Mechanical behavior of water ingress process for the locally damaged submerged floating tunnel and its interpretation: A full-length experimental study

The submerged floating tunnel (SFT) is an innovative transportation solution for traversing deep-water regions. However, local damage and subsequent water ingress pose significant threats to the structural integrity and safety of SFTs. This critical issue has been unexplored in the field. This study addresses this gap by presenting a comprehensive experimental investigation using a full-length physical model of the SFT. The dynamic response and failure mechanisms caused by water ingress within the SFT tube, influenced by various factors such as immersion depth, damaged opening angle, damaged opening area, and external connectivity, are systematically investigated. The results indicate that the failure of the anchor cable and tube structure of the SFT progresses through three stages after water ingress occurs in the damaged SFT. It is observed that damage closer to the bottom of the tube reduces the risk of failure in the mooring system. Notably, air pressure is a critical factor influencing the water ingress into the tube body. The attenuation of cable tension and tube deformation is significantly slower when the internal air is isolated from the external environment. The proposed novel structural sealing segmental disaster prevention design scheme substantially mitigates the risk of structural damage under compromised conditions and water ingress. This study provides valuable insights into enhancing disaster prevention strategies for SFTs and advances the understanding of their mechanical behavior in response to damage and water ingress.