Abstract

In a NATM tunnel, fully grouted bolts are widely used as part of supporting system. Grouted bolts play an important role not as to take some parts of load acting on the tunnel lining but as to reinforce the ground adjacent the tunnel. In conjunction with tunnel construction, the presence of groundwater may pose a number of difficulties. With respect to tunnel design, influences of groundwater on tunnel behavior have been considered in many aspects. However, the effect on grouted bolts has been rarely investigated. In this study, the behavior of grouted bolts, which are affected by the seepage forces, was examined. In order to investigate the effects of seepage forces, the theoretical solutions for a drained condition were proposed. Based on the theoretical solutions, ground reaction curves considering seepage forces were obtained. By comparing the ground reaction curves supported by grouted bolts with those for the unsupported cases, the effect of reinforcement was evaluated. Finally, through comparison between supported ground reaction curves in the drained condition and those in the case of groundwater flow, it was observed that the grouted bolts are more structurely beneficial when the seepage occurs towards the tunnel than when there is no groundwater flow.