Numerical Evaluation of Symmetric Prism Method to Analyze the Splitting Forces Due to TBM Jack Loads

Final lining in mechanized excavation includes the precast concrete segments. These segments are designed for applied loads during construction, moving, depot, assembling in the tunnel and service loads that are affected by earth conditions. One of these loads that are applied to the segments after assembling in the ring, are TBM jack loads especially when the TBM should excavate squeeze zones with single mode. As the jack pad section is smaller than the segment section, it causes splitting loads in the segment. Symmetric prism method is an approximate solution to evaluate these forces. In this paper, calculated results by this method are compared to that of numerical solution by ANSYS software. It shows 10 - 20 percent difference between numerical and analytical results.