Published: 15 February 2020

Influence of adjacent surface building on seismic response of shallow buried subway station structure

Wenliang Huang1
Tao Liu2
Yan Ge3
Han Wang4
Liangjian Zhong5
Xiaoguang Jin6
1, 2, 4, 5China Construction Traffic Construction Group Co., Ltd., Sichuan Branch, Chengdu, 610000, China
3, 6College of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China
Corresponding Author:
Xiaoguang Jin
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Abstract

Taking the 6-storey frame structure as an example, using FLAC numerical simulation, the influence of the adjacent multi-storey buildings on the seismic response of the metro station structure (including the internal force and bias state of the station structure) is studied systematically, and the relationship between the influence and surrounding rock level change is analyzed. The research shows that the existence of surface buildings has obvious amplification effect on the internal force of the subway station and above. It mainly shows that the eccentricity of the vault of the subway station is increased, and the eccentricity of the arch waist is reduced. It has a great influence on the internal force and distribution range of the station structure. The worse the surrounding rock, the greater the internal force and influence range of the building to the station structure.

Influence of adjacent surface building on seismic response of shallow buried subway station structure

Highlights

  • The influence of the surface buildings on the bending moment of the station vault is more significant than the axial.
  • The influence of the surface buildings on the axial force at the arch waist is more significant than the bending moment.
  • The existence of the surface buildings increases the eccentricity of the station vault and reduces the eccentricity at the arch waist.
  • From grade V surrounding rocks to grade III surrounding rocks, the amplifying effect of surface buildings on the internal force of the station structure gradually decreases.

1. Introduction

The appearance and development of subway has greatly improved the urban traffic conditions. The interaction between metro stations and overlying buildings has received more and more attention. Especially in the case of earthquakes, due to the existence of underground space (such as subway stations), subway stations and their structural interfaces have a great influence on the propagation characteristics of seismic waves. At the same time, the surface buildings amplify the waves that are close to their own frequencies in the seismic waves, so that the building foundation generates a reaction force corresponding to its own inertial force, which has a certain influence on the ground motion of the building site, so that the seismic response of the subway station changes.

Some scholars have studied the interaction between underground structures and buildings under earthquake conditions. Liang Jianwen et al. [1-3] used theoretical analysis and numerical simulation to study the influence of seismic waves on ground motion under the condition of underground caverns. It is believed that the amplification effect of underground caverns on ground motion can reach 1.5-8.8 times of the non-cavity. Yu Pinqing [4] studied the seismic response of metro stations on weak foundations and the changes of station-site seismic effects, and analyzed the impact of subway station construction on surface displacement and horizontal velocity. He Wei et al. [5] used FLAC to analyze the changes of surface acceleration and response spectrum of the subway tunnel before and after construction. Fu Yuyong et al. [6] used dynamic finite element method to study the seismic response of layered tunnels to adjacent buildings, and revealed the influence of tunnel depth, building and tunnel spacing on seismic response. Ganainy et al. [7] used numerical simulation to study the seismic response of the multi-storey building basement (or garage) to the superstructure. The stiffness of the foundation soil and the height of the underground space have a great influence on the propagation of seismic waves. He Wei [8] developed the Davidenko viscoelastic constitutive model based on the ABAQUS software, and studied the influence of the subway station on the seismic response of the adjacent frame structure. It is considered that the subway station can enlarge the relative displacement of the floor and the shear force of the frame column by 30 % and more than 20 % respectively. Based on the generalized interlayer displacement spectrum, Guo Jing [9] analyzed the influence of metro station on the seismic response of adjacent buildings from the aspects of foundation stiffness, seismic acceleration peak and surface deformation characteristics. Li Fangjie et al. [10] used ANSYS to establish a soil-structure dynamic interaction model, studied the influence of buildings with different relative positions on the seismic response of underground structures, and found the existence of buildings has a great impact on the relative displacement of the subway stations, the internal forces of the nodes, etc. Kyriazis Pitilakis et al. [11] studied the influence of buildings at different locations or at the same location above the tunnel on the seismic response of tunnels . It is considered that when the tunnel has a shallow depth and the tunnel lining stiffness is large, the seismic response of the overlying buildings to the tunnel is considered. The amplification is more significant. Lv Zhitao [12] used theoretical analysis and numerical simulation to study the seismic response characteristics of metro stations and their overlying buildings, and revealed the interaction law between metro stations and overlying buildings under earthquake conditions.

