The equivalence of a jointed shield-driven tunnel lining to a continuous ring structure

This paper presents a new method of determining the correction factor to approximate a jointed, shield-driven tunnel lining as a continuous ring structure under plane strain conditions. An earth pressure distribution pattern is proposed which is developed based on the long-term behavior of shallow tunnels constructed in soft clays as observed in the field. The "force method" was used to determine the internal forces and displacements of jointed, shield-driven tunnels. Either the vertical or the horizontal displacement of the tunnel lining can be used as a common matching parameter. Factors such as joint stiffness, soil resistance, joint distribution, number of joints, and tunnel geometry can be considered by the proposed method. Simplified design equations for the estimation of equivalence factors are also proposed for the typical tunnel lining geometry of urban subway tunnels. The proposed equivalence method was evaluated by comparing it with the results of laboratory tests.