Tunnel and Underground Space ISSN:1225-1275(Print) 2287-1748(Online) 터널과 지하공간

The effect of fault on the stability of the closely-spaced twin tunnels located in fault zones was investigated by numerical analyses and scaled model tests on condition of varying widths, inclinations and material properties of fault. When obtaining the strength/stress ratios of pillar between twin tunnels, three different stresses were used which were measured at the middle point of pillar, calculated to whole average along the pillar section and measured at the left/right edges of pillar. Among them, the method by use of the left/right edges turned out to be the most conservative stability estimation regardless of the presence of fault and reflected the excavating procedures of tunnel in real time. It was also found that the strength/stress ratios of pillar were decreased as the widths and inclinations of fault were increased and as the material properties of fault were decreased on condition using the stresses measured at the left/right edges of pillar. As a result of scaled model tests, it was found that the model with fault showed less crack initiating pressure than the model without fault. As the width of fault was larger, tunnel stability was decreased. The fault had also a great influence on the failure behavior of tunnels, such as the model without fault showed failure cracks generated horizontally at the left/right edges of pillar and at the sidewalls of twin tunnels, whereas the model with fault showed failure cracks directionally generated at the center of pillar located in the fault zone.