It can be seen from the related research of the above scholars that the research on the seismic response of shallow-buried subway stations is still relatively rare at present. And this paper is focused on the dynamic response of the shallow-buried subway station under earthquake.

In view of this, this paper takes the 6-storey frame structure as an example, and uses the numerical simulation method to systematically study the influence of the adjacent multi-storey buildings on the seismic response of the station structure (including the internal force and bias state of the station structure).

2. Establishment of dynamic analysis model

Taking the typical underground excavation station of the first phase of Chongqing Rail Transit Line 9 as the research object, the analysis model is established. The net width of the station is 23.24 m, the net height is 19.92 m, the thickness of the secondary lining C40 is 0.80 m, and the reserved deformation is 120 mm; the surrounding rock classification of the station is Grade IV; the station hall layer is beam-slab structure, the main beam direction is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the station, the width is 1.0 m and the height is 1.2 m; the secondary beam is arranged along the station transverse direction, the width is 0.80m, the height is 0.50 m; the thickness of the slab is 0.50 m, A square column is arranged under the main beam, and the column section length is 0.80 m and the column spacing is 8.40 m.

Taking the 6-storey and 3-span frame structure of the building over the station as an example. The subway station has a depth of 5.00m, the overlying (directly above) building span is 9.00 m, the bottom layer is 4.00 m high, the other layers are 3.50m high, the beam section is 0.40 m×0.60 m, and the column section is 0.60 m×0.60 m. The basic form of the building is an independent foundation under the column. The established dynamic analysis model is shown in Fig. 1. The lower boundary of the model is taken down from the bottom of the station by 30.0 m, the left boundary is taken from the left side wall of the station to the left by 50.0 m, and the right boundary is taken from the right side wall of the station to the right by 65.0 m and the longitudinal direction is taken as 2.0 m. It’s handled as the plane strain problem and the effect of the platform layer is ignored.

In the model, the secondary lining adopts the Shell unit, the station hall beam and the column adopt the Beam unit, the surrounding rock adopts the elastoplastic (M-C) model, and the structure adopts the linear elastic model (Fig. 2). The connection between the column and the station hall beam and the inverted arch of the secondary lining is considered as a rigid connection, and a line load of 30 kN/m is applied to the beam. In order to carry out the comparative study of different surrounding rock grades, the surrounding rock of Grade III and V is taken as the average value of the corresponding level parameters according to the design specification of the railway tunnel. The parameters of the surrounding rock and the structure (including beam and column) are listed in Table 1.

Fig. 1Dynamic analysis model

Dynamic analysis model

Fig. 2Station structure model

Station structure model

Table 1Surrounding rock and structural physical and mechanical parameters

Parameter
Elastic modulus
E / MPa
Poisson’s
ratio μ
Gravity
kN/m³
Cohesion
c / kPa
Internal friction
Angle φ
Grade IV
1500
0.35
23.0
300
33
Grade III
6000
0.25
25.0
700
40
Grade V
800
0.40
20.0
150
25
Station structure
30000
0.20
24.0

In the dynamic analysis, the boundary conditions use the free field boundary provided by FLAC3D. Referring to the references [8, 11-12], taking the damping ratio of the surrounding rock of the metro station to 0.05, the damping ratio of the station structure to the building is 0.02. The seismic wave is input horizontally from the bedrock surface. The seismic wave adopts the intercepted Kobe wave and is corrected and filtered by the SeismoSignal software. The acceleration time history and Fourier spectrum characteristics are shown in Fig. 3. The acceleration peak value is 0.15 g.

Fig. 3Selected seismic wave characteristics

Selected seismic wave characteristics

a) Acceleration time history

Selected seismic wave characteristics

b) Fourier spectrum

3. Internal force analysis of metro station structure

Fig. 4 to Fig. 5 are the time-history curves of the arch bending moment and axial force of the metro station at the time of earthquake and earthquake. Table 2 shows the peak value of the dynamic internal force of each typical position of the metro station structure with or without buildings under earthquake action.

