EXCAVATION OF AN NATM TUNNEL

6 EXCAVATION OF AN NATM TUNNEL

This tutorial illustrates the use of PLAXIS for the analysis of the construction of a NATM
tunnel. The NATM is a technique in which ground exposed by excavation is stabilized
with shotcrete to form a temporary lining.

28 m 8m 7m 7m 50 m
(-7 35)
Top layer 5m
(-14 30)
6m
(-22 24)
(-50 24)
Clay - Siltstone
13 m

(-50 11)
y
Clay - Limestone
11 m
x
(-50 0)

Figure 6.1 Geometry of the project

Objectives:
• Modelling the construction of an NATM tunnel (β -method).
• Using Gravity loading to generate initial stresses.

6.1 INPUT

General settings
• Start the Input program and select Start a new project from the Quick select dialog
box.
• In the Project tabsheet of the Project properties window, enter an appropriate title.
• In the Model tabsheet make sure that Model is set to Plane strain and that Elements
is set to 15-Noded.
• Define the limits for the soil contour as xmin = −50.0, xmax = 50.0, ymin = 0.0 and
ymax = 35.0.

Definition of soil stratigraphy

The basic stratigraphy will be created using the Borehole feature. In the model 11 m of
the Clay-limestone layer is considered. The bottom of this layer is considered as
reference in y direction (ymin = 0). To define the soil stratigraphy:
Create the first borehole x = -22.0.
• In the Modify soil layers window create three soil layers. The layer number 1 has a
depth equal to zero in Borehole_1. Assign 24.00 to Top and Bottom of the layer 1.
The layer number 2 lies from Top = 24.00 to Bottom = 11.00. The layer number 3
lies from Top = 11.00 to Bottom = 0.00.
• Click the Boreholes button at the bottom of the Modify soil layers window.

PLAXIS 2D 2017 | Tutorial Manual 91

TUTORIAL MANUAL

• In the appearing menu select the Add option. The Add borehole window pops up.
• Specify the location of the second borehole (X = -14).
• Note that the soil layers are available for Borehole_2. The layer number 1 has a
depth equal to zero in Borehole_2. However as the depth of layer 2 is higher assign
30.00 to Top and Bottom of the layer 1. The layer number 2 lies from Top = 30.00 to
Bottom = 11.00. The layer number 3 lies from Top = 11.00 to Bottom = 0.00.
• Create a new borehole (Borehole_3) at X = -7.
• In Borehole_3 the layer number 1 has a non-zero thicknesss and lies from Top =
35.00 to Bottom = 30.00. The layer number 2 lies from Top = 30.00 to Bottom =
11.00. The layer number 3 lies from Top = 11.00 to Bottom = 0.00.
• In all the boreholes the water level is located at y = 0 m.
• Specify the soil layer distribution as shown in Figure 6.2.
• Create soil material data sets according to Table 6.1 and assign them to the
corresponding layers (Figure 6.2).
• Close the Modify soil layers window and proceed to the Structures mode to define
the structural elements.
Table 6.1 Material properties of the soil layers
Parameter Name Top layer Clay-siltstone Clay-limestone Unit
General
Material model Model Hardening soil Hoek-Brown Hoek-Brown -
Type of material behaviour Type Drained Drained Drained -
Soil unit weight above phreatic level γunsat 20 25 24 kN/m3
Soil unit weight below phreatic level γsat 22 25 24 kN/m3
Initial void ratio einit 0.5 0.5 0.5 -
Parameters
Secant stiffness in standard drained triaxial ref
E50 4.0·104 - - kN/m2
test
Tangent stiffness for primary oedometer ref
Eoed 4.0·104 - - kN/m2
loading
Unloading / reloading stiffness ref
Eur 1.2·105 - - kN/m2
Power for stress-level dependency of m 0.5 - - -
stiffness
Young's modulus E' - 1.0·106 2.5·106 kN/m2
Poisson's ratio ν 'ur 0.2 0.25 0.25 -
Uniaxial compressive strength σci - 2.5·104 5.0·104 kN/m2
Material constant for the intact rock mi - 4.0 10.0 -
Geological Strength Index GSI - 40.0 55.0 -
Disturbance factor D - 0.2 0.0 -
Cohesion c 'ref 10.0 - - kN/m2
◦
Friction angle ϕ' 30 - -
◦
Dilatancy parameter ψ max - 30.0 35.0
Dilatancy parameter σψ - 400 1000 kN/m2
Interfaces
Interface strength − Rigid Manual Rigid -
Strength reduction factor Rinter 1.0 0.5 1.0 -

