EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON DESIGN METHOD FOR THE CONNECTION BETWEEN STEEL SEGMENTAL LININGS AND CONCRETE BODIES

Abstract

  In the Central Circular Shinjuku Route of Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway, a new construction method such that the ramp tunnels are connected with the main-way shield tunnels is employed. The connections are large-scale steel-concrete composite structures, in which loads are transferred by the main girders of steel segments embedded in the body of the ramp tunnel. As to the load transfer, the influences of the structural characteristics of connection, the cross section and the embedded depth of main girders must be clarified. The authors carried out finite element analyses and large-scale model experiments to examine the transfer mechanism of such forces as axial force, bending moment and shear force on the connection. Based on the analytical and experimental results, a design method of connection was proposed, the validity of which was verified by experiments.