Abstract

The purpose of this study is to figure out the tendency of tunnel convergence during excavation and to present a methodology for the prediction of a fault zone ahead of a tunnel face by analyzing three dimensional displacements in various ways. 3-D numerical analysis was performed to investigate changes of tunnel convergence vectors near a fault zone and to propose a flow chart for predicting fault zones. Results of the site investigation and results of trend line analysis of in-situ data were compared to verify the usefulness of a trend line analysis. It is concluded that the orientation of faults can be predicted by using stereonets and the direction of initial stresses can be predicted from the arm length of a displacement vector as a tunnel approaches fault zones. The results of the trend line analysis coincided with those of the site investigation, and a methodology for the prediction of a fault zone was proposed.