Investigation of tunneling hazards in difficult and complex ground with the integration of geological and geophysical studies - Case study of Sabzkuh tunnel

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M.Sc. Student, Department of Civil & Geotechnical Engineering, Islamic Azad University Islamshahr Branch.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil & Geotechnical Engineering, Islamic Azad University Islamshahr Branch.

Abstract

Tunneling in the Zagros region of Iran has been endangered by many geological complications. Many faults, landslides, groundwater levels are among the hazards that affect the tunneling process. The Sabzkuh - Choghakhhor Water Transfer Tunnel is about 11 km long in the Zagros Mountains in southwestern Iran using conventional and mechanized tunneling techniques under excavation. Initial studies showed that about 350 meters from the tunnel in the alluvium. After excavation 37 m from the tunnel in a conventional, geological problems and inappropriate tunnel excavation method caused the tunnel to collapse and the tunnel portal failure. In order to cross the collapse zone and continue the safe excavation, due to the complexity of the tunnel route and the limited results of the early geotechnical studies in identifying the leading hazards in the elementary part of the Sabzkuh tunnel, a comprehensive program of studies including complementary geotechnics, field surveys and geophysics became. The combination of these studies resulted in a wider and more comprehensive level of information about the study area, which led to a more informed and better informed decision about the identification of hazards and, finally, the development of a geological model with minimal risk.

Keywords


[1] Lehmann, B., Orlowsky, D., & Misiek, R. (2010). “Exploration of tunnel alignment using geophysical methods to increase safety for planning and minimizing risk”, Rock mechanics and rock engineering43(1), 105-116.
[2] An, Z., Di, Q., Wu, F., Wang, G., & Wang, R. (2012). “Geophysical exploration for a long deep tunnel to divert water from the Yangtze to the Yellow River, China”, Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment71(1), 195-200.
[3] Solberg, I. L., Hansen, L., Rønning, J. S., Haugen, E. D., Dalsegg, E., & Tønnesen, J. F. (2012). “Combined geophysical and geotechnical approach to ground investigations and hazard zonation of a quick clay area, mid Norway”, Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment71(1), 119-133.
[4] Srinivasamoorthy, K., Chidambaram, S., Vasanthavigar, M., Anandhan, P., & Sarma, V. S. (2014). “Geophysical investigations for groundwater in a hard rock terrain, Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India”, Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment73(2), 357-368.
[5] Lesparre, N., Boyle, A., Grychtol, B., Cabrera, J., Marteau, J., & Adler, A. (2016). “Electrical resistivity imaging in transmission between surface and underground tunnel for fault characterization”, Journal of Applied Geophysics128, 163-178.
[6] Bin, L., Zhengyu, L., Shucai, L., Lichao, N., Maoxin, S., Huaifeng, S., & Yonghao, P. (2017). “Comprehensive surface geophysical investigation of karst caves ahead of the tunnel face: A case study in the Xiaoheyan section of the water supply project from Songhua River, Jilin, China”, Journal of Applied Geophysics144, 37-49.
[7] Gan, F., Han, K., Lan, F., Chen, Y., & Zhang, W. (2017). “Multi-geophysical approaches to detect karst channels underground—A case study in Mengzi of Yunnan Province, China”, Journal of Applied Geophysics136, 91-98.
[8] Berberian, M. (1995). “Master “blind” thrust faults hidden under the Zagros folds: active basement tectonics and surface morphotectonics”, Tectonophysics241(3-4), 193197199-195224.
[9] Eftekhari, A., Taromi, M., & Saeidi, M. (2014). “Uncertainties and complexities of the geological model in slope stability: a case study of Sabzkuh tunnel”, Int. Journal of Mining & Geo-Engineering48(1), 69-79.
[10] Lunardi, P. (2008). Design and construction of tunnels: Analysis of Controlled Deformations in Rock and Soils (ADECO-RS). Springer Science & Business Media.
[11] Donnelly, L. J., Culshaw, M. G., Hobbs, P. R. N., Flint, R. C., & Jackson, P. D. (2005). “Engineering geological and geophysical investigations of a slope failure at Edinburgh Castle, Scotland”, Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment64(2), 119-137.
[12] Azadi, A., Hessami, K., & Javan-Doloei, G. (2010). “Integrated geophysical methods for determining geometry of the Kahrizak Fault, Tehran, Iran”, Natural hazards54(3), 813-825.
CAPTCHA Image