Numerical modeling of two parallel tunnels interaction using three-dimensional Finite Elements Method

Due to the extension of communication ways (metro, highways, railways), hence, to improve traffic flow imposes often the difficult crossing that generally drive to the construction of underground works (tunnel, water conveyance tunnel...) plays a major role in the redevelopment of urban areas. This study is focused on the assessment of the interaction response of parallel tunnels, so this study uses the results from the simulation of two tunnels to illustrate a few observations that may aid in practical designs. In this article, simultaneous drilling of highway\'s twin tunnels is simulated by means of Finite Element Method (FEM) implemented in Plaxis program. So the treated subject appears in a setting of geotechnical where one can be to construct several tunnels sometimes in a ground of weak mechanical characteristics. The objective of this study is to simulate numerically the interaction effects caused by construction of two parallels tunnels. This is an important factor in the study of the total answer of the problem interaction between parallels underground works. The importance of the effects transmitted is function of several parameters as the type of the works, and the mechanical characteristics (tunnel size, depth, and the relative position between two tunnels, lining thickness...). This article describes numerical analyses of two parallels tunnels interaction. This study will be applied to a real case of a section tunnel T4 of the highway East-West (Algeria); the study presented below comprises a series of numerical simulations of two tunnels using the computer program Plaxis which is used in the analyses is based on Finite Element Method.