Analysis and Prediction of the Factors Influencing Postconstruction Surface Deformation of Pipe-Jacking Tunnel in Soft Clay Strata in China

During the postconstruction operation period, the engineering structure and operation safety of a pipe-jacking tunnel are more likely to be threatened by the surrounding environment and groundwater when it is located in a soft clay stratum. Surface settlement data related to the construction of 24 rectangular pipe-jacking tunnels in a soft clay stratum in China were collected and analyzed to determine the effect of pipe-jacking tunnel engineering on its deformation based on factors such as structural section form, geotechnical condition, groundwater condition, and buried depth. The postmaximum surface settlement and postformation loss rate were obtained, the correlation coefficients between the postsurface deformation of soft clay strata and various influencing factors were calculated using a software for correlation analysis, and the variation rules for each influencing factor were explored in depth. Subsequently, multiple linear regression methods were used to predict the maximum surface deformation of the pipe-jacking tunnel project in soft clay strata during the postoperation period, and actual engineering cases were verified and analyzed. The results show that the relative buried depth of the pipe-jacking tunnel in soft clay stratum has the greatest influence on the postmaximum ground settlement, followed by the section area of the pipe-jacking tunnel, and the relative height coefficient of groundwater level has the least influence. Under the reduction coefficient of 0.937 − 0.846, a new prediction formula for surface settlement deformation after the construction of the soft clay layer was derived. The error between the formula and the measured data was 9.05%, which can be used as a reference for controlling design parameters to predict the settlement after construction of pipe-jacking engineering.