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By A. J. Schleiss
article presents the summarized results of a study carried out by the author on the
into account seepage forces and secondary permeability in lining and rock. The UUUIILUUIII
traditional tunnel statics" which assume lining and rock as impervious, is discussed. New
f
n""rrnp",lhlp pressure tunnels. This article presents a new design resulting force (the seepage nrpee11,'p
which takes into account the pressures and dimension, like a body quantrtatrve
influence of fracture deformation on permeability seepage pressures on pressure tunnels
rock masses. Until now, these papers have given no inducement
ing new design procedures for pervious pressure tunnels.
Problematic nature of pressure tunnels Fractures and pores, which cause the of the rock
U/-,',<4n,<");;,, water on an impervious mass, are deformed by the forces.
nenaves as a load; uniformly distributed and rock mass around the pressure tunnel will be ' .... r» ..""·"",,'r1
perpendicular the surface (Fig. la). If the medium is internal pressure. This change in permeability, in turn,
permeable, water infiltrates cavities (pores, cracks, fissures, and the seepage flow and therefore, the seepage forces. This
and again exerts a surface pressure (Fig. 1b). In this case mechanical-hydraulic coupling is shown schematically in Fig.
water pressure is gradually reduced by friction within the 3. Due to the latest scientific findings, in rock mechanics and
cavities. The force applied to the structure is transmitted along above all in rock hydraulics, such coupled can be
lines of seepage as a body force I. A permeable medium is solved theoretically", Inspite of this,
therefore not loaded by the purely mechanical effect of water coupling is rarely considered in pressure tunnel
the boundary loading, but by hydraulic body forces.
forces can be illustrated for a concrete-lined pressure The porous, thick-walled cylinder
tunnel (Fig. Differential equation for the radial The state of
The traditional' 'pressure tunnel statics" theory is based on stress due to internal water pressure in a porous cylinder, with
homogeneous, isotropic material behaviour, is radially
symmetrical. In contrast to the impervious cylinder, the
elementary volume of the permeable cylinder is loaded not only
by radial and tangential stresses but also by pore pressure (Fig.
4). The efficiency of this water pressure can be reduced by
factor y/(O ~ Y/ ~ 1). In the past the factor Y/ was often equated with
the superficial porosity of the material". In the meantime,
experimental work has shown that Y/ is equal to unity, if rupture
conditions are considered" 8. 9 The same is valid in highly
I1
r1n'pr>t",An for the
R
/ 7](p +
(per cent)
... (5)
rock zone.
the
at the inner (due
strength of concrete. The
the tensile
only
stresses and the pressure gradient seepage flow is
The head at the outside ofthe cracked lining (pa) or rock
mass is the continuity condition. Normally, the
head in the cracked zones (ie, unreinforced linings) is
neatunbte and therefore nearly the whole internal pressure
becomes effective the boundary of the uncracked zones +
(Pi ::::; p, ::::; Pf). The total width of the cracks in the lining has to
correspond with the tangential displacement of the rock mass.
This relation allows the estimation of crack width (Eq,
(2a) = u(ra)2rr/n . . . (7)
New cracks develop only in unfractured (bulky) rock mass.
Otherwise the existing fractures are opened radially so much that
they loose any contact. In such cracked or fractured zones the
relation between width and tangential displacement is given by linear pore pressure gradient
Mechanical-hydraulic coupling
Influence of fracture deformation on
secondary permeability. Due to internal.
water pressure around the -nmnel, the
width of the fracture will increase. In the
following it is assumed that the natural
rock stresses exceed the stresses due to
internal pressure. Thus the fractures are
able to transmit restricted tensile
stresses, otherwise a "cracked" zone
(see "Influence of cracks") would be
formed.
The coupling between stresses or
deformations and rock mass permea-
bility is based on the following statement: In a fixed circle Naturally the coupled calculation is only sensible if the permea-
around the tunnel the total sum of change in fracture width bility properties of the rock masses are known adequately.
is equal to the tangential displacement due to internal water
pressure. Assuming laminar, parallel flow in the fractures this Design criteria for pervious pressure tunnels
relationship is: For designing pervious pressure tunnels, three criteria are
important:
K(r) Km + --=---'-'--- ... (9) • Avoiding cracks in the lining;
3( 1 1 )2 • Limiting water losses;
6Vw ttr 7i; + 7h • Ensuring the bearing capacity of the rock masses.
Which one of these criteria governs the design in a particular case
With the above equation the change in permeability in fractured depends on the respective boundary conditions.
rock masses is proportional to the cube of the radial displacement
u(r) and inversely proportional to the square of fracture density Avoiding cracks in lining. Cracks in the lining caused by
(l/b, + l/b2)2. Eq. 9 is only valid for high fracture density (see internal water pressure can be prevented either by reducing
earlier section). forces in lining or by increasing resistance of the lining.
Measures for reducing forces in lining are: increasing thickness
Thick-walled cylinder with stress-dependant permeability. of lining , rock grouting, drainage and controlled commencement
Assuming Darcy flow, the pressure gradient dp/dr in the of operation. These measures are successful only at relatively
cylinder with variable permeability K(r) is derived from the small internal pressure head (Pi < 20 bar) and good rock quality
continuity condition: (Ei/E, < 3). At higher pressure heads cracks can be avoided
1 only by increasing lining resistance, which is possible by
dp prestressing. Different prestressing techniques have been
dr - (Pi pal r, . . . (10) developed: prestressing by rock grouting'? or gap
dr
f
r.
