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Calibration of Strain Gauged Square Tunnels for Centrifuge Testing

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Abstract

A series of dynamic centrifuge tests were conducted on square aluminum model tunnels embedded in dry sand. The tests were carried out at the Schofield Centre of the Cambridge University Engineering Department, aiming to investigate the dynamic response of these types of structures. An extensive instrumentation scheme was employed to record the soil-tunnel system response, which comprised of miniature accelerometers, total earth pressures cells and position sensors. To record the lining forces, the model tunnels were strain gauged. The calibration of the strain gauges, the data from which was crucial to furthering our understanding on the seismic performance of box-type tunnels, was performed combining physical testing and numerical modelling. This technical note summarizes this calibration procedure, highlighting the importance of advanced numerical simulation in the calibration of complex construction models.

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Acknowledgments

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme [FP7/2007-2013] for access to the Turner Beam Centrifuge, Cambridge, UK under Grant agreement n° 227887 [SERIES: Seismic Engineering Research Infrastructures for European Synergies; www.series.upatras.gr/TUNNELSEIS]. The technical support received by the Technicians of the Schofield Centre is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Research Unit of Soil Dynamics and Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, PO BOX 424, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Grigorios Tsinidis & Kyriazis Pitilakis

  2. Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

    Charles Heron

  3. Schofield Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Gopal Madabhushi

Authors
  1. Grigorios Tsinidis
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  2. Charles Heron
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  3. Gopal Madabhushi
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  4. Kyriazis Pitilakis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Grigorios Tsinidis.

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Charles Heron was formerly in University of Cambridge.

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Tsinidis, G., Heron, C., Madabhushi, G. et al. Calibration of Strain Gauged Square Tunnels for Centrifuge Testing. Geotech Geol Eng 34, 911–921 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-016-0015-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-016-0015-9

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