International Journal of Engineering

International Journal of Engineering

Geological Evaluation of Undersea Tunnel Excavation in Fault Fracture Zones Based on On-Site Drilling Tests

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Y. Guo 1
W. Qi 1
H. Zhou 2
G. Zhang 3
H. Liu 4
1 Qingdao Conson Second Jiaozhou Bay Subsea Tunnel CO., LTD., Qingdao, China
2 School of Transportation Engineering, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan, China
3 Shandong Institute of Highway Technican, Jinan, China
4 CCCC Tunnel Engineering Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
10.5829/ije.2026.39.08b.10
Abstract
Geological risk assessment is crucial for ensuring construction safety in undersea tunnel projects, particularly when traversing structurally complex fault zones. This study quantifies the hydrogeological and geomechanical risks associated with the Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Second Undersea Tunnel crossing of the Cangkou Fault Zone and develops targeted mitigation strategies based on empirical data. Comprehensive field investigations—including water pressure tests (maximum: 48.38 Lu), pumping tests (permeability coefficient K = 6.74–14.56 m/d), and hydraulic fracturing stress measurements (σHmax = 4.57 MPa, N67°E orientation)—revealed two primary challenges: high-permeability fracture networks and anisotropic in situ stress conditions (lateral stress coefficients λ = 1.2–1.8). The results indicate that conventional grouting techniques are inadequate under these conditions, prompting the implementation of an 8-m full-section grouting design. This method effectively penetrates fracture networks and reinforces the surrounding rock mass upon solidification. Key limitations include the localized nature of the drill core data (limited to five core samples) and the assumption of homogeneous fracture distribution beyond the sampled zones. These findings provide an actionable framework for fault-zone tunneling in similar coastal geological settings.

Graphical Abstract

Geological Evaluation of Undersea Tunnel Excavation in Fault Fracture Zones Based on On-Site Drilling Tests
Keywords
Subsea Tunnel Engineering
Fault Zone Hydrogeology
Geological Hazard Assessment
Grouting Techniques
Stress Conditions