It can be seen from Fig. 4 to Fig. 5 and Table 2 that the existence of the surface buildings has a great influence on the internal forces of the station vault and the arch waist, and the influence on the internal forces of the arch springing, the inverted arch, the station floor and the column is not obvious, that is, the impact of surface buildings on the seismic response of metro stations is mainly above the station hall level. The existence of surface buildings increased the peak value of the vault bending moment of the metro station by 41.0 %, the average level of the dynamic bending moment increased from 200 kN·m/m to 400 kN·m/m; the peak value of the axial force increased by 5.8 %. The average level of the dynamic axial force increased from –700 kN/m to –950 kN/m. The influence of surface construction on the bending moment at the station vault is much more significant than that of the axial force, and the influence on the peak value of the bending moment is 7.10 times that of the influence on the peak value of the axial force.

Fig. 4Time history curve of bending moment of metro station vault

Time history curve of bending moment of metro station vault

Fig. 5Time history curve of axial force of metro station vault

Time history curve of axial force of metro station vault

Fig. 6 to Fig. 7 are the time curves of the bending moment and the axial force of the right arch waist of the metro station when there is no construction under earthquake.

Fig. 6Time history curve of bending moment of right arch waist of metro station

Time history curve of bending moment of right arch waist of metro station

Fig. 7Time history curve of right arch waist of metro station

Time history curve of right arch waist of metro station

It can be seen from Fig. 6 to Fig. 7 and Table 2 that the presence of surface buildings increases the peak bending moment of the right arch waist of the metro station by 11.2 %, and the average level of the dynamic bending moment increases from 80 kN·m/m to 100 kN·m/m; the axial force peak increased by 36.0 %, and the average horizontal force increased from –1400 kN/m to –2400 kN/m. The influence on the peak force of the arch waist is 3.2 times that of the peak of the bending moment. The left arch waist also exhibits the same characteristics as the right arch waist. Therefore, the influence of surface buildings on the axial force of the arch waist of the metro station is much larger than the bending moment. This is contrary to the influence of the surface buildings on the vault of the subway station under the action of earthquakes.

Table 2Peak internal force of subway station structure in earthquake

Part of the station
Internal force name
Without buildings
With buildings
Influence level
Vault
Bending moment (kN·m/m)
351
495
Increased by 41.0 %
Axial force (kN/m)
–1632
–1726
Increased by 5.8 %
Right arch shoulder
Bending moment (kN·m/m)
–226.5
–325.2
Increased by 44.0 %
Axial force (kN/m)
–3700
–4550
Increased by 23.0 %
Left arch shoulder
Bending moment (kN·m/m)
–242
–297
Increased by 23.0 %
Axial force (kN/m)
–3460
–3890
Increased by 12.4 %
Right arch waist
Bending moment (kN·m/m)
–125
–139
Increased by 11.2 %
Axial force (kN/m)
–2030
–2750
Increased by 36.0 %
Left arch waist
Bending moment (kN·m/m)
–174
–149
Decreased by 14.4 %
Axial force (kN/m)
–2040
–2650
Increased by 30.0 %
Right arch springing
Bending moment (kN·m/m)
–744
–768
Changed by 3.2 %
Axial force (kN/m)
–4680
–4920
Changed by 5.2 %
Left arch springing
Bending moment (kN·m/m)
–1058
–1071
Changed by 1.2 %
Axial force (kN/m)
–5629
–5648
Changed by 0.3 %
Inverted arch center
Bending moment (kN·m/m)
491
533
Increased by 8.5 %
Axial force (kN/m)
–1284
–1235
Changed by 3.8 %
Right end of left beam in station hall
Bending moment (kN·m)
264
267
Changed by 1.1 %
Axial force (kN)
3700
3520
Changed by 4.9 %
Shearing force (kN)
97
99
Changed by 2.1 %

4. Structural bias analysis of metro station

From the analysis results, the bending moment value and the axial force value of the structure of the same position of the subway station are extracted, and the ratio of the two is the time-history curve of the eccentricity. The influence of surface buildings on the bending moment of the station vault is much more significant than that to the axial force, and the influence on the axial force of the arch waist is much greater than that on the bending moment.

