Research on applicability of limit state method in lining design of railway tunnel

In order to explore the applicability of the limit state method in tunnel lining design, the limit state method and the damage stage method are used to test the design of railway tunnel lining in this paper, then the test results of the two methods are compared and analyzed. Conclusions are as follows: (1) for concrete lining, the calculation thickness obtained from limit state method is higher than that obtained from damage stage method, and the maximum difference reaches 20cm that means it’s necessary to get the cracking resistance coefficient (γ_d) in the limit state equation recalibrated, and the final value is 1.55; (2) for reinforced concrete lining structure and open-cut tunnel structure, the design results base on the limit state method and damage stage method are basically in agreement which means the value of partial coefficients and adjustment coefficients in the limit state equation of reinforced concrete lining are reasonable; (3) the project investment based on the limit state method when the value of γ_d equals 1.55 and damage stage method are basically the same. In terms of all projects that selected, the investment based on limit state method is 2370 thousand and 1% more than that based on damage stage method.