Abstract

This study is focused on the finding out load transfer mechanism in the ground near the tunnel during tunnel excavation in the jointed sandy ground. Laboratory model tests were performed on various cases of the overburden heights above tunnel crown, location, and degree of discontinuity planes. For model tests, a movable plate was installed in the midst of the bottom of sandy ground. This plate, moving downwards, was intended to model the stress relaxation during tunnel excavation. The load transfer was measured at the fixed separated bottom plates adjacent to the movable plate. As the result, the loosening zone and the load-transfer form around the tunnelling site were affected by the overburden height and the characteristics of discontinuous planes. And large loosening zone was developed along the discontinuous planes which were close to the tunnel.