Fig. 8 to Fig. 9 show the eccentricity time-history curves of the metro station vault and the right arch waist when there are no surface buildings.

It can be seen that the existence of the surface building increases the eccentricity of the vault of the subway station and the eccentricity of the arch waist decreases. Analyzing the force mechanism, the arch structure above the metro station platform can be regarded as arched beam, the arch waist is regarded as the fixed support of the beam, the surface building is regarded as the vertical load, and the vertical load on the middle of the beam span significantly increases the bending moment at the middle of the beam, but has less influence on the axial force at the middle of the beam, and meanwhile has a greater influence on the axial force of the support, but less influence on the bending moment.

Fig. 8Time-history curve of eccentricity of metro station vault

Time-history curve of eccentricity of metro station vault

Fig. 9Time-history curve of eccentricity of right arch waist in metro station

Time-history curve of eccentricity of right arch waist in metro station

5. Influence of surrounding rock classification

In order to study the influence of surface buildings on the seismic response of metro stations under different surrounding rock conditions, the seismic response of the Grade III and V surrounding rock conditions is also analyzed, and compared with the results of the Grade IV surrounding rock analysis.

Fig. 10Time-history curve of crown moment of station in Grade III surrounding rock

Time-history curve of crown moment of station in Grade III surrounding rock

Fig. 11Time-history curve of the axial force at the crown of station in Grade III surrounding rock

Time-history curve of the axial force at the crown of station in Grade III surrounding rock

Fig. 12Time-history curve of bending moment at the crown of station in Grade V surrounding rock

Time-history curve of bending moment at the crown of station in Grade V surrounding rock

Fig. 13Time-history curve of the axial force at the crown of station in Grade V surrounding rock

Time-history curve of the axial force at the crown of station in Grade V surrounding rock

Figs. 10-13 are the time-history curves of the vault bending moment and axial force of the metro station at the conditions of the III and V surrounding rock with and without the surface buildings. Table 3 shows the comparison of the internal force peak of typical positions of metro stations with and without surface structures under different surrounding rock conditions.

Comparing and analyzing of Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Figs. 10-13, and Table 3, it can be seen that:

1) Whether the surface building exists or not, as the surrounding rock level decreases, the internal force of the station structure gradually decreases. Taking the vault axial force of the metro station as an example, under the conditions of surrounding rock of Grade V, Grade IV and Grade III, the values are –2669 kN/m, –1632 kN/m and –858 kN/m respectively without surface buildings. The values are –3814 kN/m, –1726 kN/m and –894 kN/m respectively with surface buildings, and the axial force all decreases with the decrease of surrounding rock grade.

2) The smaller the surrounding rock grade, that is, the better the surrounding rock, the smaller the influence range of the surface building on the station structure. Under the conditions of surrounding rock at all levels, the influence of surface buildings is mainly reflected in the above area of the station hall.

3) Under the condition of Grade V surrounding rock, the surface construction not only has a great influence on the internal forces of the station vault and the arch waist, but also has a significant influence on the internal forces of the arch springing, the inverted arch and the beams of the station hall, that is, under the condition of Grade V surrounding rock, the influence of the adjacent surface buildings has reached the entire station structure.

