Thermal Cracking Behavior and Through-Crack Formation in Immersed Tube Tunnels

During the heating stage, the internal temperature of the tunnel increases, causing thermal expansion of the concrete inside the tunnel, while the concrete outside the tunnel undergoes tensile cracking. During the cooling stage, the internal portion of the tunnel experiences surface cracking. In this alternating pattern of internal and external cracking, immersed tube tunnels are prone to developing through cracks.