Saturated soft loess has a large pore structure, high compressibility, low strength, fluid plastic state, and poor engineering properties. It is still one of the key problems that engineering needs to solve. In order to study the influence of deep foundation pit excavation in the saturated soft loess area on the deformation of foundation pits, the deformation laws of ground settlement, enclosure structure, and supporting axial force were clarified based on the field tests on the deformation characteristics of deep foundation pits in areas with the high-water level in saturated soft loess, combined with geological conditions and on-site construction procedures. The results indicate the following: water supply and construction process were found to be the main factor in changing the surface settlement curve of deep foundation pits in saturated soft loess; increasing the construction speed of the pit bottom floor, inverted braces, floor frame beams, and sidewall frame beams to close the structure, which is conducive to restraining the deformation of the continuous underground wall and foundation pits in similar areas. In the initial stage of support layout, the axial force of steel support tends to increase too fast or even exceed the standard control value. Therefore, a reasonable preadding axial force is an effective means to control the deformation of the continuous underground wall and the axial force of the steel support. The current research results may provide a reference for constructing deep foundation pits in similar areas.

There are many risk factors in EPB shield construction. The traditional fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) method usually uses a linear analysis method to determine the risk level, but there are often some risk factors with prominent influence, which will reduce the accuracy of the evaluation results. In this paper, a new risk assessment model of Earth pressure balance (EPB) shield construction based on a nonlinear FAHP method is established by introducing nonlinear factors into the comprehensive calculation of the traditional FAHP. First, the new model establishes the framework of EPB shield construction risk analysis based on the work breakdown structure (WBS) and risk breakdown structure (RBS) methods. Then, it constructs an EPB shield construction risk index system by coupling the units of the WBS and RBS. The model constructs a fuzzy consistent judgment matrix, which replaces the 1∼9 scale. Finally, the nonlinear operator is introduced into the FAHP comprehensive calculation, considering the influence of some prominent risk factors, which improves the accuracy of the risk assessment. By applying the new model to the risk analysis of the EPB shield construction section of a tunnel project in Hangzhou, the effectiveness of the model is further verified.

When large-diameter slurry shields are tunneling in a composite stratum with a high clay content, the cutter head may form a mud cake. After the mud cake is formed, it will cover the cutter and reduce the opening rate of the cutter head, thus reducing the penetration of the cutter and the driving speed. Based on a road upgrading project, this paper studies the prevention and treatment of a mud cake and forms a set of comprehensive treatment methods. For a large mud cake, through theoretical analysis, two calculation methods of the cutter head sealing coefficient are obtained, and the cutter head sealing coefficient relationship model is established. Comparing the calculated cutter head’s actual opening coefficient with the required cutter head opening coefficient can provide a judgment basis for the time of manual warehousing. For medium and small mud cakes, the numerical simulation is carried out based on the cutter head and the scouring system, the distribution characteristics of the flow field near the cutter head are analyzed, and the angle of the central scouring hole is optimized. For a small mud cake, hydrogen peroxide is selected as an additive through microscopic mechanism analysis. The effect of the hydrogen peroxide solution concentration on dissolving a mud cake is obtained through laboratory tests, and its effectiveness is verified through field tests. The research results can provide a reference for the mud cake prevention of slurry shields in similar strata.

No abstract

Saturated sandy stratum often makes tunnel excavation exceedingly difficult owing to its high water content. The artificial ground-freezing (AGF) method is an effective way to reduce the construction risks in such stratum; however, the AGF mechanism in the saturated sandy stratum of a collapsible loess area still lacks sufficient research. Based on field tests and numerical simulations, this study investigates the regularity of the temperature development, frost heave, and thaw subsidence distribution during the cross passage construction of a saturated sandy stratum in a collapsible loess area, using the AGF method. The results showed that the inward development rate of the frozen soil wall in the saturated sandy stratum was faster than its outward development rate. The gradient of the soil cooling curve was positively related to the longitudinal depth of the cross passage. The thickness of the frozen soil wall calculated by the slowest development rate of the frozen soil was conservative. The application of the pressure relief hole was beneficial to the release of the frost-heaving force and the control of the frost-heaving displacement. The pressure gauge pressure increase could be used as an identifier for the closure of a frozen soil wall. After excavation, the inner wall of the cross passage moved toward the inner space of the passage.