Preliminary 3D Modelling of Structural behaviour of Face Bolting and Umbrella Arch in Tunneling


ApplicationPLAXIS 3D
VersionPLAXIS 3D
Original AuthorA. Monnet, E. Jahangir
Date created01 October 2014
Date modified24 October 2016

Umbrella arch and face bolting are two reinforcement technics used in tunnelling (NATM conventional tunnelling), especially for low-depth tunnels (H/D=1 to 5) in poorly consolidated soils. The arch is built by setting pipes around the contour line of the tunnel face prior to excavation, while bolting consists in setting and sealing long fiberglass or metallic rods at the tunnel face. The bolts provide improved mechanical properties to the ground that is to be excavated and they are gradually destroyed as the excavation progresses, whereas the arch brings stability to the whole face area and is left as a permanent reinforcement. In this context, 3D modelling of these tunnels and their reinforcement is essential to predict surface settlements and an important tool to validate appropriate tunnel designs.

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