Thermo-temporal behavior of a high geothermal tunnel throughout the construction process

Abstract

Understanding temperature field evolution during construction is essential for thermal control in high-geothermal tunnels. In this study, field monitoring was conducted to obtain the distributions of rock temperature (T_R), ambient temperature (T_e), and wind speed (v_w), while laboratory tests were performed to characterize the temperature-dependent thermal properties of surrounding rock, initial shotcrete, and secondary lining concrete. Based on tunnel ventilation conditions, a transient heat transfer model incorporating the thermo-temporal effect (TTE) of material thermal properties was developed and validated through numerical simulations. The results show: (1) The surrounding rock, initial shotcrete, and secondary lining concrete all exhibit clear temperature-dependent thermal behavior. Their specific heat capacity increases with temperature, while the thermal diffusivity decreases across all materials. In contrast, thermal conductivity shows material-dependent trends, remaining nearly constant in the surrounding rock but increasing significantly in both concrete types. (2) The influences of T_R, T_e, and W_v on peak tunnel temperature, peak heat dissipation, and the temperature difference between the lining center and edge were quantified, revealing distinct response patterns across construction stages. (3) Compared with constant-property models, the proposed TTE model reduces the prediction error of secondary lining temperature by 17.6%. Additionally, a multivariate prediction model was developed, enabling accurate estimation of temperature extremes and heat dissipation demands during construction.

Keywords

High geothermal tunnel / Thermo-temporal behavior / Unsteady thermal properties / Temperature field evolution / Influencing factors analysis

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