Influences of Underwater Shield Tunnelling on River Embankment Seepage Stability Considering Various Overburden Thickness

Underwater shield tunneling will disturb the soil near river, especially in water-rich soft ground. This may cause a groundwater infiltration hydraulic gradient to exceed critical value, leading calamities, such as unexpected flooding or submerged erosion. To ensure security of construction and stability river embankment seepage, it is crucial assess safety underwater tunnel cover thickness. A project under Hefei used an example. The numerical model established by finite element method for calculating analyzing changes flow field state seepage induced different overburden thickness conditions. results show that disturbance through increased, internal force environment slope destroyed, maximum increased. In case study, keeps stable when has 2.9 times its outer diameter. findings this study can serve scientific guide assure stop