ABSTRACT
This paper presents the field observations and the results of the application of finite elements models to the construction of the Paraiso tunnel of the S. Paulo metro system. This shallow tunnel, excavated in clayey formations exhibiting a wide range of strength and deformability, has been well-documented by Brazilian authors in a number of studies. The calculations involved three-dimensional analyses with a careful simulation of the entire construction sequence. The mechanical behaviour of the soil was reproduced by using two distinct constitutive laws: the simple elastic perfectly plastic model and the elasto-plastic model developed by Lade (1977, 1979). The observed behaviour is compared with the numerical results. Some conclusions are extracted concerning the limitations and capabilities of the constitutive soil models employed.
