Field monitoring of the movements and deformations of two subway tunnels during the construction of an overcrossing tunnel: a case study

During the construction of a new tunnel overcrossing existing tunnels at close proximity, the existing tunnels should be protected by protective structures and/or ground improvement measures. However, the construction of these structures and ground improvement may cause movement or deformation to the existing tunnels, potentially jeopardizing their operational safety, particularly under soft soil and sensitive ground conditions. This study presents the results of a year-long field monitoring program focusing on the movement of two underlying subway tunnels during different construction phases of an overcrossing cut-and-cover tunnel. Protective structures/measures for the existing subway tunnels included the construction of H-pile walls, deep soil mixing, cast-in-situ bored piles, and staged excavation for the new tunnel. In terms of construction-induced movement to the existing subway tunnels, it was found that the construction of H-pile walls induced the largest vertical settlement, the deep soil mixing operations induced the largest horizontal displacements, and the staged excavation induced the largest uplift. Although the maximum horizontal displacement at the springline of a subway tunnel near the center of the construction area slightly exceeded the alarm value, the implemented protective structures/measures were effective in reducing the total horizontal and vertical displacements of the existing tunnels.