TUNNEL

ENGINEERING
Tunnel Engineering: Tunnel - sections - classification - tunnel surveying-alignment, transferring
centre, grade into tunnel – tunnel driving procedure- shield method of tunnelling, compressed air
method, tunnel boring machine..
 TUNNELS

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■ Tunnels are artificial underground passages opened at both ends
constructed for different purposes.
■ Required for highways, railways, sewerage, water supply, public
utilities and canals.
■ Necessitated when open excavation of strata becomes
uneconomical
ADVANTAGES

■ More economical than open cuts beyond certain depths

■ Avoid disturbing and interfering surface life and traffic during
construction
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■ reduce the length of the railway line and may also prove to be
economical.
■ provide a rapid and unobstructed means of transport.
■ maintenance cost of a tunnel is considerably lower than that of a
bridge or deep cutting
DISADVANTAGES

■ construction of a tunnel is costly as it requires special construction

machinery and equipment.
■ construction of a tunnel involves the use of sophisticated technology
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and requires experienced and skilled staff.
■ It is a time-consuming process.
■ The choice of tunnelling method may be dictated by:

– geological and hydrological conditions

■ Rock strength
■ Water table

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– cross-section and length of continuous tunnel

– local experience and time/cost considerations

– limits of surface disturbance, and many others factors

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SIZE AND SHAPE

■ Size:
– depend upon the nature and type of ground it passes through
– whether it is designed to carry a single or a double railway line

■ Shape:
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– should be such that the lining is able to resist the pressures
exerted by the unsupported walls of the tunnel excavation
 Usual cross sections
• D section/ Segmental roof section: an arched roof and straight sides.
• Takes the external load and transfers it on the vertical side walls which may
be constructed of R.C.C in case of soft soils.
• This is suitable for sub-ways or navigation tunnels.
• It has an additional working floor space helpful during driving and a flat
floor for moving equipment.
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• Circular section-
• to withstand heavy internal or external radial pressures, this form is the most
desirable.
• provides the greatest cross-sectional area for the least perimeter.
• suitable for sewers and water carrying purposes and best suitable in non-
cohesive soils.
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■ Rectangular section-
– suitable only in case of hard rocks.
– In form of R.C.C box and is generally adopted for pedestrian traffic.
– It is costly and also difficult in construction.
■ Egg- shaped section-
– used for carrying sewage because it gives self- cleansing velocity even in dry weather
flow.

■ Horse- shoe form-TRACE KTU

– It also proves to be quite effective in resisting external as well as internal pressure.

– It is having a semi- circular roof together with arched sides and a curved invert.
– Offers a good resistance to external ground pressure.
– shape suited for traffic purposes and as the floor of the tunnel is nearly flat, it gives
working space to the contractor to store materials during construction.
– This section is found to be most suitable for soft rocks and also suitable for carrying
water or sewage.
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 CLASSIFICATION
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■ Classification according to alignment
i. Off- spur tunnels- short length tunnels to negotiate minor local obstacles
ii. Saddle or base tunnels- tunnels constructed in the valleys along the natural slope
iii. Slope tunnels- Tunnels constructed in steep hills for economic and safe operations of roads and railways
iv. Spiral tunnels- Tunnels provided in narrow valleys in the form of loops in the interior of mountain

■ Classification according to purpose

Conveyance tunnels – They include sewer tunnels, water supply tunnels, hydro-electric power tunnels

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i.
etc.
ii. Traffic tunnels- They include highway tunnels, railway tunnels, pedestrian tunnels, navigation tunnels
and subway tunnels.

■ Classification according to type of material met with in the construction

i. Tunnels in hard rock
ii. Tunnels in soft materials
iii. Tunnels underneath river bed or in water bearing soils.
TUNNEL SURVEYING,
ALIGNMENT AND
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TUNNEL ALIGNMENT

■ detailed survey is necessary before setting the alignment of a tunnel

– small error in setting the alignment would result in the two ends
never meeting

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■ Basic procedure - to align the center line in the ground and transfer that
to the tunnel.
– This also involves levelling the surface on the ground and the
internal of the tunnel.
Points to remember while selecting
alignment
■ Alignment should be straight as far as possible
– would be the shortest and most economical.
■ The minimum possible gradient should be provided for a tunnel and its approaches.

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■ Proper ventilation and adequate lighting should be provided inside the tunnel.
■ The side drains in a tunnel should be given a minimum gradient of 1 in 500 for
effective drainage.
– In longer tunnels, the gradient should be provided from the centre towards the
ends for effective and efficient drainage.
TUNNEL SETTING
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PROCEDURE

■ FOUR STEPS
1. Setting out tunnel on ground surface
2. Transfer the center line from surface to underground

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3. Underground setting out
4. Underground levelling
1. Setting out tunnel on ground surface:
■ By running an open traverse between two ends
■ using theodolites and laser pole unit.
■ Length of survey lines are measured by direct method of stepping with tapes.

