Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Mechanical Properties of Corrugated Steel Utility Tunnels with Ancillary Structures

Yong Xiao; Le Chen; Yonggan Sun; Qi Zhu

doi:10.13206/j.gjgS26081746

Volume 41 Issue 11

Nov. 2026

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Yong Xiao, Le Chen, Yonggan Sun, Qi Zhu. Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Mechanical Properties of Corrugated Steel Utility Tunnels with Ancillary Structures[J]. STEEL CONSTRUCTION(Chinese & English), 2026, 41(11): 39-52. doi: 10.13206/j.gjgS26081746

Citation:

Yong Xiao, Le Chen, Yonggan Sun, Qi Zhu. Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Mechanical Properties of Corrugated Steel Utility Tunnels with Ancillary Structures[J]. STEEL CONSTRUCTION(Chinese & English), 2026, 41(11): 39-52. doi: 10.13206/j.gjgS26081746

Citation:

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Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Mechanical Properties of Corrugated Steel Utility Tunnels with Ancillary Structures

doi: 10.13206/j.gjgS26081746

Yong Xiao^1,2,
Le Chen^{1,2
,
,},
Yonggan Sun^1,2,
Qi Zhu^1,2

1. College of Civil Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, China;
2. International Innovation Center for Infrastructure Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, China

Funds:

This work was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing， China （CQYC20220101473）；Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission （Grant No. KJZD-M202500701）.

Accepted Date: 2026-08-17

Abstract

Abstract

The utility tunnel is an important infrastructure facility in which corrugated steel structures exhibit significant advantages. An experimental study was conducted on the mechanical properties of a new type of corrugated steel utility tunnel. Subsequently， the connections of its auxiliary structures were analyzed using the finite element method. Finally， a systematic parametric study was conducted on the connections. The results indicated that the mid-span stress of the roof plate in the multi-arch corrugated steel utility tunnel was relatively high， with the presence of a contra-flexure point； the stress of the corner plate was relatively low， with no stress concentration； and the side plate was a compression-flexural member， exhibiting a relatively low overall stress. Vertical deformation was primarily concentrated in the roof plate， while horizontal deformation was significantly smaller than vertical deformation. The thickness of the vent pipe had a significant impact on stress concentration； when the diameter of the vent pipe was 700 mm， the optimal thickness of the vent pipe was 4 mm； the optimal position of the vent pipe was located at the mid-span of the roof plate； and the response of the intermediate part remained almost unchanged when the spacing between two vent pipes was greater than the diameter of the vent pipe.
- corrugated steel utility tunnel,
- structural response,
- auxiliary structures,
- parametric study,
- experimental study

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References(22)

References

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