Excessive surface settlement poses significant challenges to shield tunnelling construction, resulting in damage to adjacent buildings, infrastructure, and underground pipelines. This study focused on investigating the surface settlement induced by shield tunnelling during the construction of Qingdao Metro Line 6 between Haigang Road Station and Chaoyang Road Station. Firstly, the settlement data from the left line of the shield tunnel were evaluated by grey relational analysis. The relational coefficients were calculated to assess the correlation degrees of each influential parameter. Subsequently, the four critical influential parameters with the highest relational degrees were chosen to investigate their effects on surface settlement through numerical simulations under different scenarios. The results show that the four parameters with the highest relational degrees were thrust, grouting pressure, earth pressure, and strata elastic modulus. It should be noted that the strata elastic modulus significantly affects surface settlement, while the grouting pressure influences the settlement trough width in weak strata. Moreover, improper thrust magnitude can lead to an increase in surface settlement. Based on these findings, recommendations are proposed for the right-line tunnel construction and practical countermeasures for surface settlement during shield tunnelling construction are provided.
In fracture zones, tunneling with a double-shield Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) presents significant challenges, including deformation overrun of the surrounding rock, TBM jamming, and excavation face collapse. To assure the tunnel construction safety and efficiency, it is necessary and crucial to conduct a stability analysis of the tunnel surrounding rock when a TBM passes through the fracture zones. The tunnels from Jiadingshan Road Station to Anshan Road Station in Qingdao Metro Line 8 are constructed by double-shield TBMs. It inevitably passes through fracture zones with different deterioration levels and dip angles. In this study, based on this construction section, numerical models of fracture zones with different deterioration levels and dip angles were developed to analyze the displacements of tunnel vaults, inverts, and haunches. In addition, the maximum shear stresses of the surrounding rock were analyzed. Finally, the displacement and shear stress variation patterns of the surrounding rock with different deterioration levels and dip angles were obtained. The findings reveal the stability behavior of tunnels under various fracture zones. They can serve as a valuable reference and theoretical foundation for future tunnel construction projects utilizing double-shield TBMs in areas with fracture zones.