Stability Assessment for Underground Excavations and Key Construction Techniques

This book examines how the state of underground structures can be determined with the assistance of force, deformation and energy. It then analyzes mechanized shield methods, the New Austrian tunneling method (NATM) and conventional methods from this new perspective. The book gathers a wealth of cases reflecting the experiences of practitioners and administrators alike. Based on statistical and engineering studies of these cases, as well as lab and field experiments, it develops a stability assessment approach incorporating a stable equilibrium, which enables engineers to keep the structure and surrounding rocks safe as long as the stable equilibrium and deformation compliance are maintained.

The book illustrates the implementation of the method in various tunneling contexts, including soil-rock mixed strata, tunneling beneath operating roads, underwater tunnels, and tunnel pit excavation. It offers a valuable guide for researchers, designers and engineers, especially those who are seeking to understand the underlying principles of underground excavation.

Dr. Han-Hua Zhu, the first author of the book, is the Chief Engineer of Zhejiang Provincial Bureau of Road Transportation. Dr. Zhu got his Ph.D. under the supervision of Prof. Qingyuan Zeng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. After he worked on tunnelling projects as a field engineer for more than 10 years, he started his administrative career in 2001 in Zhejiang Provincial Bureau of Road Transportation, mainly in charge of technical issues on tunnel excavations. Dr. Zhu has accumulated a wealth of experiences about underground excavations as practitioners and administrators and has authored 7 books in Chinese on the subject.

Dr. Yu Zhao is currently an associate professor in College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University. He was awarded “Distinguished young scholar” of Zhejiang University in 2013. He obtained his Ph.D. in the Department of Civil Engineering at University of Tokyo, Japan under the supervision of Prof. Kazuo Konagai. His research focus is on excavation behavior and stability assessment of soil and rock. His research is financially supported by a number of fundings, including NSFC, the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities and etc. He has authored a book and 20 peer-reviewed papers (10 in English).

Dr. Fu Sheng Niu was born in Suiping County, Henan Province, China, got his Ph.D of Geotechnical Engineering in Tongji University in 2015 under the supervision of Prof. Jun Sun, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Dr. Niu is now working as a senior engineer in Ningbo Communications Planning Institute Co., LTD., in charge of the design and consulting of tunneling, foundation fit, foundation using extremely large piles and subgrade. He participated in the research of numerous mega infrastructure projects, including Beijing-Fuzhou High-speed Railway, Nanjing Yangtze River Tunnel, Suifenhe-Manzhouli expressway and etc. He has authored 5 books and more than 10 peer-reviewed papers.