Three-dimensional Analysis And Segmental Model Experimental Investigation Of Submerged Floating Tunnel

The submerged floating tunnel (SFT), an innovative structural typology, is used to cross waterway, such as strait, lake, fjord, etc. The main components of submerged floating tunnel are: tube floating at some depth below the water surface, anchoring and shore connection. Due to the major benefit of the short passing time, very low environmental impact, the freedom of choosing construction site, and environmental protection, etc., the submerged floating tunnel is attracting more and more attentions form various countries and researchers.With the motorway, ventilation cell, the emergency cell and leak resistance cell, the cross section of submerged floating tunnel is very complicated. Furthermore, the loads and working environment of the submerged floating tunnel are also intricated. Therefore, the virtual laminated element method was used to analyze the submerged floating tunnel. The segmental model experimental investigation of the submerged floating tunnel in the Jintang strait was carried out. There was a good agreement between the numerical results and the experimental results. It was found that the virtual laminated element could effectively describe the complicated cross section of the submerged floating tunnel, and the relatively satisfactory spatial stresses could be obtained by fewer virtual laminated elements.Finally, the virtual laminated element method was employed in the analysis of the 2900 meters long submerged floating tunnel in the Jintang strait, which is 2900 meters long. Moreover, the turbulent around the tube was simulated by RNG K-ε turbulent model. Some useful conclusions on the cross section design of the submerged floating tunnel in the Jintang strait were gained by three-dimensional analysis and segmental model experimental investigation, and a few helpful advice on the concept design of the submerged floating tunnel in the Jintang strait was presented.