Seismic Analysis of Underground Reinforced Concrete Highway Tunnels with Different Shape Openings using Curved Arch Concept

Abstract

Abstract: A tunnel is an underground passageway, dug through the surrounding soil/earth/rock and enclosed except for entrance and exit, commonly at each end. Now-a-days, tunnels are being used for many purposes like roadway, railway tracks, for canal etc. Tunnels help in reducing the distance between any two places. In this research work, Seismic analysis of tunnel was carried out for different shape openings of tunnel using curved arch concept. The design and analysis work has been carried out using SAP-2000 package. Analysis of different type of tunnels for seismic loading is done for the variation of the stresses, moments and displacements. Same process was followed for the tunnel shapes and based on results; the best and stronger tunnel is specified. This paper mainly concentrates on the variation of displacements and stresses under static loading conditions and efficiency under static loads.

Index Terms: Underground tunnels, response of structure, design and analysis, displacements, stresses, SAP-2000