Tunnels in Plaxis

Dennis Waterman
Plaxis BV

PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

Tunnel designer
Full tunnel Half tunnel left part Half tunnel right part

PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

CG1 Chile May 15-18, 2006: Introduction to Plaxis 3D Tunnel

Shield tunnel
Geometry construction
Select tunnel shape (half or whole tunnel) Select option bored tunnel Contraction model:
Activate shell and interface to model tunnel lining

For grout pressure model:

Activate shell and interface to model TBM Use thickness to model tunnel lining with volume elements
PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

Shield tunnel
Contraction model
First phase
Activation of tunnel lining Excavation of soil inside tunnel Dewatering (make tunnel clusters dry)

Second phase
Apply contraction
Method to simulate soil volume loss outside tunnel Mostly used for shield tunnelling Input and activation via staged construction
PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

CG1 Chile May 15-18, 2006: Introduction to Plaxis 3D Tunnel

Shield tunnel
Grout pressure model
First phase
Activation of TBM Excavation of soil inside TBM Dewatering (make tunnel clusters dry)

Second phase
Applying small contraction to model cone shaped TBM

Third phase
Switch off TBM Apply grout pressure

Fourth phase
Remove grout pressure Install final lining
PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

NATM tunnel
Geometry construction
Select tunnel shape (half or whole tunnel) Select option NATM tunnel Start to enter radius and angle of first section Select second section Repeat this for all sections Activate shell and interface for section independently when needed

PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

CG1 Chile May 15-18, 2006: Introduction to Plaxis 3D Tunnel

NATM tunnel
-method
First phase
Deactivate tunnel clusters without activating of lining and calculate using Mstage = 1 - (Staged Construction, Advanced)

Second phase
Activate tunnel lining and continue calculation until Mstage = 1

PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

Plaxis 3D Tunnel
Dennis Waterman
Plaxis BV

PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

CG1 Chile May 15-18, 2006: Introduction to Plaxis 3D Tunnel

Content
General remarks about 3D models Creation of a 3D model
Procedure Geometry input Calculations Output and visualisation

Examples Conclusions
PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

General remarks about 3D models

Requires long calculation time and much computer memory
Find balance between accuracy and calculation time

Requires patience and understanding of users Becomes practically applicable

PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

CG1 Chile May 15-18, 2006: Introduction to Plaxis 3D Tunnel

Creation of a 3D model
Procedure
2D modelling of cross section plane 2D mesh generation of cross section model 3D extension in third direction (z-planes and slices) Staged construction and excavation of geometry parts per plane or slice
PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

Cross section plane

2D mesh 3D mesh y

Creation of a 3D model
Planes and Slices
y

rear plane x z-planes slices front plane z

PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

CG1 Chile May 15-18, 2006: Introduction to Plaxis 3D Tunnel

Creation of a 3D model
Geometry-input
Like in PLAXIS 2D 3D extension via z-planes: 15-noded wedge elements (comparable with 6-noded el. in 2D)

PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

Creation of a 3D model
Calculations
All phases defined by means of Staged Construction Indicate per slice or plane:
(De)activation of soil and structures Changing material data sets (De)activation of loads Contraction Volume strain (water) pressure

Top view option Full 3D preview

PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

CG1 Chile May 15-18, 2006: Introduction to Plaxis 3D Tunnel

Creation of a 3D model

PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

Creation of a 3D model
Output and visualisation
Visualisation in full 3D and in 2D cross sections Separate output for structural elements Partial geometry option (looking iniside model)

PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

CG1 Chile May 15-18, 2006: Introduction to Plaxis 3D Tunnel

Creation of a 3D model

PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

Example
Second Heinenoord Tunnel (shield Tunnel)
ID 0B 0A 3 2 18 32 stiff 38 stiff 38F stiff g_unsat g_sat nu E_ref c' phi psi K0 [kN/m3] [kN/m3] [ - ] [kN/m2] [kN/m2] [ ] [] [-] Drained 16.5 17.2 0.34 3900 3.0 27.0 0.0 0.58 Undrained 16.5 17.2 0.34 3900 3.0 27.0 0.0 0.58 Drained 19.5 19.5 0.30 19300 0.0 35.0 5.0 0.47 Drained 19.0 19.0 0.31 18500 0.0 33.0 3.0 0.47 Drained 20.5 20.5 0.30 29600 0.0 36.5 6.5 0.45 Drained 20.5 20.5 0.30 444000 0.0 36.5 6.5 0.50 Undrained 20.0 20.0 0.32 119000 7.0 31.0 1.0 0.55 Drained 21.0 21.0 0.30 593000 0.0 37.5 7.5 0.56 Type

PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

CG1 Chile May 15-18, 2006: Introduction to Plaxis 3D Tunnel

Example

10.5m 8.5m

14 x 3m

PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

Example
Phases:
TBM advances one slice (3m) in every phase TBM front: face pressure TBM tail: Contraction 0.5% Between TBM and lining: Groutpressure, jack forces Application of lining

PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

CG1 Chile May 15-18, 2006: Introduction to Plaxis 3D Tunnel

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Example

Deformed mesh

PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

CG1 Chile May 15-18, 2006: Introduction to Plaxis 3D Tunnel

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Conclusions
3D calculations are time consuming, but become practically applicable. Perform only 3D calculations if really necessary Take care of the following aspects:
Choice of soil models and parameters Mesh fineness (coarseness) Calculation phases (construction stages)
PLAXIS FINITE ELEMENT CODE FOR SOIL AND ROCK ANALYSES

CG1 Chile May 15-18, 2006: Introduction to Plaxis 3D Tunnel

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