Face stability analysis of shallow circular tunnels in cohesive–frictional soils

Abstract The face stability of a circular tunnel in cohesive–frictional soils was numerically and theoretically investigated. Three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulations were first performed to analyze the face stability of a circular tunnel with a series of tunnel diameter-to-depth ratios and soil properties. The limit support pressure on the tunnel face and the failure zone in front of the tunnel face were both obtained from the numerical simulations. A simple and feasible criterion was suggested to outline the boundary strip of the failure zone at collapse in displacement clouds under different conditions. Based on the numerical simulation results, a new 3D failure mechanism was proposed using the kinematic approach of limit analysis theory to determine the limit support pressure of the tunnel face. The new 3D failure mechanism was composed of four truncated cones on which a distributed force acts. Finally, the limit support pressures and failure zones obtained from the new failure mechanism and the numerical simulations were compared. In addition, comparisons between the results of this work and those of existing approaches were performed. Overall, the new failure mechanism is substantially more consistent with the shapes of the failure zones observed in numerical simulations and experimental tests than the existing multi-block failure mechanisms. The new failure mechanism is more effective and reasonable.