Field measurement of temperature inside tunnel in winter in Gangwon, Korea

In this study, the internal temperature distribution in winter was investigated in tunnels located in Gangwon Province, the coldest region in Korea. In a total of 104 surveyed tunnels, the temperature was measured at various positions, including the air inside the tunnel, the road pavement, and the lining surfaces. The measurement results were incorporated into a database with the meteorological data of Gangwon Province. Analysis of the data showed that the difference of the temperature in a single tunnel between different positions along the tunnel length was not as significant as the temperature difference between different tunnels. The lining temperature and the air temperature inside the tunnel did not change significantly over time regardless of the tunnel length, but the temperature at the entrances and exits varied significantly over time due to the effects of the external temperature. Since the external air temperature during the winter affects the air temperature inside tunnels, which in turn affects the tunnel lining temperature, the lining temperature followed the air temperature at a certain time interval. In addition, the temperature inside a tunnel is affected by the inflow of external air due to the movement of vehicles as well as due to natural wind.