Behaviour of segmental tunnel linings under seismic loads studied with the hyperstatic reaction method

•A numerical HRM approach under seismic loads.•The HRM approach has been validated using a FLAC3D model.•The effect of the joints should be considered under seismic loads.

This paper proposes a numerical procedure, named hyperstatic reaction method, that can be used for the analysis of segmental tunnel linings under seismic loads. The effects of seismic loads are taken into account by means of in-plane shear stress. The parameters that are necessary to calculate the tunnel lining under seismic loads are presented. A specific implementation has been developed using a finite element framework. The results deduced from the hyperstatic reaction method have been compared and validated with those obtained by means of a finite difference numerical model using FLAC3D. A parametric study, which allows the effects of seismic magnitude, tunnel dimension and segmental joints on the seismic-induced bending moment and normal forces to be shown, has been performed.