ASSESSMENT ON REDUCED THICKNESS OF TUNNEL LINING TO ENSURE

STABILITY IN SOFT GROUND

N.I.S. Mohd Muhtar1*, S.N Jusoh1, N.Z. Mohd Yunus1

1
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia

*Corresponding Author: nisafiya2@graduate.utm.my

Abstract:

Keywords: Tunnel, soft ground, tunnel lining, segmental lining, underground

1.0 Introduction

Tunnel construction has been increased in recent years due to uses of the structure can be
used for transportation purposes. Tunnel traditionally is a long and narrow subsurface
substructure that are constructed either for highway, pedestrian, railway or irrigation (Kim,
1996). Tunnelling may be considered as one of specialized branch of engineering, as it requires
application from various civil engineering skill other than tunnelling itself; to achieve success
in design. The constructions of tunnel depends on factors such as ground conditions, type of
materials, the ground water conditions, length and diameter of the tunnel, and the final use and
shape of the tunnel and appropriate risk management. There are three basic types of tunnel
construction, such as cut-and-cover tunnel, which construct the tunnel in a shallow trench and
then covered over by soils. Immersed tube tunnel, the tunnel is sunk into a body water; either
river or sea, and laid on or buried under its bed. Bored tunnel, which is constructed in-situ
without removing the ground above.

Tunnelling in soft ground has always been associated with the changes of stresses in the
ground with identical to its strain and displacement; as it can harm adjacent and overlaying
facilities when these measures became extreme. Soft ground consists of decayed organic
matter may consists of alluvium, glacial

1.1 Problem Statement

1.2 Significance of Study

1.3 Objectives
1.4 Scope of Study

2.0 Literature Review

3.0 Methodology

Start
PHASE 1
 Marine clay
 Fly Ash (FA): Bottom
Literature Review Ash (BA) - (50:50,
70:30 and 30:70
 Ordinary Portland
Cement
 Material Identification &
Characterization

PHASE 2 Static Testing

Preparation of Soil
 Stabilizer
Sample percentage: 5%,
8%, 10%, 15%,
Unconfined Compressive Strength 20%
 Curing: 0,
test
7,28,60,90,180 &
360 days

Determination
of optimum
mix
(28 days)

Performance Testing
 Soaked and unsoaked California
Bearing Ratio (CBR)
 Resilient Modulus (RM)
 Durability test

PHASE 3 Cyclic Testing

•Degradation index
•Shear modulus, G
•Damping ratio

PHASE 4 Microstructure Analysis  FESEM

 EDX
Contamination Analysis  XRD
 TCLP test

PHASE 5 Data analysis &

Discussions

Monitoring &
Documentation

End

Figure 1: Flowchart of the research

3.6 Research Schedule

Year 2017 2018 2019 2020

Semester 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Month 0 1 2 0 1 2 0 1 2

STUDY DEVELOPMENT
Attend class
(Compulsory)
Research
methodology
Extra class

COMPLETION DEVELOPMENT
Proposal Defend
Conference
Publication

PHASE 1 : LITERATURE SEARCH AND MATERIAL COLLECTION

Reading
100 200 300 400 500 600
(Journal/Thesis)
Soil Stablization
Performance
Testing
Cyclic Testing
Microstructure and
Contamination
Analysis
Preparation of
materials
Collection and
Selection of
material (Marine
Clay and
Stabilizers)

PHASE 2 : DETERMNATION OF OPTIMUM MIX

Standard Proctor
Test
Curing Period of
Samples
Unconfined
Compressive
Strength Test (UCS)

PHASE 3 : PERFROMANCE TESTING

Sample preparation
Soaked and
Unsoaked CBR
Resilient Modulus
Durability Test

PHASE 4 : CYCLIC TESTING

Sample preparation
Preliminary
Investigation (Pilot
study)
Cyclic Testing
PHASE 5 : MICROSTRUCTURE AND CONTAMINATION ANALYSIS
Sample preparation
FESEM
EDX
XRD
Toxicity
characteristic
leaching procedure
(TCLP)
pH meter
PHASE 6 : REPORTING AND DOCUMENTATION
Reporting and
Documentation
Submission draft of
thesis
Viva
Checking and
Correction thesis
Submission of thesis

PROGRESS Schedule Actual Ahead Delay

4.0 Expected Findings amd Conclusions

1) The physical and chemical properties of both fly ash and bottom ash will be within
the range of values of previous findings.
2) An optimum proportion of fly ash to bottom ash (FA: BA) with addition of
ordinary Portland cement (OPC) will be obtained. It is expected that with
increasing curing periods, the strength of the soil sample would also increase
which will be verify by using microstructural test such as FESEM,EDX and XRD.
3) The cyclic characteristics parameters such as degradation index, shear modulus
and damping ratio would be affected by moisture content, confining pressure,
vibration frequency, consolidation ratio, and cycle number. It is expected that the
cyclic characteristics of soil sample would increase as compared to the soft clay
sample.
4) It is expected that the fly ash and bottom ash is safe to be use on the environment
and will be within the allowable range set by Department of Environmentl (DOE)

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