ISSN 2096-4498

   CN 44-1745/U

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Theoretical Calculation Method for Seismic Analysis of Double-Arch Tunnels Under Near-Fault Ground Motions

  • TANG Langzhou ,
  • WU Lei ,
  • ZHENG Li ,
  • YU Li ,
  • CUI Zhen
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  • (1. State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Safety, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; 2. State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Geotechnics and Tunnelling, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610036, Sichuan, China)

Online published: 2026-09-20

Abstract

Seismic calculation of double-arch tunnels subjected to near-fault ground motions faces the challenge of simultaneously accounting for the double-arch geometric effect at the tunnel crown, the near-fault velocity pulse effect, and the significant vertical seismic effect. To address this issue, a theoretical calculation method specifically designed for the transverse seismic analysis of double-arch tunnels in near-fault regions is established. First, the limitations of the conventional response displacement method, which directly equates the tunnel boundary displacement to free-field displacement, make it difficult to capture the interactions among the middle wall, overlying soil, and tunnel structure. To overcome this, a generalized structural seismic mechanical model is developed that incorporates the double-arch tunnel structure and a range of surrounding rock. This model defines free-field relative displacement, boundary shear stress, foundation spring constraints, and structural seismic inertial forces, leading to a comprehensive calculation procedure. Next, based on dynamic time-history numerical simulations using near-fault pulse-like ground motions, the relationships among the peak accelerations of the main tunnel, middle wall, and ground-motion intensity parameters are analyzed. From this analysis, calculation formulas for structural seismic inertial forces are established by considering both horizontal and vertical peak ground accelerations along with burial-depth corrections. Based on a comparison of the differences between theoretical calculations and numerical results across various boundary ranges, a method for determining the reasonable transverse and vertical extents of the generalized structural region is proposed. The validity of the proposed theoretical method is confirmed through a combination of numerical simulations and vibration platform tests. Finally, parametric analyses are conducted to explore the effects of structural geometry, burial depth, and ground-motion parameters on structural seismic responses. The results show that a moderate increase in the width-to-height ratio of the middle wall can reduce stress concentration, whereas a ratio exceeding 0.20 may significantly increase lining stress. An increase in burial depth tends to favorably shift the structure toward a compression-dominated stress state. In addition, enhancing near-fault vertical ground motion, with the PGAv/PGAh ratio increasing from 0.7 to 2.0, can amplify stresses at critical locations by 16.7% to 130.5%. The velocity pulse effect, represented by the PGV/PGA ratio, significantly influences the outer side of the lining and the middle wall, with stress levels sharply increasing in the interval of 0.15 to 0.27 s.

Cite this article

TANG Langzhou , WU Lei , ZHENG Li , YU Li , CUI Zhen . Theoretical Calculation Method for Seismic Analysis of Double-Arch Tunnels Under Near-Fault Ground Motions[J]. Tunnel Construction, 2026 , 46(9) : 1916 -1933 . DOI: 10.3973/j.issn.2096-4498.2026.09.008

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