Nonlinear static analyses for the seismic design of shallow tunnels

This paper introduces and validates a novel method for evaluating seismic-induced internal forces in the lining of a shallow circular tunnel. The method employs a static nonlinear analysis, typically used for structural systems, applied specifically to tunnels. In this decoupled approach seismic demand is represented by an elastic response spectrum, while seismic capacity is determined by applying horizontal static forces to the same numerical plane strain model used for the static design. The study outlines the key steps of the method and its effectiveness by comparing the results with time-domain dynamic analyses of the soil-tunnel model.