Análisis del fallo de la cimentación de un túnelDiseño y justificación de una solución constructiva

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a forensic analysis of a tunnel above which an embankment was built that served as a roadbed. The joint tunnel�embankmen t structure is located on the outskirts of the town of Piedrafita in northwestern Spain. The tunnel channels the course of the River Vilela in its crossing of the afore- mentioned road.This article presents a detailed report of the problem, including the damage caused to the struc- ture of the tunnel and the embankment, and it presents the measur ements taken, the determination of the origin of the problem and finally a constructive solution is proposed. For this determination, a numer ical simulation of the joint tunnel�embankment�ground structure was conducted on the basis of the data obtained from tests car- ried out both in situ and in the laboratory. The study wa s complemented by an analysis performed using classi- cal methods that confirmed that the m ovements detected in the overall stru cture were caused by the collapse of the foundations. The uniqueness of the study presented in this paper lies in the failure analysis and in the rein- forcement of the tunnel structure proposed that it is consistent with the re asons for such failure.