92 Tutorial Manual | PLAXIS 2D 2017

 EXCAVATION OF AN NATM TUNNEL

Figure 6.2 Soil layer distribution

6.1.1 DEFINITION OF TUNNEL

In the Structures mode click the Create tunnel button in the side toolbar and click on
(0.0 16.0) in the draw area to specify the location of the tunnel. The Tunnel designer
window pops up.
• The default shape option (Free) will be used. The default values of the rest of the
parameters defining the location of the tunnel in the model are valid as well.
• Click on the Segments tab.
Click the Add button in the side toolbar.
• In the segment info box set the Segment type to Arc. Set Radius to 10.4 m and the
Segment angle to 22◦ . The default values of the remaining parameters are valid.
Add a new arc segment. Set Radius to 2.4 m and the Segment angle to 47◦ . The
default values of the remaining parameters are valid.
Add a new arc segment. Set Radius to 5.8 m and the Segment angle to 50◦ . The
default values of the remaining parameters are valid.
Click the Extend to symmetry axis option to complete the right half of the tunnel. A
new arc segment is automatically added closing the half of the tunnel.
Click the Symmetric close button to complete the tunnel. Four new arc segment are
automatically added closing the tunnel.
• Click on the Subsections tab.
Add a new subsection. This subsection will be used to separate the top heading
(upper excavation cluster) from the invert (lower excavation cluster).
• Set Offset 2 to 3 m. Select the Arc option from the Segment type drop-down menu.
Set Radius to 11 m and Segment angle to 360 ◦ .

PLAXIS 2D 2017 | Tutorial Manual 93

TUTORIAL MANUAL

Figure 6.3 Segments in the tunnel cross section

Select all the geometric entities in the slice.

Click the Intersect button.
Delete the part of the subsection outside of the slice by selecting it in the display
area and clicking the Delete button in the side toolbar.
• Proceed to the Properties mode.
• Multi-select the polycurves in the display area and select the Create plate option in
the appearing menu.
• Press <Ctrl> + <M> to open the Material sets window. Create a new material
dataset for the created plates according to Table 6.2.
• Multi-select the created plates and in the Selection explorer, assign the material
Lining to the selected plates.
Table 6.2 Material properties of the plates
Parameter Name Lining Unit
Material type Type Elastic; Isotropic kN/m
Normal stiffness EA 6.0·106 kN/m
Flexural rigidity EI 2.0·104 kNm2 /m
Weight w 5.0 kN/m/m
Poisson's ratio ν 0.15 -

• Assign negative interfaces to the lines defining the shape of the tunnel (not the
excavation levels). The final tunnel view in the Tunnel designer window is given in
Figure 6.4.
• Click on Generate to update the tunnel in the model and press Close.

94 Tutorial Manual | PLAXIS 2D 2017

 EXCAVATION OF AN NATM TUNNEL

Figure 6.4 Final tunnel

6.2 MESH GENERATION

The default global coarseness parameter (Medium) can be accepted in this case.
• Proceed to the Mesh mode.
Create the mesh. Use the default option for the Element distribution parameter
(Medium).
View the mesh. The generated mesh is shown in Figure 6.5.
• Click on the Close tab to close the Output program.

Figure 6.5 The generated mesh

6.3 CALCULATIONS

To simulate the construction of the tunnel it is clear that a staged construction calculation
is needed.