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■ CURVED LINE ALIGNMENT
– offsets are measured from tangents

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2. Transfer of centre line from surface to underground:

■ shafts are to be constructed at regular

interval of about 500m, along traverse
line
■ A rectangular horizontal timber frame is
set at the proposed shaft location along
the traverse line(say along AB)
■ On the two parallel sides of this frame
iron plates are screwed as shown and

■
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holes are drilled on these plates along
traverse line AB, say at X and Y in line

Through Points X and Y, heavy plumb

bobs are suspended to define vertical
lines with respect to which shaft (vertical
tunnel) is excavated
■ When shaft excavation reaches nearly at
required depth, the centre line of traverse
line can be transferred by solving
Weisbach triangle
3. UNDERGROUND SETTING OUT
■ Based on the points fixed using step 2, the points are set out underground using
theodolite.

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4. UNDERGROUND LEVELLING
■ Based on levels of X and Y, the required levels are marked in tunnel

Grades in tunnel: It should be lesser than surface grade. Nearly 0.2% gradient is adopted to
drain rain water..It is convenient to have rising gradient from both portal towards centre of
tunnel. Ventilation is more effective if grade is in one direction.
 TUNNEL DRIVING
PROCEDURE
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1. SHIELD METHOD
2. COMPRESSED AIR METHOD
3. TBM
FACTORS AFFECTING CHOICE OF METHOD

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TYPES OF GROUND

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TUNNELLING IN SOFT SOIL

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 SHIELD METHOD
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SHIELD METHOD

■ Tunnel shield - a moving metal casing - driven in advance in order to support the
ground surrounding the tunnel bore
■ Provides protection for construction of the permanent lining without any temporary

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support or timbering.

■ [Link]
PARTS/ COMPONENTS OF A SHIELD
■ Skin or outer shell- several curved plates joined together by riveting or welding.
■ Tail – It is a part of shield which extends up to the rear end within which primary lining is
erected.
■ Cutting edge -. For large shields, segments of cast steel are used as cutting edge. These are
bolted to the front end of shield and can be replaced easily, if damaged.
■ Hood – It is the forwarded extension of the ring at the top which provides protection to the

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miners working in the forward section.
■ Inner structure – Generally, two or three girders are used to stiffen the skin plate against
distortion.
■ Pockets – the front of large shield is divided into 1.25 m wide and 1.5 m high pockets by
horizontal and vertical frames.
– To stiffen the steel structure against distortion
– provide a convenient platform or scaffolding for the workman to stand,
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STEPS

1. Excavation and temporary support of the front face at an approximate

depth.

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2. Advancing the shield, taking support of the previously erected lining.

3. Placing another course of ring of the permanent lining.

ADVANTAGES

a. The tunnel section can be advanced with its full dimensions.

b. It offers a moving but constant support to be advanced tunnel.

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c. The removal of any temporary support is compensated with
immediate installation of permanent tunnel lining.
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 COMPRESSED AIR
TUNNELING
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TUNNELLING IN WATER BEARING SOILS

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COMPRESSED AIR METHOD
■ the compressed air is forced into the enclosed space to prevent the
collapse of roof and sides of the tunnel.
■ Usually air is used in conjunction with a shield and air tight locks.
■ This method can be safely adopted if the air pressure is approximately
1kg/cm².

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■ The equipment for tunnelling consists of
– bulk head - an airtight diaphragm with an airlock.
– airlock - an airtight cylindrical steel chamber with a door at each
end opening inwards.
– Air compressor: to compress air to required pressure
– Generator: for electric power
– Pump – to remove leaked water
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DISADVANTAGES

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TUNNEL BORING MACHINE
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■ Recently developed tunneling equipment
■ which is useful for rock as well as soft ground drilling.
■ It is also called as mechanical mole.
■ loosen the earth or cut the rock in the entire section of the tunnel,
– which can be conveyed to the rear of the machine ,
– where they can be loaded into muck cars or trucks or on to
conveyor belts to be transported to the ultimate disposal site.

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■ These machines drill in a continuous manner which ultimately gives
high rate of tunneling and the bore is cut to a precise diameter.
■ Since these machines are operated by electricity and there is no
blasting operation needed, thus ventilation requirement is very less.
■ Heavy investment is required for purchasing these machines.
– large tunnels - less expensive , easier and more appropriate.
■ The drilling operation
– accomplished through the cutterhead and discs
– which are pressed and rotated against the face of the tunnel
– thrust being provided through pressurized oil.
■ It cuts or pulverizes the rock and the muck is delivered to the rear of
the mole.

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■ The pulverized rock falls down and is collected in buckets provided
around the circumference of the cutterhead.
■ WORKING
TBM - EQUIPMENT DETAILS/ PARTS

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WORKING PRINCIPLE

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ADVANTAGES

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DISADVANTAGES

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 THANK
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