Pore pressures around tunnels in clay

The pore-pressure generation and dissipation around shallow tunnels excavated in both normally and overconsolidated clays are investigated. The influence of the diameter D, depth of cover to diameter ratio H/D, coefficient of earth pressure at rest K0, and strength and modulus variations with depth on pore-pressure generation are examined. The effects of immediate support on pore pressure are also studied by defining a quantity termed effective stiffness ratio (ESR). A two-dimensional, nonlinear finite element analysis is performed to obtain the pore-pressure generation behav-iour. Strength, modulus, initial stress field, and unloading due to excavation are reflected in this analysis. The pore-pressure dissipation behaviour is investigated by employing an uncoupled consolidation theory using finite elements. A dimensionless time factor is used to present the results of pore-pressure dissipation. These results are presented using nondimensional quantities and in normalized forms. The results are directly applicable to estimation of pore pressures for determining long-term stability of tunnels. Key words : clay, pore pressure, tunnels, uncoupled consolidation, finite elements, stress-strain.