The use of Eulerian finite element method in face stability analysis of shield tunnels in undrained clay

This article reports the application of the Eulerian FE method in face stability analysis of shield tunnels in undrained clay. Numerical simulation was first conducted under the total stress framework to verify the accuracy of the approach. Then it was extended to effective stress analysis combined with a critical state model, taking complex behaviours (small strain non-linearity) of soil into consideration. The predictions under the two analysis frameworks were compared in detail, which indicated the small strain formulation of the effective stress constitutive model does not influence the solution for the collapse load but may enhance the predictions of deformation.