Frictional resistance calculation and jacking force prediction of rectangular pipe jacking.

Area of Science:

• Geotechnical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Tunneling Technology

Background:

• Empirical formulas for rectangular pipe jacking force often yield inaccurate results.
• Existing methods lack comprehensive consideration of pipe-soil-slurry interactions.
• Improved engineering guidance is needed for reliable jacking force estimation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To derive and validate new equations for calculating rectangular pipe jacking force.
• To investigate the influence of pipe-slurry-soil contact states on jacking force.
• To simulate and analyze the jacking process using numerical methods.

Main Methods:

• Derivation of governing equations considering stress conditions and shear-friction mechanisms.
• Numerical simulation using the displacement control method in FLAC3D.
• Validation through comparison with field monitoring and theoretical results.

Main Results:

• Established equations demonstrate high applicability across diverse pipe-slurry-soil contact conditions.
• Theoretical, numerical, and field data show remarkable agreement.
• Analysis reveals distinct sidewall sliding behaviors and identifies bottom pipe-soil contact as prevalent.

Conclusions:

• The developed theoretical framework provides a reliable method for estimating rectangular pipe jacking force.
• Numerical simulations accurately replicate the complex interactions during pipe jacking.
• Findings enhance the understanding and practical application of pipe jacking technology.