Numerical characterisation of the rotational behaviour of grey cast iron tunnel joints
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Ruiz López, Agustín
Tsiampousi, Aikaterini
Standing, Jamie R
Potts, David M
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The structural assessment of segmental grey cast iron (GCI) tunnel linings to nearby construction is challenging due to the presence of the joints affecting the stiffness of the tunnel lining. This paper presents an extensive investigation, using 3D finite element (FE) analyses, into the bending moment-rotation (M-θ) behaviour of two GCI tunnel joint geometries. These two geometries correspond to standard running and station tunnels of the London Underground network. The contribution of this study is two-fold. i) The novel characterisation of the M-θ response enables the development of new models for simulating the mechanical response of GCI tunnel joints with structural elements which can be used in simplified, 2D geotechnical analysis for tunnel safety assessments. ii) The analyses provide insight into the behaviour of GCI tunnel linings that would be difficult to achieve through experimental and field observations alone. More specifically, the analyses show that when the bolts are removed from the joints the possibility of tensile failure can be disregarded; that the initial bolt preload influences the rotational stiffness only after some rotation has taken place and does not alter the bending moment of opening; and that the out-of-plane displacement restraint has little influence on the joint response.
Date Issued
2023-07
Date Acceptance
2023-04-03
Citation
Computers and Geotechnics, 2023, 159, pp.1-17
ISSN
0266-352X
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Start Page
1
End Page
17
Journal / Book Title
Computers and Geotechnics
Volume
159
Copyright Statement
© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2023.105460
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
105460
Date Publish Online
2023-05-11