Subjects

  1. Shahmardani M, Mirzapour J, Gheyratmand C, Tariverdilo S. Moving load analysis of submerged floating tunnels. International Journal of Engineering, Transactions C: Aspects. 2012;25(1):17-24. https://10.5829/idosi.ije.2012.25.01c.03
  2. Tuchiya Y, Kurakawa T, Matsunaga T, Kudo T. Research on the long-term behaviour and evaluation of lining concrete of the Seikan Tunnel. Soils and foundations. 2009;49(6):969-80. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf.49.969
  3. Xun X, Zhang J, Yuan Y. Multi-information fusion based on BIM and intuitionistic fuzzy DS evidence theory for safety risk assessment of undersea tunnel construction projects. Buildings. 2022;12(11):1802. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12111802
  4. Yang Y, Du Z, Jiao F, Pan F. Analysis of EEG characteristics of drivers and driving safety in undersea tunnel. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2021;18(18):9810. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189810
  5. Wang C, Yu Y, Kou B. Summary of marine in-situ testing methods. Ocean Development and Management. 2017;34(1):81-6. https://doi.org/10.20016/j.cnki.hykfygl.2017.01.016
  6. Liu W, Ren Y, Meng X. Study on the evolution law of rock microstructure under loading and unloading water pressure. Materials Letters. 2024;365:136444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2024.136444
  7. H. J. Analysis of Calculation Method of Pumping Test Parameters Based on AquiferTest. Hydrogeology & Engineering Geology. 2011;38:35-8. https://doi.org/10.16030/j.cnki.issn.1000-3665.2011.02.029
  8. Wen S ZL, Yuan Y, Zhang J. . Risk Analysis on Water Inflow in Deep Buried Tunnel Based on Water Pressure Test and Measurement of Fractures. Journal of Henan University (Natural Science). 2011;41:645–8. https://doi.org/10.15991/j.cnki.411100.2011.06.014
  9. Chang P-Y, Chang L-C, Hsu S-Y, Tsai J-P, Chen W-F. Estimating the hydrogeological parameters of an unconfined aquifer with the time-lapse resistivity-imaging method during pumping tests: Case studies at the Pengtsuo and Dajou sites, Taiwan. Journal of Applied Geophysics. 2017;144:134-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2017.06.014
  10. Y. K. Drilling and Technological Measures for Tunnels under Sea at Entrance of Qingdao Bay. Railway Investigation and Surveying. 2006:38–41. https://doi.org/10.19630/j.cnki.tdkc.2006.06.013
  11. Li S, Zhao Y, Xu B, Li L, Liu Q, Wang Y. Study of determining permeability coefficient in water inrush numerical calculation of subsea tunnel. Rock and Soil Mechanics. 2012;33(5):1497-505. https://doi.org/10.16285/j.rsm.2012.05.035
  12. He L, Huang Y, Meng C, Siwei M, Jiaping T. Practice and development suggestions of hydraulic fracturing technology in the Gulong shale oil reservoirs of Songliao Basin, NE China. Petroleum Exploration and Development. 2023;50(3):688-98. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(23)60420-3
  13. Q. W. Application of Hydraulic Fracturing Technology in Large-Section Gas Outburst Tunnels. Plant Maintenance Engineering. 2016:97–9. https://doi.org/10.16621/j.cnki.issn1001-0599.2016.05.43
  14. Yu S, Ren X, Zhang J, Wang H, Sun Z. An improved smoothed particle hydrodynamics method and its application in rock hydraulic fracture modelling. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. 2021;54(12):6039-55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-021-02594-w
  15. Zhang Y, Zhang J, Yuan B, Yin S. In-situ stresses controlling hydraulic fracture propagation and fracture breakdown pressure. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering. 2018;164:164-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2018.01.050
  16. Zhang Q, Huang B, He M, Guo S. A numerical investigation on the hydraulic fracturing effect of water inrush during tunnel excavation. Geofluids. 2020;2020(1):6196327. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/6196327
  17. Yin Y, Jiang H, Zhang J, Lu G, Li Q. The influence of rock thermal stress on the morphology and expansion pattern of the plastic zone in the surrounding rock of a deep-buried tunnel under high geothermal temperature conditions. Applied Sciences. 2024;14(17):7589. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14177589
  18. Liu T, Huang H, Yan Z, Tang X, Liu H. A case study on key techniques for long-distance sea-crossing shield tunneling. Marine Georesources & Geotechnology. 2020;38(7):786-803. https://doi.org/10.1080/1064119X.2019.1630871
  19. Zhou Z, Tan Z, Liu Q, Zhao J, Dong Z. Experimental investigation on mechanical characteristics of waterproof system for near-sea tunnel: a case study of the Gongbei Tunnel. Symmetry. 2020;12(9):1524. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym12091524
  20. Gu Z, Zhu L, Zhong J. Modern undersea tunneling technology and the undersea tunnel across Taiwan Strait. Marine Georesources and Geotechnology. 2004;22(3):151-64. https://doi.org/10.1080/10641190490503980
