A New Combined Splicing Joint for Shield Segment.

Tunnel accidents caused by water leakage are closely related to the segmental joints, and it is therefore significant to control joint deformation. The traditional segmental joints cannot provide sufficient stiffness and strength in complex geological conditions. To solve these problems, in this study, a type of plug-in joint (composed of a sleeve and a pin) was added to the traditional segmental joints and worked in conjunction with the bolts to form a new type of combined splicing joint. The combined splicing joint was tested under four-point bending conditions. Results show that the combined splicing joint can improve the bending stiffness and load capacity of the structure. The number and position of the plug-in joints clearly affect the load capacity of the segmental joint. This study then develops an analytical method to predict the load capacity and bending stiffness of the combined splicing joints. The new combined splicing joint can effectively reduce the deformation of the segmental joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]