Study on seismic behavior and seismic design methods in transverse direction of shield tunnels

In order to investigate the seismic behavior and seismic design methods in the transverse direction of a shield tunnel, a series of model shaking table tests and a two-dimensional finite element dynamic analysis on the tests are carded out. Two kinds of static analytical methods based on ground-tunnel composite finite element model and beam-spring element model, are proposed, and the validity of the static analyses is verified by model shaking table tests. The investigation concerns the dynamic response behavior of a tunnel and the ground, the interaction between the tunnel and ground, and an evaluation of different seismic design methods. Results of the investigation indicate that the shield tunnel follows the surrounding ground in displacement and dynamic characteristics in the transverse direction; also, the static analytical methods proposed by the authors can be used directly as the seismic design methods in the transverse direction of a shield tunnel.