Performance Evaluation of a Tunnel–Slope System

Abstract

Intense rainfall and the resulting increase in ground saturation can significantly modify the mechanical performance of rock masses in natural slopes, particularly when fractured material is present. Extended infiltration reduces shear strength along discontinuities and increases pore-water pressures, raising the probability of large-scale landslides. When a tunnel is built within or near an unstable slope, the response of both structures becomes coupled, and this tunnel–slope interaction has proven to be an important aspect in the design and safety assessment of underground infrastructure in mountainous regions. This study evaluates the static and seismic performance of a tunnel–slope system in a fractured shale–limestone slope that failed after heavy rainfall. Since ground exploration was limited, the observed failure was reproduced through a back-analysis within a performance-based design (PBD) framework to calibrate representative geomechanical parameters. These parameters were then used in three-dimensional finite difference models to simulate the tunnel construction process and the seismic response of the system. During construction, the interaction between the tunnel and the slope was found to be minor. Under seismic loading, however, the simulations revealed notable interaction effects: slope displacements accumulate in the zone where the tunnel runs closest to the unstable critical section, and the stresses in the tunnel lining increase as a result of both the interaction with the slope and the curvature of the alignment. These results indicate that tunnel–slope interaction should be explicitly considered in the analysis and design of underground infrastructure whenever the tunnel lies within about four diameters of an unstable slope.