Predicting tunnelling-induced displacements and associated damage to structures

The ability to predict with confidence tunnelling-induced displacements and the associated potential for damage to structures is of increasing importance to the viability of urban tunnelling in soft ground. To assess the response of a structure to tunnelling the three-dimensional nature of both the structure and the construction process should be taken into account in a soil-structure interaction analysis. The paper illustrates some of these issues, with reference to a recent study of the effects of the construction of the new C Line of Roma Underground, currently at the design stage, on several monumental buildings in the historical centre of the city. The interaction of the running tunnels with the monumental structures along the proposed route was evaluated with three-dimensional numerical analyses and the potential for damage was assessed.