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  Methodological Approach to Assess the Behavior of Andean Colombian Soils

  Colombia possesses a strategic geographical location for international trade. Underdeveloped road infrastructure has hindered taking advantage of this condition, and approximately over 80% of cargo is transported through old corridors. The country lies within the Andean Mountains, where South American, Nazca and Caribbean plates converge, generating a complex SE-NW fault system, as well as high tectonics and rainfall. Therefore, tunnels are essential to successfully connect regions. Recognizing this, the Government launched the Infrastructure Master Plan 2015-2035, which includes the 4G Toll Road Concession Program (250km of tunnels). Currently over 50 tunnels are operating, and the longest road tunnels in the Americas are in Colombia (La Línea (8.6km) and Oriente (8.2km)). However, many tunnels are built under adverse conditions such as weathered and weak rocks, colluvial deposits, anisotropic stress states, high water tables and overburden. These conditions are inadequately analyzed during the planning stage, leading to construction process difficulties, cost overruns, and project delays. This paper proposes a methodological approach for assessing soil behavior, based on existing design methodologies review and numerical modeling software (FLAC 3D). La Sorda Tunnel (2.2km) in the department of Santander, is considered as a case study since it lies on four colluviums with historical stability problems. The analyses performed allow understanding the unique conditions in Andean soils, for better project development.

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