TUNNELS

Seismic services include:

SEISMIC AND EARTHQUAKE
1 Resilience- and Risk-Based Design
ENGINEERING FOR TUNNELS 2 Site Characterization – Code & Site-Specific
Extreme climate and geological events are rare and as 3 Seismic Hazard Analysis
such they occur without being anticipated. When they do 4 Liquefaction Analysis & Mitigation
happen, however, these low-probability events can have 5 Soil-Structure Interaction (SSI) Analysis
potentially disastrous impacts on infrastructure systems. 6 Development of SSI Springs and Dashpots
Urban centers are particularly vulnerable, as we were 7 Risk Assessment – PML (Probable Max Loss)
reminded during Hurricane Sandy in New York City (NYC), Studies
the Canterbury earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, 8 Time Histories Generation for Structural Analysis
the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami of 2011 in Japan, the 9 Settlement Modeling and Evaluation
2016 Muisne earthquake, in Ecuador and the 2017 Puebla- 10 Ground Improvement and Geo-Hazard Mitigation
Morelos earthquake in Mexico City. 11 Fault Characterization
PUTTING OUR EXPERIENCE 12 Numerical Non-linear Modeling and Analysis
TO WORK FOR YOU 13 Non-Structural Components
14 Underground Infrastructure (Tunnels, Pipelines)
WSP routinely addresses the need to incorporate seismic
15 Critical Facilities (Hospitals, Schools, Nuclear,
engineering, resiliency, and sustainability in the design and
Ports)
retrofitting of tunnels and underground facilities. This
involves cross-disciplinary interactions with planners,
16 Visualization and Instrumentation Technologies
architects, environmental scientists, owners, decision 17 Performance-Based Design Criteria and
makers, and the affected public at large. Implementation
18 Code Criteria and Guidelines Development
When adequately safeguarded, tunnels are generally
19 Emergency Planning and Training
considered among the safest structures during earthquakes,
because as flexible embedded structures they tend to move 20 SPEED – Support Decision Platform for
with the soil shaking. The good performance of tunnels in EnginEering Decisions
earthquake has been demonstrated in extensive studies for GROUND “RACKING” DEFORMATION
both rock and soft soils. That said, there are still potential
vulnerabilities from earthquakes that our practice addresses As seismic waves travel upwards from the bedrock to the
with thorough site characterization and site-specific studies. surface, the ground deforms and may impose deformations
onto tunnel structures. The impact depends on the free-field

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ground deformation and the relative stiffness between the
surrounding soil and the tunnel structure, best represented
as a soil-structure interaction problem. WSP has developed
the simplified method that is extensively used for the effects
of “racking” due to wave passage effects (Wang, J., 1995). In
addition, it is crucial to consider the differential kinematic
deformations that could occur when the tunnel passes from
stiffer to softer ground, or connects to other more rigid
structures.
TECTONIC ACTION
AND GROUND INSTABILITY
Active faults must be mapped geologically in detail, including
their activity rate and potential of an energy release within
the tunnel’s life cycle. The presence of geologic
discontinuities that do not have recent tectonic activity can
be addressed as the transitions of layers rather than as an
active fault feature. Large ground movements caused by
slope instability, landslides, or liquefaction may cause great
damage to a tunnel that penetrates this vulnerable soil. WSP
has implemented various techniques in tunnel design to
address active and dormant faults.
LIQUEFACTION AND GROUND FAILURE
The potential of seismic liquefaction and subsequent loss of
strength is a problem that was addressed with a state of
practice about this topic, after the 2017 National Academy of
Sciences consensus. Following an evaluation of the potential
of the soil surrounding the tunnel to liquefy using field
testing calibration and advanced cyclic lab testing, we
address the possible consequences of this hazard to the
overall soil-structure system by providing solutions to target
TUNNELS
the desired performance objectives, including the potential
of ground improvement or structural measures to prevent
the potential liquefaction on the tunnel structure.
TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN DESIGN
Globally, the WSP approach to tunnelling design is moving
towards a new mindset that addresses the threats of extreme
earthquake, multi-hazard, and man-made events in an
infrastructure system by incorporating resiliency and “fail-
safe” capabilities that allow continuing operation or quick
return to service in the event of an incident.
Our in-house, pioneering, resiliency-based approach
addresses tunnel design and operation at a component level
as well as at the overall associated infrastructure level.
Combining multi-hazard risk assessment, advanced
numerical modelling and 3D imaging, instrumentation, and
novel technologies in a real-time integrated platform, we
offer tailored solutions that mitigate and manage risk,
enhancing the tunnel’s resilience in order to ensure better
anticipation of disasters, reduced disaster losses, and faster
recovery after an event. Life-long monitoring and re-
assessment within life cycle considerations, in combination
with an emergency plan that can be activated through
monitoring by the owner/user are integral parts of our
design philosophy.
WSP IN ACTION
Some of our recent projects subjected to potential major
seismic events include the Eurasia Tunnel in Istanbul Turkey.
The tunnel is only 16 km off the major active north Anatolian
fault that has been known to generate earthquakes with
magnitudes up to 7.25 on the Richter scale and so our design
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 TUNNELS

incorporated two seismic joints. For the BART Tunnel across

San Francisco Bay, we designed and implemented seismic
retrofitting measures to deal with potential future
earthquakes, including ground improvement measures to
reduce the risk of liquefaction. For the Alaskan Way Tunnel
in Seattle and for the San Francisco Central Subway, the
design incorporated measures to deal with the seismic forces
that could potentially be applied to the underground
structures.

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