Abstract: Three aspects of state\|of\|the\|art research on shield tunnel model tests are reviewed in this paper. These aspects are: displacement and stress changes in the underground strata; stability of excavated faces and pressures on the supporting structures, and stratum adaptability of tunnel excavations. Limitations existing in the shield tunnel conventional and centrifuge model tests are also discussed. Based on the success of the synthesis of a transparent soil, a new model test system is presented. This new system consists of a plexiglass shield model, an optical measurement device and a Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) digital image processing system. The improved system can be used to study ground movements and the stability of the excavated faces due to the shield tunneling.  

Key words:  , tunnel, model tests, transparent soils, underground displacements