Application | PLAXIS 3D |
Version | PLAXIS 3D |
Original Author | A. Monnet, E. Jahangir |
Date created | 01 October 2014 |
Date modified | 24 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.