2023 Volume 79 Issue 13 Article ID: 22-13034
In the design of cut and cover tunnels, it is essential to consider the interaction between the structure and the ground. In this study, we investigated the impact of the stiffness ratio between a box structure and the surrounding ground on the seismic surface forces (shear, vertical, and their eccentricity) generated during an earthquake. To do so, we conducted shear soil tank experiments under the condition that the box structure was fully supported by the support layer. Our results revealed that the stiffness ratio of the box and the surrounding ground negligibly affect the shear force generated when the box is fully supported by the support layer; however, it significantly affects the eccentricity of the normal force. A larger relative box stiffness results in a larger eccentricity of the lower slab, while a smaller stiffness the earth pressure distribution on the sidewall changes to a shape in the direction that resists shear deformation.
