-008-1001-x
Anastasopoulos I, Gerolymos N, Drosos V, et al. (2008b) Behaviour of deep immersed tunnel under combined normal fault rupture deformation and subsequent seismic shaking. Bull Earthq Eng 6: 213–239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-007-9055-0
Baziar MH, Nabizadeh A, Mehrabi R, et al. (2016) Evaluation of underground tunnel response to reverse fault rupture using numerical approach. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 83: 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2015.11.005
Brand L (1957) The Pi theorem of dimensional analysis. Arch Ration Mech Anal 1: 35–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00297994
Buckingham E (1914) On physically similar systems; Illustrations of the use of dimensional equations. Phys Rev 4: 345–376. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.4.345
Chen GH, Xu XW, Wen XZ, et al. (2008) Kinematical transformation and slip partitioning of northern to eastern active boundary belt of Sichuan-Yunnan block. Seismol Geol 30: 58–85. (in Chinese)
Chen ZY, Guo YP (2023) Analysis of cross fault tunnel damage under combined action of fault dislocation and ground motion. J Disaster Prev Mitig Eng 43 (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.13409/j.cnki.jdpme.20211111075
Choi JH, Edwards P, Ko K, et al. (2016) Definition and classification of fault damage zones: A review and a new methodological approach. Earth Sci Res 152: 70–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2015.11.006
Cui P, Ge YG, Li SJ, et al. (2022a) Scientific challenges in disaster risk reduction for the Sichuan-Tibet Railway. Eng Geol 309: 106837. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2022.106837
Cui Z, Sheng Q, Zhang GM, et al. (2022b) Response and mechanism of a tunnel subjected to combined fault rupture deformation and subsequent seismic excitation. Transp Geotech 34: 100749. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trgeo.2022.100749
Curtis WD, Logan JD, Parker WA (1982) Dimensional analysis and the Pi theorem. Linear Algebra Appl 47: 117–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-3795(82)90229-4
Deng LS, Peng JB, Yan FR (2009) Study on the break-down mechanism of road structure induced by dip-slip active fault. J Saf Environ 9: 126–131. (In Chinese)
Fan L, Chen JL, Peng SQ, et al. (2020) Seismic response of tunnel under normal fault slips by shaking table test technique. J Cent South Univ 27: 1306–1319. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-020-4368-0
Fang XQ, Ma HW, Zhu CS, et al. (2023) Imperfect interface model and dynamic interaction mechanism around tunnels under seismic waves: A review. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2023.105120
Gao S (2021) Late Quaternary paleoseismology and faulting behavior of the internal and western boundary faults of Northwest Sichuan Subblock. PhD thesis, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing. p 163. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.27489/d.cnki.gzdds.2021.000005
Goel R, Qu B, Tures J, et al. (2014) Validation of fault rupture-response spectrum analysis method for curved bridges crossing strike-slip fault rupture zones. J Bridge Eng 19: 06014002. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0000602
Goel RK, Chopra AK (2009) Nonlinear analysis of ordinary bridges crossing fault-rupture zones. J Bridge Eng 14: 216–224. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1084-0702
Guo CB, Zhang YS, Jiang LW, et al. (2017) Discussion on the environmental and engineering geological problems along the Sichuan-Tibet railway and its adjacent area. Geoscience 31: 877–889. (In Chinese)
Guo CB, Zhang YS, Yang ZH, et al. (2018) The investigation on the active faults along the Sichuan-Tibet railway and their geological hazard effects. Geological Publishing House, Beijing. p 288. (In Chinese)
Guo W, Chen WQ, He CJ, et al. (2022) Shaking table test research on shear behavior of cross-fault geosynthetics reinforced and pile-supported embankment. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 155: 107197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2022.107197
Han Q, Du XL, Liu JB, et al. (2009) Seismic damage of highway bridges during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Earthq Eng Eng Vib 8: 263–273. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-009-8162-0
Hashash YMA, Hook JJ, Schmidt B, et al. (2001) Seismic design and analysis of underground structures. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 16: 247–293. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0886-7798(01)00051-7
He JX, Qi SW, Zhan ZF, et al. (2021) Seismic response characteristics and deformation evolution of the bedding rock slope using a large-scale shaking table. Landslides 18: 2835–2853. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-021-01682-w
He KW, Zhang CY, Li HF, et al. (2022) Seismic response characteristics of cable-stayed bridge across strike-slip faults. J Vib Shock 41: 81–92. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.13465/j.cnki.jvs.2022.17.010
Huang W, Zhou RJ, He YL, et al. (2000) Holocene activity on Yunongxi fault and Liuba M6.2 earthquake in Kangding, Sichuan. Earthq Res Chin 16: 53–53. (In Chinese)
Jiao HY, Du XL, Zhao M, et al. (2021) Nonlinear seismic response of rock tunnels crossing inactive fault under obliquely incident seismic P waves. J Earth Sci 32: 1174–1189. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-021-1483-2
Kiani M, Akhlaghi T, Ghalandarzadeh A (2016) Experimental modeling of segmental shallow tunnels in alluvial affected by normal faults. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 51: 108–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2015.10.005
