Tunnel-Induced Settlement: Analytical Validation and Parametric Study of Faulted Ground Under Rainfall Conditions
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The increasing demand for underground infrastructure in densely populated urban areas has intensified the need for reliable prediction of tunneling-induced ground settlement, particularly under complex geological conditions such as fault zones. This study aims to investigate the effect of fault material properties and heavy rainfall on surface settlement induced by tunnel excavation. A coupled analytical and numerical approach was adopted to evaluate the ground response under faulted conditions. Finite element analysis was conducted to simulate tunnel excavation and ground deformation, while the proposed analytical solution was developed to predict settlement behavior. In addition, a parametric study was performed to investigate the influence of fault material characteristics under rainfall conditions on surface deformation. The obtained results indicate that fault zones significantly affect settlement magnitude and distribution, especially under heavy rainfall due to the reduction in shear strength and changes in hydro-mechanical behavior. The comparison between the analytical solution and numerical simulation demonstrates good agreement, confirming the validity and reliability of the proposed approach. The novelty of this study lies in integrating fault material properties and rainfall effects into the settlement prediction framework, providing a more comprehensive understanding of tunneling performance in faulted ground conditions and offering practical guidance for underground construction in complex urban environments.
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