Ground reaction curve for a phenomenological damage model – case of Algiers metro, Algeria

As urban growth and metro network expansion accelerate, understanding the behavior of underground structures becomes indispensable. This paper aims to analyze the behavior of moderately cohesive soil (clay soil) caused by underground excavation of a metro tunnel and to describe the ground response and damage using the phenomenological damage constitutive model in the convergence-confinement method. We present a detailed description of the employed constitutive soil behavior model, then analyze the excavation behavior and ground reaction using the continuum damage constitutive model. The results authorized us to analyze the evolution of stresses, present the GRC graphically, and assess the damage around the tunnel. The obtained results have provided us with a deeper understanding of the short-term behavior of the structure. Specifically, we have analyzed the influence of damage parameters S and Yd of the damage law, quantified the damage to the ground, and concluded the evolution of stresses and damage around the tunnel.