This paper is focused on the determination of friction parameter which is a predominant factor in the design of inflatable structure system. This inflatable structure system is very valuably used to protect passively and rapidly the possibilities of tunnel damages by flooding threats and unusual leakage to be occurred during and after underground infrastructure construction. In particular, this system should be necessary in subsea tunnel. This study presents the experimental results obtained from the relative friction characteristics tests of the fabric materials that constitute the inflatable structure. In order to evaluate the relative friction behaviour of the inflatable structure system, friction tests and scaled model tunnel friction tests are carried out. The friction tests are carried out to determine the friction coefficient for different surface conditions between tunnel and inflatable structure. These friction coefficients are then evaluated and compared with the result obtained from the model tunnel friction tests. Interaction behaviours between tunnel and system are also reviewed and described in this study. The results clearly show that the friction coefficients derived from scaled model slippage tests are about 12% lower than values obtained from the friction tests. In addition, this study will be necessary to verify the real friction behaviour with prototype tests before applying in practice.

This paper presents the design considerations and field applications on inflatable structure system to protect rapidly flooding damages in large section tunnel. This inflatable structure system is very valuably used to protect passively and rapidly the possibilities of tunnel damages by flooding threats and unusual leakage to be occurred during and after underground infrastructure. In particular, this system should be necessary in subsea tunnel. The predominant factors in the design of inflatable structure system are the leakage and friction characteristics between the inflater and tunnel liner. The analytical and experimental studies are performed to develop the design considerations and to examine the design parameters of the inflatable structure system. The analytical solutions are developed using membrane theory to suggest the design considerations. The relative friction tests of several fabric materials are also carried out to determine the friction characteristics according to the different friction conditions between inflater and tunnel surface. The test results show that the friction coefficients in wet surface condition are about 20% lower than the values in dry surface condition. In addition, virtual design of tunnel protection system for two virtual subsea tunnel sites which is under reviewing in Korea, is carried out based on this research. It is expected that the results of this research will be very useful to understand the inflater structure design and development the technology of tunnel protection structures in the future.

This paper presents the study of leakage effect due to multi-cell inflater of rapid protection system to protect the possibilities of tunnel damages by flooding threats and unusual leakage to be occurred during and after subsea tunnel construction. Particularly, this protect system should be necessary in subsea tunnel. This research concentrates the physical model tests due to several multi-cell inflater to study protection capacity of leakage between the inflater and tunnel liner. A 27:1 small scale model are used in the model tests. The leakage rate, water pressure and axial displacement of inflater are measured during the model tests. According to the results, the minium leakage rate clearly shows in the case of two-cell inflater compared with in other cases. It is concluded that the results of this research will be very useful to understand the fundamental information of inflater structure design and development the technology of tunnel protection structures in the future.