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Geological risks and countermeasures for mountain tunneling through a large karst cave in Southwest Hubei, China: a case study

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Abstract

The outcrop area of carbonate rocks accounts for 61.6% of the total area in Southwest Hubei. The action of tectonic processes, erosion of surface and underground water systems, topography, and carbonate geology lead to the formation of large karst caves. A large karst cave (LKC) has been found in the middle of the Taiping tunnel, which cannot be avoided restricted by the overall alignment. Mountain tectonic movement and erosion of the underground river system are the main factors for the formation of the LKC. Risks will appear when tunneling through the LKC, such as instability, water or stone ingress, damage to the tunnel, and long-term instability. Evaluation of the stability of the LKC is discussed. And the result shows that the LKC is overall stable without strong external loads. A small pipe grouting method for treating the foundation is presented. For driving and resisting the impact of falling stones, two kinds of lining structure schemes are adopted, double lining open-cut tunnel structure and traditional tunnel structure after backfill. The drainage system of the Taiping tunnel proposed does not destroy the original drainage system of LKC.

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Funding

This study has been supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (No. 52179116), Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Science Foundation (No. 2020A03003-3).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Highway, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710064, China

    Yan-Wei Li

  2. CCCC Second Highway Consultants Co., Ltd, Wuhan, 430056, China

    Qing-Long Cui

  3. Civil Design & Research Institute, China Railway Design Corporation, Tianjin, 300308, China

    Qiang Wu & Jie Sun

Authors
  1. Yan-Wei Li
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  2. Qing-Long Cui
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  3. Qiang Wu
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  4. Jie Sun
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Correspondence to Yan-Wei Li.

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Responsible Editor: Zeynal Abiddin Erguler

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Li, YW., Cui, QL., Wu, Q. et al. Geological risks and countermeasures for mountain tunneling through a large karst cave in Southwest Hubei, China: a case study. Arab J Geosci 15, 1083 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-10331-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-10331-y

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