Seismic damage to rock tunnels from recent earthquakes indicates an urgent need for seismic assessment and aseismic design of underground structures. This book offers a comprehensive account of seismic performance and the response of underground structures under earthquake loading, necessary for adequate assessment and design.

The book presents research methods for the rate-dependent mechanical behavior of rock and for the seismic behavior of underground structures. It describes analytical solutions to investigate the seismic response of tunnels subjected to seismic waves, toward an improved quantitative understanding of the seismic deformation and failure mechanism in both longitudinal and transversal aspects. A performance-based restoration design criterion and aseismic design are also proposed for future tunnel planning.

• Includes a detailed case study for the seismic performance assessment of rock tunnels under earthquake loading


• Explores the relationship between seismic damage to underground structures and ground deformation


• Covers a range of issues from mechanisms, analysis, assessment and design of both new tunnels and restoration projects

The book is ideal for earthquake engineers and researchers, and will also be of interest to contractors, clients, researchers, lecturers, and advanced students working on tunnel engineering.