Performance of a multi-face tunnel excavated in loess ground based on field monitoring and numerical modeling

In large-span tunneling projects, the mechanical behavior of the rock changes in response to different sequential excavation methods ( SEMs) of advancing the tunnel face. The double side drift method ( DSDM), which is a development of SEM, was widely used in loess tunnels with large cross sections in China for its ability to limit ground displacement. This paper presents the deformation characteristics of large-span loess tunnels of the high-speed railway line in China. Field monitoring and numerical simulations were conducted to determine the optimal construction approach and reveal the deformation properties of large-span loess tunnels in China. The construction approaches, support measures, ground surface, and subsurface deformation characteristics associated with DSDM are demonstrated. The ground surrounding the loess tunnel underwent vertical settlement at the arch part and at the ground surface because of the metastable structure of the loess. This study provides an in-depth illustration of the influence of face-advancing sequences on ground displacement induced by tunneling, which helps us implement the most effective SEMs.