Field Test and Three-Dimensional Numerical Analysis of Soil

Abstract

Flexible corrugated steel culverts have been used in engineering for many years, with the first application in 1931. Since then, the popularity of these structures has been increasing enormously. Soil–steel bridges are being more commonly used as road and railway tunnels, and the fire protection of such structures is becoming increasingly important. During summer 2012, a tunnel built of the steel corrugated sheets was constructed in the city of Karpacz in Poland. The structure served as a road tunnel under a ski slope. The 100-m-long tunnel is a metal open arch with a span of 11.15 m and a rise of 6.50 m. This paper presents the results of field measurements and numerical computations of the metal tunnel during the backfilling process. The main goal of the study was to evaluate the behavior of the structure subjected to an asymmetrical geostatic load during backfilling. The results of the field tests constituted the basis for assessing the accuracy of the numerical model. The experimental and numerical results are shown in the tables and graphs. Plans for future research connected with this type of structure are presented.

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Field Test and Three-Dimensional Numerical Analysis of Soil–Steel Tunnel during Backfilling

Abstract

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