Ko YY, Tsai CC, Hwang JH, et al. (2023) Failure of engineering structures and associated geotechnical problems during the 2022 Ml 6.8 Chihshang earthquake, Taiwan. Nat Hazards 118: 55–94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-023-05993-0
Kong FM (2022) Hazard-causing mechanism of dynamic water and mud inrush triggered by deep buried tunnel of Sichuan-Tibet railway crossing active fault. PhD thesis, Shandong University, Jinan, p 243. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.27272/d.cnki.gshdu.2022.000885
Kong FM, Xue YG, Gong HM, et al. (2023) The formation mechanism of dynamic water and mud inrush geohazard triggered by deep-buried tunnel crossing active fault: Insights from the geomechanical model test. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 142: 105437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2023.105437
Li JB, Zhang HR, Li ZQ (2011) Large-scale shaking table model test study of dynamic response and dynamic failure of subgrade. Chin J Rock Mech Rock Eng 30: 3746–3754. (In Chinese)
Li S, Zhang F, Wang JQ, et al. (2017) Seismic responses of superspan cable-stayed bridges induced by ground motions in different sites relative to fault rupture considering soil-structure interaction. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 101: 295–310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2017.07.016
Lin ML, Chung CF, Jeng FS, et al. (2007) The deformation of overburden soil induced by thrust faulting and its impact on underground tunnels. Eng Geol 92: 110–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2007.03.008
Lin YZ, Zong ZH, Bi KM, et al. (2020) Experimental and numerical studies of the seismic behavior of a steel-concrete composite rigid-frame bridge subjected to the surface rupture at a thrust fault. Eng Struct 205: 110105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2019.110105
Liu XZ, Li XF, Sang YL, et al. (2015) Experimental study on normal fault rupture propagation in loose strata and its impact on mountain tunnels. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 49: 417–425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2015.05.010
Mei XC, Sheng Q, Cui Z (2021) Effect of near-fault pulsed ground motions on seismic response and seismic performance to tunnel structures. Shock Vib 2021: 9999007. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9999007
Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People’s Republic of China (2016) Code for seismic design of buildings (GB 50011-2010). China Building Industry Press, Beijing. p 510. (In Chinese)
Pamuk A, Kalkan E, Ling HI (2005) Structural and geotechnical impacts of surface rupture on highway structures during recent earthquakes in Turkey. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 25: 581–589. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2004.11.011
Peng JB, Cui P, Zhuang JQ (2020) Challenges to engineering geology of Sichuan—Tibet railway. Chin J Rock Mech Rock Eng 39: 2377–2389. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.13722/j.cnki.jrme.2020.0446
Peng JB, Ma YL, Fan W (2001) Study on regional stability dynamics: An example of the large hydropower project on the Heishanxia of the Yellow River. Science Press, Beijing. p 305. (In Chinese)
Petala E, Klimis NS (2019) Exploring the interplay between normal fault rupture and a highway embankment founded on a single-layered soil: Mapping and quantification of damage. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 123: 91–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2019.04.015
Ren JJ, Xu XW, Lv YW, et al. (2022) Late Quaternary slip rate of the northern Lancangjiang fault zone in eastern Tibet: Seismic hazards for the Sichuan-Tibet Railway and regional tectonic implications. Eng Geol 306: 106748. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2022.106748
Roy N, Sarkar R (2017) A review of seismic damage of mountain tunnels and probable failure mechanisms. Geotech Geol Eng 35: 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-016-0091-x
Saiidi MS, Vosooghi A, Choi H, et al. (2014) Shake table studies and analysis of a two-span RC bridge model subjected to a fault rupture. J Bridge Eng 19: A4014003. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0000478
Shen YS, Wang ZZ, Yu JX, et al. (2020) Shaking table test on flexible joints of mountain tunnels passing through normal fault. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 98: 103299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2020.103299
Shinoda M, Yoshida I, Watanabe K, et al. (2022) Seismic probabilistic risk estimation of Japanese railway embankments and risk-based design strength of soil and reinforcement. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 163: 107507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2022.107507
Tsinidis G, de Silva F, Anastasopoulos I, et al. (2020) Seismic behaviour of tunnels: From experiments to analysis. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 99: 103334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2020.103334
Ucak A, Mavroeidis GP, Tsopelas P (2014) Behavior of a seismically isolated bridge crossing a fault rupture zone. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 57: 164–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2013.10.012
Wang WL, Wang TT, Su JJ, et al. (2001) Assessment of damage in mountain tunnels due to the Taiwan Chi-Chi Earthquake. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 16: 133–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0886-7798(01)00047-5
Wang Z, Jiang LZ, Jiang LQ, et al. (2022) Seismic response of high-speed railway simple-supported girder track-bridge system considering spatial effect at near-fault region. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 158: 107283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2022.107283
