A Taheri - Managing Director, Zaminfanavaran Consulting Engineers (ZAFA), Esfahan, Iran
A. H Haghi - Geotechnical Consultant Engineer, Zaminfanavaran Consulting Engineers (ZAFA), Esfahan, Iran

Recently by Growing the utilization of EPB machines in urban areas, the emphasis of estimation and prediction of the ground settlement has significantly increased. In this paper, first the tunnel face stability pressure for Esfahan metro line was calculated according to the Mohkam method. Then by creating a 3D numerical model using Plaxis 3D Tunnel software and applying these supporting face pressures to the tunnel crown, settlements were pre-calculated and the surface displacement was checked at all instrumentation stations. Finally the concluded amounts for displacement is compared by the outputs of extensometers and this comparison lead us to check the reliability of calculated minimum, average and maximum settlements and the accuracy of the designed tunnel face stability pressure.

tunnel face stability pressure, extensometers, settlements, EPB tunneling