Ground deformation induced by the combined effect of suspension and restart cycles of shield machines in soft soil
XIA Zongjun1, 2, LEI Huayang1，3*
(1. School of Civil Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China; 2. The City Construction Company Ltd., China Railway 15th Bureau Group, Luoyang, Henan 471000, China; 3. School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Guangxi University,
Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China)
Abstract：Shield tunneling in soft ground is often interrupted by equipment maintenance, ground improvement at shafts and portals, or unforeseen incidents, which can lead to stress redistribution and associated ground deformation. This paper quantifies the deformation response induced by shield shutdown and restart, with a focus on the superimposed disturbances during the two phases. The study is based on a shutdown-restart event on Tianjin Metro Line 7. A model for the shutdown stage was developed in ABAQUS and validated against field monitoring data. The validated framework was subsequently extended to replicate the complete sequence of face support pressure decay, shield sinking, and TBM restart, facilitating a systematic evaluation of deformation evolution in soft soils. The results indicate that during shutdown, the maximum settlement (Smax) increases to approximately five times its initial value. The extent of settlement influence expands from about 2D (where D is the tunnel diameter) to 5D, and the width of the settlement trough increases from approximately 2D to 4D. Shutdown-induced settlement increases with burial depth and decreases with distance from the excavation face, exhibiting a two-stage temporal pattern characterized by rapid early development followed by slower late-stage growth. During the restart phase, the secondary disturbance is primarily concentrated within the initial advance of 0–4 m; therefore, enhanced monitoring and control are recommended for the early restart segment and near-field sections around the face (approximately ±8 m). These findings provide a theoretical basis for parameter control and monitoring-warnings for shield shutdown-restart operations in soft soil.
夏宗军1，2，雷华阳1，3*. 地铁盾构掘进停机与复推诱发软土地层变形研究[J]. 岩石力学与工程学报, 2026, 45(8): 2413-2423.
XIA Zongjun1, 2, LEI Huayang1，3*. Ground deformation induced by the combined effect of suspension and restart cycles of shield machines in soft soil. , 2026, 45(8): 2413-2423.
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2026, Vol. 45 
