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Open Access Issue
Study of a transparent soil model test on the sequential approach construction of double-line shield tunnels adjacent to bridge piles
Experimental Technology and Management 2026, 43(7): 71-80
Published: 20 July 2026
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Objective

During the sequential excavation of the double-line shield tunnel near the existing bridge pile foundation, the deformation mechanism of the interaction between the pile, soil, and tunnel is still not well understood. Moreover, the traditional model testing method is incapable of directly displaying the deformation of the internal soil, which hinders the accurate interpretation of the influence mechanism of the pile foundation during shield construction and the effective risk control. To solve these problems, this study aims to investigate the dynamic interaction between the tunnel, pile foundation, and soil under the sequential shield construction conditions.

Methods

Based on the actual engineering case of Chongqing Rail Transit Line 15, a transparent soil model test with a geometric similarity ratio of 1:200 was established and combined with particle image velocimetry (PIV) technology to study this issue. In the experiment, the sequential excavation process of the double-line shield tunnel near the bridge pile foundation was simulated, and the displacement field of the soil was captured and analyzed using high-speed imaging combined with the PIVlab software.

Results

The experimental results show that compared with the single-line tunnel construction, the settlement curve of the foundation during the double-line shield construction presents an asymmetric “V–W” type evolution pattern (where “Ⅴ-type” refers to the symmetrical single-peak settlement pattern centered on the arch crown of the preceding tunnel after single-line shield excavation; “W-type” refers to the asymmetric double-peak settlement pattern formed by two settlement peaks at the arch crowns of the preceding and subsequent tunnels respectively, with relatively smaller settlement of the middle soil column after subsequent tunnel excavation). In addition, the response of the existing bridge piers and the surrounding soil occurs with a noticeable delay during shield advancement. The maximum increment of soil settlement and bridge pier inclination occurs when the shield machine advances to a position that is 0.5–1.0 times the tunnel diameter away from the bridge pier section. The sequence of settlement values for the characteristic points is as follows: the arch top of the subsequent tunnel, the middle soil column, and the arch top of the previous tunnel.

Conclusions

The findings of this study indicate that the deformation of the existing bridge piers and the surrounding soil lags behind the advancement of the shield. The most severe deformation stage occurs 0.5–1.0 times the tunnel diameter after the shield passes through the bridge pier section. The subsequent excavation will exacerbate the influence of the preceding tunnel on the deformation of the existing bridge pier. These findings establish a theoretical basis for the monitoring, risk management, and structural protection of similar engineering projects.

Open Access Issue
Mechanical Characteristics and Microscopic Analysis of Uniaxial Compression of Limestone Under High-Temperature Treatment Conditions
Chinese Journal of Underground Space and Engineering 2025, 21(1): 70-77
Published: 01 February 2025
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In order to study the uniaxial compression mechanical characteristics of limestone under high temperature treatment, the physical characteristics test, uniaxial compression test, SEM electron microscope scanning and XRD diffraction analysis were carried out on limestone treated at room temperature (25 ℃) and high temperature (100 ℃, 200 ℃, 300 ℃, 400 ℃, 500 ℃ and 600 ℃). Based on the micro-fracture law of rock, the mechanical characteristics of limestone under uniaxial compression were analyzed. The results show that with the increase of treatment temperature, the apparent color of limestone changes from gray to reddish brown, and the volume growth rate and mass loss rate increase nonlinearly. High temperature treatment makes limestone micro-texture stratification, fracture development, pore dissolution, and the fluctuation and sharp angle characteristics of compression fracture surface are significant. High temperature catalyzes the pyrolysis and chemical reaction of limestone mineral components, and there is a significant linear correlation between the comprehensive hardness coefficient and the firmness coefficient of rock. It is revealed that the threshold temperature of thermal damage of limestone is 200 ℃, and the peak strength and elastic modulus reach the peak at this temperature.

Open Access Issue
Morphological characteristics of hysteretic curves of soil-rock mixture under stepped axial cyclic loading
Rock and Soil Mechanics 2024, 45(3): 674-684
Published: 18 March 2024
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The strata in urban backfill areas mostly exist in the form of loose soil-rock mixture, with high structural porosity, low strength, and poor engineering performance. They are sensitive to dynamic loads such as tunnel construction disturbance and subway train operation. The hysteretic curve can reflect the deformation, stiffness and energy dissipation of soil under dynamic load. It is of great significance to study the hysteretic curve of soil-rock mixture for the construction and operation safety of subway in backfill area. Using KTLDYN servo-controlled dynamic triaxial test system, the cyclic load test on soil-rock mixture samples in backfill area was carried out by means of cyclic loading. The effects of stone content (P), water content (ω), consolidation stress ratio (kc) and loading frequency (f) on the morphological characteristics (including adjacent center spacing (d), long axis slope (k), enclosing area (S) and degree of non-closure (εp)) and backbone curves of hysteretic curves are investigated. The results show that the typical hysteretic curves of soil-rock mixture are in long fusiform shape on the whole, with pointed lobes at both ends. With the increase in vibration level, d, S and εp increase nonlinearly, while k decreases logarithmically. For the same vibration level, d and εp decrease with the increases of P, kc and f, and first decrease and then increase with the increase of ω. k increases with the increases of P, kc and f, and increases first and then decreases with the increase of ω. S is positively correlated with P, increasing first and then decreasing with the increase of ω, and decreasing with the increases of kc and f. The dynamic stress and slope of backbone curve increase with the increases of P, kc and f when the dynamic stress variation is the same, and they first increase and then decrease with the increase of ω.

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