Table 3Comparison of peak internal force of station structure

Compared Items
Surrounding
rock grade
With buildings
Without buildings
Influence level
Vault bending moment
(kN·m/m)
III
241
128
Increased by 88.3 %
IV
495
351
Increased by 40.9 %
V
807
402
Increased by 100.7 %
Vault axial force (kN/m)
III
–894
–858
Increased by 4.2 %
IV
–1726
–1632
Increased by 5.7 %
V
–3814
–2669
Increased by 42.9 %
Bending moment
of right arch shoulder (kN·m/m)
III
–101
–74
Increased by 36.5 %
IV
–325
–226
Increased by 43.8 %
V
–523
–406
Increased by 28.8 %
Axial force of right
arch shoulder (kN/m)
III
–3134
–2554
Increased by 22.7 %
IV
–4550
–3700
Increased by 22.9 %
V
–5041
–3825
Increased by 31.8 %
Bending moment of right
arch waist (kN·m/m)
III
–104
–132
Decreased by 21.2 %
IV
–139
–125
Increased by 11.2 %
V
–165
183
Axial force
of right arch waist
(kN/m)
III
–1950
–1465
Increased by 33.1 %
IV
–2750
–2030
Increased by 35.5 %
V
–5094
–3625
Increased by 40.5 %
Bending moment of right arch springing
(kN·m/m)
III
–179
–164
Increased by 9.1 %
IV
–768
–744
Increased by 3.2 %
V
–1591
–1696
Decreased by 6.2 %
Axial force of right
arch springing
(kN/m)
III
–3958
–3826
Increased by 3.5 %
IV
–4920
–4680
Increased by 5.1 %
V
–6853
–6012
Increased by 14.0 %
Bending moment of inverted
arch center (kN·m/m)
III
254
241
Increased by 5.4 %
IV
533
491
Increased by 8.5 %
V
1244
1151
Increased by 8.1 %
Axial force of inverted
arch center (kN/m)
III
–844
–882
Decreased by 4.3 %
IV
–1235
–1284
Decreased by 3.8 %
V
–3979
–3307
Increased by 20.3 %
Bending moment of right end
of left beam in station hall
(kN·m)
III
146
142
Changed within 5 %
IV
267
264
Changed within 5 %
V
458
473
Changed within 5 %
Axial force of Right end of left
beam in station hall (kN)
III
2322
2693
Decreased by 13.7 %
IV
3520
3700
Decreased by 4.9 %
V
4968
1868
Increased by 166.0 %

6. Conclusions

1) The influence of surface buildings on the internal force of the metro station structure is mainly manifested in range above the station hall floor. The influence of the surface buildings on the bending moment of the station vault is more significant than the axial force, and the influence on the axial force of the arch waist is more significant than that of the bending moment.

2) The presence of the building increases the eccentricity of the station vault and reduces the eccentricity at the arch waist, which is related to the force mechanism of the station structure.

3) The better the surrounding rock, the smaller the internal force of the station structure, and the less obvious the amplifying effect of the surface building on the internal force of the station structure, and the smaller the scope of influence.

4) From the Grade V surrounding rock to the Grade III surrounding rock, the amplification effect of the surface structure on the internal force of the station structure gradually reduces. Taking the station vault bending moment as an example, under the condition of Grade V, Grade IV and Grade III surrounding rock, the amplification coefficients of the internal forces of the surface structures to the station structure are 2.01, 1.88 and 1.41, respectively.

5) In order to improve the seismic performance of subway station, some effective measures were discussed and can be considered during seismic design:

6) Under the action of earthquakes, the presence of surface buildings increases the bending moment and axial force at the vault and the arch waist. According to the results of numerical simulation, the seismic performance of the lining structure can be improved by optimizing the design of the concrete and steel of the lining structure.

7) Similarly, subway stations under poor surrounding rock also need to improve the design requirements for secondary lining, and adopt concrete and steel with higher strength to ensure the safety of the station structure.

References

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About this article

Received
04 January 2019
Accepted
08 July 2019
Published
15 February 2020
SUBJECTS
Seismic engineering and applications
Keywords
surface building
shallow buried subway station
seismic response
structural internal force
surrounding rock
Acknowledgements

This research is funded by the Science and Technology Plan Project “Study on the unloading mechanism and excavation method optimization of surrounding rock of metro station in mountainous city” of China Construction Traffic Construction Group Co., Ltd.

Author Contributions

Wenliang Huang simplified and then established the model by FLAC 3D based on the actual structural form and dimensions of the surface building. Tao Liu conducted an internal force analysis of the dynamic response of the structure under earthquake action and conducted a comparative analysis of the structural internal forces with and without the surface building. Yan referred to the domestic and foreign research dynamics, determined the research method of numerical simulation, and used FLAC 3D to establish the model of the structure. Han Wang conducted the structural bias analysis of the subway station with and without the surface building. Liangjian Zhong conducted the structural bias analysis of the subway station with and without the surface building, made the layout and polished the paper. Xiaoguang Jin analyzed the influence of surrounding rock classification on the structural dynamic response to the earthquake action and drew some conclusions.