K(r).r
Laboratory of
Ee/Er 3.0;
and active
losses. of a
pressure tunnel is dictated and depth under
water table as well as long as the safety of the
1973.
nr~'CC'lT'''' tunnel is not the allowable amount of water 6. BROWN, E. T., AND BRAY ,J. W., "Rock-support interaction calculations
determined only by economic considerations. Besides for pressure shafts and tunnels. " ISRM Symposium Aachen , Vol. 2; 1982.
limiting water losses should ZIENKIEWICZ, O. "Stress of hydraulic structures including pore
r!1c,,,,,t,,,,,,,'r<:>t',nn of some (anhydrite, rI'\'I'lrwl1t"" pressure effects." 1963.
8. ROBINSON, L. H. , "Some interpretation of pore fluid
etc) or washing out of joint-fillings">'. In addition, effects in rock failure." 11th Rock Mechanics, Berkeley,
water losses reaching the natural ground surface have California, USA; 1969.
occasionally in the past produced landslides-l-":". Water losses 9. SERAFIM, J. L., "Influence of joint water in the stability of structures in rock
can be limited avoiding cracks in the concrete lining (see drainage measure." Proceeding ISRM-Symposium: Percolation through
fissured rock, Stuttgart T4 (General Report) 1972.
above) and to some extent by reinforcing as well as rock 10. WITTKE W., Felsmechanik, "Grundlagen fur wirtschaftliches Bauen im
grouting. If these measures are not effective, special sealings Fels.' Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo; 1984.
such as plastic sheeting or thin steel tubes have to be used 27 ,13,2o . 11. G. , "Wirkung des Kluftwasserdruckes auf einen
Felskorper. Felsbau 2 No. 1984.
12. SCHLEISS, A., "Bemessung von Druckstollen. Teil I: Literatur,
Bearing capacity ofrock masses. If the stresses in rock due to Grundlagen, Felshydraulik insbesondere Sickerstromungen durch
internal water pressure are greater than the natural stresses, the Auskleidung und Fels." Mitteilung der Versuchsanstalt fur Wasserbau,
tunnel will probably fail because the expansion of the "cracked" Hydrologie und Glaziologie an der ETH Zurich, Switzerland, No. 78; 1985.
rock zone cannot be limited. Considering a single fracture, for 13. SEEBER, G., "Power conduits for high-head plants." Water Power & Dam
Construction, June 1985; July 1985.
example in the tunnel roof, this hydro-fracturing is often 14. BouvARD, M., "Les fuites des galeries en charge en terrain sec. Role du
compared with the effect of a hydraulic press": 13. Assuming revetement, des injections, du terrain." In Houille Blanche, No. 4; 1975.
that natural (primary) stresses in rock masses are influenced 15. BOUVARD, M., AND NIQUET, J., "Ecoulernent transitoires dans les massifs
mainly by overburden, the criteria of bearing capacity is autour d'une galerie en charge." In Houille Blanche, No. 3; 1980.
16. PONIMATKIN, P. U. "Calculation of pressure tunnels with a concrete lining
normally reduced to a criteria of minimal overburden28,29,3o . But and grouting considering the formation of cracks in the lining and rock. "
such rule-of-thumb criteria are bound up with the local Hvdrotechnical Construction, No. 3; March 1977.
geological situation and therefore are not generally applicable. 17. KUNJUNDZIC, IVANOVIC, K., 0., AND
Of course the natural stresses in rock masses can be influenced
storage hydroelectric
locating the tunnel deep enough 18. KIESER, A., "Druckstollenbau.
capacity of 19. H., 'Vorspanninjektion
'rI'\1'\""rUl'Ar.c tunnels with No.
of influence around the tunnel
Scandinavia. "
in Druckstollen.' und
tngenieurueotogte . Supplement IV; 1968.
Auskleidung von Druckstollen und Druckschachten."
Verlag Berlin W. Germany; 1926.
26. J., "Wassersprengung und Sprengwasser." Geologie
Bauwesen, Vol. 22, No. 2; 1956.
WENZEL, K., "Neue Moglichkeiten zur wasserdichten
Stollenauskleidung." Nos. 26,27,28; 1963.
28. BROCH, E., "The development of unlined pressure shafts and tunnels in
Norway." ISRM Symposium Aachen, Vol. 2; 1982.
BROCH, E., "Unlined high tunnels in areas
phy." Water Power & Dam November;
30. SHARP, J. C., AND GONANO, C. P., ing
concrete lined pressure tunnels of Drakensberg. " IS1W-Symposium
Vol. 2; 1982.
31. JAEGER, C., "Present trends in the design of pressure tunnels and shafts for
underground hydroelectric power stations. " Paper No. 5978, Proceedings
Institution Civil Engineers, Part I, Vol. 4, March; 1955.
32. KASTNER, H., "Statik des Tunnel- und Stollenbaues." Springer-Verlag
Berlin/Gottingen/Heidelberg, W. Germany 1962.