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Seismic Stability of a Tunnel Considering the Dynamic Geologic Parameters of Loess

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Abstract

In this study, Taiyuan loess is used in the analysis of the seismic stability of a loess tunnel. This analysis considers the dynamic parameters of the loess as determined via triaxial compression tests in the literature. In this analysis, the consolidation pressure is converted into the thickness of the overlying loess layer. The spring stiffness and damping coefficients of the viscoelastic boundary are obtained using the maximum dynamic elastic modulus in conjunction with different loess moisture contents and Poisson’s ratios. Additionally, the loess cohesion and internal friction angle are also obtained for different moisture contents. By (1) utilizing the dynamic finite element static shear strength reduction method and the non-convergence rule, (2) taking the safety factor as the assessment standard for loess tunnel stability, and (3) reducing the dynamic parameters of the loess mass until the model calculation is non-convergent, the effects of the moisture content, seismic intensity and loess thickness on the safety factor are obtained. A theoretical basis for the seismic response analysis of this type of loess tunnel is provided by considering the dynamic parameters of loess.

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Acknowledgements

This paper is a part of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant number: 51478212), and and a part of science and technology project in the Zhejiang Traffic Quality Supervision Bureau (Grant number: ZJ201602), and a part of science and technology project in China Railway 12th Bureau Group (Grant number: 14B-3).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in Civil Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, People’s Republic of China

    Xuansheng Cheng, Xinlei Li, Jin Fan & Guoliang Li

  2. Western Engineering Research Center of Disaster Mitigation in Civil Engineering of Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, People’s Republic of China

    Xuansheng Cheng, Xinlei Li, Jin Fan & Guoliang Li

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  1. Xuansheng Cheng
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  2. Xinlei Li
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  3. Jin Fan
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  4. Guoliang Li
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Correspondence to Xuansheng Cheng.

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Cheng, X., Li, X., Fan, J. et al. Seismic Stability of a Tunnel Considering the Dynamic Geologic Parameters of Loess. Geotech Geol Eng 36, 3583–3600 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-018-0559-y

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