Visibility graph analysis on time series of shield tunneling parameters based on complex network theory

•A visibility graph model implemented in a complex network theory of shield tunneling is proposed.•Degree distributions of the reconstructed networks from time series of shield parameters follow the power law.•The characteristics of shield tunneling parameters’ network are scale-free and small-world.•Findings reveal turning points in the time series of shield parameters with vital node analysis.•It is tested and validated in the first Yangtze river crossing metro tunnel project in China.