A utility tunnel is an infrastructure that consolidates multiple municipal pipeline systems into a shared underground passage. As long linear structures inevitably cross different soils, this paper aims to accurately assess the seismic damage to a shallow-buried utility tunnel in a non-homogeneous zone by employing a viscous-spring artificial boundary and deriving the corresponding nodal force equations. The three-dimensional model of the utility tunnel-soil system is established using finite element software, and a plug-in is developed to simulate the three-dimensional oblique incidence of SV waves with a horizontal non-homogeneous field. In this study, the maximum interstory displacement angle of the utility tunnel is used as the damage indicator. Analysis of structural vulnerability based on IDA method using PGA as an indicator of seismic wave intensity, which considers the angle of oblique incidence of SV waves, the type of seismic waves, and the influence of the nonhomogeneous field on the seismic performance of the utility tunnel. The results indicate that the failure probability of the utility tunnel in different soil types increases with the incident angle and PGA. Additionally, the failure probability under the pulse wave is higher than that under the non-pulse wave; Particular attention is given to the states of severe damage (LS) and collapse (CP), particularly when the angle of incidence is 30 degrees and the PGA exceeds 0.6g, conditions under which the probability of failure is higher. Additionally, the failure probability of the non-homogeneous zone is greater than that of sand and clay; the maximum interlayer displacement angle increases with the incident angle, accompanied by greater PGA dispersion, indicating the seismic wave intensity. The maximum inter-layer displacement angle increases with the incident angle, and the dispersion of the seismic wave intensity indicator (PGA) becomes greater. This paper proposes vulnerability curves for different working conditions, which can serve as a reference for the seismic design of underground structures.

A horizontal non-homogeneous field adversely affects the seismic resistance of both the utility tunnel and its internal pipes, with seismic waves obliquely incident on the underground structure causing more significant damages. To address these issues, this study, based on a viscous-spring artificial boundary, derives and validates the equivalent junction force formula for the horizontal non- homogeneous field. It then establishes a three-dimensional finite element model of the utility tunnel, pipes, and surrounding soil to obtain the acceleration and strain responses of the utility tunnel and its internal pipes under seismic loading. Finally, it investigates the impact of different incidence angles of shear waves (SV waves) on the response of the utility tunnel and its internal pipes. It was found that as the PGA increases from 0.1 to 0.4 g, both peak acceleration and strain of the utility tunnel and its internal pipes increase. The peak acceleration of the utility tunnel and pipes initially decreases and then increases with the angle of incidence, while the strain increases with the angle of incidence, reaching its peak value when the angle of incidence is 30 degrees. The acceleration and strain responses of the utility tunnel and pipe are higher in sand than in clay, with the peak acceleration strongly correlating with the angle of incidence of ground shaking. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the seismic design of horizontal non-homogeneous field utility tunnel systems.