PLAXIS 2D 2017 | Tutorial Manual 95

TUTORIAL MANUAL

• Click on the Staged construction tab to proceed with the definition of the calculation
phases.
The initial phase has already been introduced. Note that the soil layers are not
horizontal. As a result, the K0 procedure cannot be used to generate the initial
effective stresses in this example. Instead Gravity loading should be used. This
option is available in the General subtree of the Phases window.
• Water will not be considered in this example. The general phreatic level should
remain at the model base.
• Make sure that the tunnel is inactive.

6.3.1 SIMULATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TUNNEL

A staged construction calculation is needed in which the tunnel lining is activated and the
soil clusters inside the tunnel are deactivated. Deactivating the soil inside the tunnel only
affects the soil stiffness and strength and the effective stresses. The calculation phases
are Plastic analyses, Staged construction. The three-dimensional arching effect is
emulated by using the so-called β -method. The idea is that the initial stresses pk acting
around the location where the tunnel is to be constructed are divided into a part (1 − β )
pk that is applied to the unsupported tunnel and a part βpk that is applied to the
supported tunnel. To apply this in PLAXIS one can use the staged construction option
with a reduced ultimate level of ΣMstage .
To define the calculation process follow these steps:

Phase 1
Add a new calculation phase.
• In the Phases window define a value of 0.6 for ΣMstage in the General subtree. This
corresponds to a β -value of 1-ΣMstage = 0.4.
• In the Staged construction mode deactivate the upper cluster in the tunnel. Do NOT
activate the tunnel lining. The model for Phase 1 is displayed in Figure 6.6.

Figure 6.6 Configuration of Phase 1

Phase 2
Add a new calculation phase.
• In the Staged construction mode activate the lining and interfaces of the part of the

96 Tutorial Manual | PLAXIS 2D 2017

 EXCAVATION OF AN NATM TUNNEL

tunnel excavated in the previous phase (Figure 6.7).

• Note that the value of ΣMstage is automatically reset to 1.0.

Figure 6.7 Configuration of Phase 2

Phase 3
Add a new calculation phase.
• In the Phases window define a value of 0.6 for ΣMstage in the General subtree. This
corresponds to a β -value of 1-ΣMstage = 0.4.
• In the Staged construction mode deactivate the lower cluster (invert) and the
temporary lining in the middle of the tunnel (Figure 6.8).

Figure 6.8 Configuration of Phase 3

Phase 4
Add a new calculation phase.
• Activate the remaining lining and interfaces. All the plates and interfaces around the
full tunnel are active (Figure 6.9).
• Note that the value of ΣMstage is automatically reset to 1.0.
Select a node at the slope crest point and the tunnel crest. These points might be of
interest to evaluate the deformation during the construction phases.
Calculate the project.
Save the project after the calculation has finished.

PLAXIS 2D 2017 | Tutorial Manual 97

TUTORIAL MANUAL

Figure 6.9 Configuration of Phase 4

6.4 RESULTS

After the calculation, select the last calculation phase and click the View calculation
results button. The Output program is started, showing the deformed mesh at the end of
the calculation phases (Figure 6.10).

Figure 6.10 The deformed mesh at the end of the final calculation phase

To display the bending moments resulting in the tunnel:

To select the lining of all the tunnel sections, click the corresponding button in the
side toolbar and drag the mouse to define a rectangle where all the tunnel sections
are included. Select the Plate option in the appearing window (Figure 6.11) and
press View. Note that the tunnel lining is displayed in the Structures view.

Figure 6.11 Select structures window

• From the Forces menu select the Bending moment M option. The result, scaled by a
factor of 0.5 is displayed in Figure 6.12.

98 Tutorial Manual | PLAXIS 2D 2017

 EXCAVATION OF AN NATM TUNNEL

Figure 6.12 Resulting bending moments in the NATM tunnel

PLAXIS 2D 2017 | Tutorial Manual 99