Xie W, Sun LM (2021) Experimental and numerical investigations on transverse seismic responses of soil-cable-stayed-bridge system subjected to transverse near-fault ground motions. Eng Struct 226: 111361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.111361
Xu TQ, Li SG (2022) Research on influence of reverse fault dislocation on tunnel structure. J Railw Eng Soc 66: 117–122. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.13238/j.issn.1004-2954.202103020013
Xu XW, Yu GH, Ma WT, et al. (2002) Evidence and methods for determining the safety distance from the potential earthquake surface rupture on active fault. Seismol Geol 24: 470–483. (In Chinese)
Xu XW, Zhang PZ, Wen XZ, et al. (2005) Features of active tectonics and recurrence behaviors of strong earthquakes in the western Sichuan Province and its adjacent regions. Seismol Geol 27: 446–461. (In Chinese)
Xue YG, Kong FM, Li SC, et al. (2021) China starts the world’s hardest “Sky-High Road” project: Challenges and countermeasures for Sichuan-Tibet railway. Innovation 2: 100105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2021.100105
Xue YG, Kong FM, Yang WM, et al. (2020) Main unfavorable geological conditions and engineering geological problems along Sichuan—Tibet railway. Chin J Rock Mech Rock Eng 39: 1–24. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.13722/j.cnki.jrme.2019.0737
Yang S, Mavroeidis GP (2018) Bridges crossing fault rupture zones: A review. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 113: 545–571. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2018.03.027
Yi J, Yang HY, Li JZ (2019) Experimental and numerical study on isolated simply-supported bridges subjected to a fault rupture. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 127: 105819. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2019.105819
Yu HT, Chen JT, Bobet A, et al. (2016) Damage observation and assessment of the Longxi tunnel during the Wenchuan earthquake. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 54: 102–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2016.02.008
Zhang C, Zhu ZD, Wang SY, et al. (2023) Seismic response and deformation mechanism of near-fault deep tunnels in a strong earthquake area. Acta Geotech 18: 4847–4869. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-023-01881-w
Zhang DL, Sun ZY, Fang Q (2022) Scientific problems and research proposals for Sichuan-Tibet railway tunnel construction. Undergr Space 7: 419–439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.undsp.2021.10.002
Zhang JL, Wu DC, Wang DY (2011) Structural deformation and activity of the Bawolung-Yulongxi fracture zone in Jiulong, Sichuan. Acta Geol Sichuan 31: 4. (In Chinese)
Zhang PZ, Wang M, Gan WJ, et al. (2003) The active fault motion rate by GPS data and its constrain on continental dynamic action. Front Earth Sci 10: 81–92. (In Chinese)
Zhao B, Su LJ, Wang YS, et al. (2023) Insights into some large-scale landslides in southeastern margin of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 15: 1960–1985. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2022.09.005
Zheng SX, Shi XH, Jia HY, et al. (2020) Seismic response analysis of long-span and asymmetrical suspension bridges subjected to near-fault ground motion. Eng Fail Anal 115: 104615. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2020.104615
Zhong N, Yang Z, Zhang XB, et al. (2022) Evidence of Holocene activity and paleoseismic records in the central section of Bangda fault in Nujiang fault zone. Geol Rev 68: 2021–2032. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.16509/j.georeview.2022.08.131
Zhong ZL, Wang Z, Zhao M, et al. (2020) Structural damage assessment of mountain tunnels in fault fracture zone subjected to multiple strike-slip fault movement. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 104: 103527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2020.103527
Zhou GX, Sheng Q, Cui Z, et al. (2022) Model test of failure mechanism of tunnel with flexible joint crossing active fault under strike-slip fault dislocation. Rock Soil Mech 43: 37–50. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.16285/j.rsm.2021.0765
Zhu HW, Yao LK, Xu GX (2020) Analysis of the stability and seismic behavior of the geosynthetic-reinforced embankments under earthquake. J Mt Sci 17: 1269–1280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-019-5519-3
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41825018, 41977248, 42207219), and the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (STEP) (Grant No. 2019QZKK0904). The authors express their gratitude to Prof. XUE Yiguo and Dr. KONG Fanmeng from Shandong University, China, for their valuable assistance in conducting the model tests. The editors and reviewers are greatly thanked for providing thoughtful and constructive comments, which have significantly improved the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
HUANG Beixiu: Methodology, Data curation, Visualization, Formal analysis, Writing-original draft, Writing-review & editing. QIAO Sijia: Data curation, Visualization, Writing-original draft. CHEN Xulei: Data curation, Formal analysis, Writing-original draft. LI Lihui: Investigation, Methodology, Conceptualization, Writing-original draft, Writing-review & editing, Supervision, Funding. QI Shengwen: Investigation, Writing-review & editing, Supervision, Funding, Project administration.
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Huang, B., Qiao, S., Chen, X. et al. Dynamic response of mountain tunnel, bridge, and embankment along the Sichuan-Tibet transportation corridor to active fault based on model tests. J. Mt. Sci. 21, 182–199 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-023-8143-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-023-8143-1