An apparatus for centrifuge modelling of a shaft construction in clay

Abstract

Tunnelling systems have been widely used for housing transport links and service lines. The preferred method for accessing tunnels is via narrow vertical excavations (referred to as ‘shafts’) because of the advantages it provides in the congested urban environment. These shafts can exist as staircases, lifts or for ventilation purposes. The settlements and ground movements associated with shafts are influenced by the method of construction, type of soil and geometry of excavation (i.e. diameter size and depth). Literature describing the ground movements arising from shafts is relatively limited when compared with other geotechnical construction events (for example tunnelling). Therefore, apparatus has been designed, fabricated and tested to explore the behaviour of a clay ground model when constructing shafts. The apparatus outlined in this paper is a novel approach for the centrifuge modelling of short-term shaft-sinking induced settlements in clay