Abstract: This paper presents a case study of the design aspects of a shielded tunnel for the Kunming subway system. The proposed shielded tunnel is crossing the railway train station. The ground settlement induced by this proposed shielded tunnel was simulated by both two and three dimensional numerical approaches. The analytical results are compared with the observed settlement values. This paper also discusses the impact of the shielded tunnel construction on the adjacent structures and measures minimizing the adverse effects.

Key words: shielded tunnel, underpass, railway tracks, ground settlements