Loading experiments of RC tunnel models subjected to shear deformation of crush zone

Abstract

In this paper, the influence of seismic shear deformation of crush zone on the capacity and failure pattern of RC underground structure is studied by loading experiments using 1/10 scale tunnel models. The number of specimens is four and each specimen has different condition of crush zone as intersection angle of crush zone and tunnel, loading direction, thickness of crush zone. As a main conclusion of studies, it was verified that the capacity and failure pattern of tunnel depends on the above conditions of crush zone. Especially in the case of deforming accompanied by longitudinally compression, it was observed that major cracks propagate in the direction orthogonal to the tunnel axis rather than along the crush zone.