  21. Wang C, Liu Z, Dong Z, Zhang F, Ma C, Xu X, et al. Comprehensive Application of Borehole Fine Detection Methods: A Case Study in Shantou Bay Subsea Tunnel. Geofluids. 2024;2024(1):5546191. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/5546191
  22. Zhang J, Chen J, Lei J, Xiong J, Nie X, Gong D, et al. Kaiser acoustic emission ground stress testing study on shale oil reservoir in Y block of Ordos basin, China. Scientific Reports. 2025;15(1):12038.
  23. Pei Q, Wu C, Ding X, Huang S. A weight factor-based backward method for estimating ground stress distribution from the point measurements. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment. 2023;82(9):365. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-023-03353-7
  24. Zhao Y, Liu Q, Liao J, Wang Y, Tang L. Theoretical and numerical models of rock wing crack subjected to hydraulic pressure and far-field stresses. Arabian Journal of Geosciences. 2020;13(18):926. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05957-9
  25. Fan Q, Sun H, Meng Z, Wang Y. Stability Monitoring and Numerical Simulation of Weathering Transition Zones in Dam Slopes of Tropical Islands. Applied Sciences. 2025;15(8):4499.
  26. Khadri S, Moharir K. Characterization of aquifer parameter in basaltic hard rock region through pumping test methods: a case study of Man River basin in Akola and Buldhana Districts Maharashtra India. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment. 2016;2(1):33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-015-0047-9
  27. Hasan M, Shang Y, Jin W, Akhter G. Estimation of hydraulic parameters in a hard rock aquifer using integrated surface geoelectrical method and pumping test data in southeast Guangdong, China. Geosciences Journal. 2021;25(2):223-42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-020-0018-7
  28. Petrakov D, Loseva A, Jafarpour H, Penkov G. Experimental evaluation of effective chemical composition on reservoir quality of bottomhole zone of low permeability terrigenous reservoirs. International Journal of Engineering, Transactions B: Applications. 2024;37(8):1547-55. https://doi.org/10.5829/ije.2024.37.08b.08
  29. Sekhar A, Abraham BM, Santhoshkumar T, Jose BT. Effect of Initial Water Content of Grout on Permeability of Grouted Sandy Soils. Indian Geotechnical Journal. 2025;55(2):816-26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-024-00943-4
  30. Pegah E, Liu H, Dastanboo N. Evaluation of the lateral earth pressure coefficients at-rest in granular soil deposits using the anisotropic components of S-wave velocity. Engineering Geology. 2017;230:55-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2017.09.020
  31. El Kamash W, El Naggar H, Nagaratnam S. Novel adaptation of Marston''s stress solution for inclined backfilled stopes. Alexandria Engineering Journal. 2022;61(10):8221-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2022.01.058
  32. Dong J, Chen F, Zhou M, Zhou X. Numerical analysis of the boundary effect in model tests for single pile under lateral load. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment. 2018;77(3):1057-68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-017-1182-5
  33. Zhou G, Liu H, Lian X, Huo T, Han X. A monitoring method for lateral pressure coefficient based on inversion calculation of deep radial displacement in roadway surrounding rock. Measurement. 2025;248:116898. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2025.116898
  34. Xu Y, Yu Y, Yao W, Xia K, Tang J, Zhan Z. Dynamic failure characteristics of surrounding rocks under different lateral pressure coefficients in deep tunnel transient excavation. Geomechanics and Geophysics for Geo-energy and Geo-resources. 2023;9(1):17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-023-00563-x
  35. Manimaran A, Seenu S, Ravichandran P. Stimulation behaviour study on clay treated with ground granulated blast slag and groundnutshell ash. International Journal of Engineering Transactions B: Applications. 2019;32(5):673-8. https://doi.org/10.5829/ije.2019.32.05b.08
  36. Guo Y, Wang X, Liu H, Liu Y-n, Ma C, Li Z, et al., editors. Research on Pre-grouting Strengthening Technology of Shallow and Large Section Metro Tunnel through Fault Fracture Zone. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science; 2018: IOP Publishing.
  37. China NSCGoPsRo. GB50487–2008 Code for engineering geological investigation of water resources and hydropower. China Planning Press Beijing; 2009.
  38. Matsuo S. An overview of the Seikan tunnel project. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology. 1986;1(3-4):323-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/0886-7798(86)90015-5
  39. ASTM C A. Standard Specification for Silica Fume Used in Cementitious Mixtures, West Conshohocken. Pa. 2015.
  40. Press BCC. JTG/T 3660-2020, Technical specifications for highway tunnel construction. 2020.
International Journal of Engineering
Volume 39, Issue 8
TRANSACTIONS B: Applications
August 2026
Pages 1893-1907