Influence of Static and Repeated Surface Surcharge Loadings on Tunnel Displacement Considering Small-Strain Stiffness of Soft Clay

With the rapid development of urban metro tunnels, the effect of surface surcharge loading on existing tunnels is unavoidable. Accurate evaluation of soil deformation and tunnel displacement under surface surcharge loading is of great significance for practical engineering. In this research, the effect of static and repeated surface surcharge loadings on tunnel displacement in soft clay was investigated numerically. The hardening soil model with small-strain stiffness (HSS model) was adopted to simulate the soil response. The parameters of the HSS model were obtained through geotechnical tests. The result indicates that Shanghai layer 4 soft clay exhibits large soil shear stiffness in the small strain range. Tunnel displacement is closely related to parameters of surface surcharge loading width, burial depth of tunnel, and the horizontal distance from the centerline. The overlapping influence range of tunnel displacement was proposed. Under repeated surface surcharge loadings, the first cycle of the repeated surface surcharge loading has the greatest effect on the tunnel displacement, and the subsequent cycles of loadings still cause further increases in the tunnel displacement. The effect of repeated surface surcharge loadings on tunnel displacement gradually decreases as the burial depth of tunnel and the number of cycles increase.