An in-tunnel grouting protection method for excavating twin tunnels beneath an existing tunnel

A section of closely spaced twin tunnels at Shangmeilin station on Shenzhen metro line 9 was excavated by the shield tunneling method. Part of this section lies closely beneath the tunnel servicing Metro line 4. Due to restrictions on ground surface to control the extra settlement of the existing tunnel in the area, an in-tunnel grouting protection method was adopted in combination with the shield method. This method greatly reduced the effect on the existing tunnels when building the twin tunnels underneath. The settlement of and stress on the existing tunnels associated with the construction of the new tunnels were systematically monitored. Because of the twice under-crossing process, the excavation of twin tunnels had a superposed influence on the existing tunnel and surrounding soil. The behavior of the overlying tunnel was analyzed based on instrumentation records obtained from the project. The settlement profile of the existing structure displayed a “V” shape after the first under-crossing but a “W” shape after the second. The hoop stress of the existing tunnel induced by shield tunneling below had beneficial effects on the stress state of the tunnel structure. By contrast, the longitudinal stress exerts a bending moment on the existing tunnel, with a large tensile stress that had adverse effects on its structure. Based on the monitored data, three deformation modes are proposed to describe the behavior of the existing tunnel. In addition, the differences between the two under-crossing processes are discussed; both the ground loss ratio and width parameter of the settlement trough in the second profile were larger than those of the first profile due to the decrease in soil stability.