Gravitational stress field around a tunnel in soft ground

Abstract
The finite element method has been used for determining the stress distribution and the displacements due to gravity around an unlined tunnel driven through a semi-infinite medium, characterized by three idealized material behaviors reflecting approximately a short term behavior of natural undisturbed insensitive and sensitive clays. The knowledge of stress and displacement fields around an unlined tunnel can be used for evaluating the need for supports according to the acceptability of expected deformations.