A pipeline with long-term hidden leakage will greatly reduce the stability of the ground between the pipeline and tunnel in the process of tunneling through existing pipelines in unsaturated soil. Excessive settlement of the surrounding strata and pipelines can occur when the shield excavation face approaches below a pipeline, which can lead to engineering accidents. This study is based on a self-developed model experimental system for tunneling through an existing pipeline with a double-line tunnel shield. The ground settlement and pipeline deformation caused by shield construction with small-scale and no leakages are investigated. An experimental study is conducted and the accuracy of the results is verified through a comparison with theoretical solutions. The results demonstrate that there is a significant increase in ground settlement and pipeline deformation under the influence of leakage water. It is also determined that the displacement field generated by the excavation of a double-line tunnel is not simply a superposition of the displacement field generated by the excavation of a single-line tunnel. The repeated disturbances caused by the excavation of a double-line tunnel significantly influences the redistribution of the displacement field. Additionally, a three-dimensional (3D) model of shield construction considering the influence of pipeline leakage is established. This study discusses the ground settlement and pipeline deformation patterns caused by changes in the vertical and horizontal leakage diffusion ranges. The computational results indicate that the diffusion depth of a leakage is the primary factor controlling the extent of settlement.
Shield crossing the bedrock raised strata easily leads to large deformation of the soil, resulting in deformation and damage of the upper pipelines. To investigate the law of pipeline deformation caused by shield underpassing in bedrock raised strata, the changes in the action range of the additional thrust of the cutter head (p1), the friction resistance of the shield shell (p2), and the additional grouting force (p3) were analysed. A convergence model of the excavation face suitable for bedrock raised strata was proposed. The calculation formula of soil displacement at the axis of the pipeline was derived by using Mindlin's solution and stochastic medium theory. The solutions of the vertical displacement, bending moment and strain of the pipeline were obtained by the energy variational method and the principle of minimum potential energy. Pipeline deformation analysis and reliability verification were carried out by an engineering case in Hangzhou, China. The influence of bedrock distribution and secondary grouting behind the pipe wall on pipeline deformation was studied. The results show that the calculated results are similar to the measured data with a high degree of coincidence, and the degree of agreement is higher compared to the existing method. When the shield tunneling direction is well controlled, the settlement and bending moment of the pipeline caused by the shield crossing the raised bedrock stratum will be reduced, and the reduction increases with increasing bedrock length and intrusion depth. The secondary grouting behind the pipe wall can reduce the settlement of the pipe line, but it is necessary to reasonably control the three parameters of grouting amount per unit length (Vinj), grouting ring length (Lh), and grouting ring angle (delta). Lh should not be too long and can be controlled below 30 m, delta should be controlled within 60 degrees, and Vinj can be adjusted according to the deformation size of the pipeline to prevent excessive or insufficient correction.
To investigate the pipeline deformation pattern caused by the excavation of deep foundation pits in composite soil-rock strata, a comprehensive study integrating on-site monitoring and numerical simulation was conducted. This study centered on a deep foundation excavation project in the soft soil in Nanjing's floodplain region. The analyses of pipeline settlement and deformation were performed based on field-measured data. This study investigated the impact of excavation on the mechanical properties of the surrounding soil that resulted in the progressive deformation of adjacent pipelines. Furthermore, numerical simulations were conducted using Plaxis 3D CONNECT Edition v22 finite element analysis software. This study elucidated the influence of factors such as pipeline-pit distance and burial depth on pipeline deformation, conducting a quantitative analysis of their effects. The results indicated that deformation primarily occurs unevenly near pit corners and is less pronounced in soil-rock strata than in single-type soil layers. This study established correlations between pipeline displacements and various factors, offering valuable insights for future excavation projects conducted under similar conditions.