TUNNEL
ENGINEERING
Tunnel lining – Necessity, materials, methods, Ventilation – natural and mechanical ventilation,
drainage of tunnels, dust control methods.
TUNNEL
TRACEVENTILATION
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NEED / REASONS TO PROVIDE VENTILATION
■ To provide fresh air to the workers during construction.
■ To remove the dust created by drilling, blasting, and other tunnelling
operations.
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■ To remove dynamite fumes and other objectionable gases produced by the
use of dynamites and explosives.
■ To reduce temperature in tunnel situated at great depth
CONDITIONS TO DETERMINE FORM
AND CAPACITY OF VENTILATION
■ LENGTH AND SIZE OF TUNNEL
■ AM0UNT OF EXPLOSIVE AND FREQUENCY OF BLASTING
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■ TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY INSIDE THE TUNNEL
METHODS OF VENTILATION
■ Natural method of ventilation
■ achieved by drilling a drift through the tunnel from portal to portal
■ achieved due to difference in temperature inside and outside the tunnel
■ will be effective only when the orientation of tunnel is along the wind direction
■ most cases natural ventilation is not sufficient and artificial ventilation is still
required.
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■ Mechanical ventilation
■ Providing artificial ventilation when natural ventilation is not sufficient
■ Several methods are adopted
– Blow in method
– Exhaust method
– Combination
Natural ventilation
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MECHANICAL VENTILATION
■ Mechanical ventilation by blow-in method
■ fresh air is forced through a pipe or fabric duct by the means of a fan
■ Supplied near the drilling face;
■ Advantage: that a fresh air supply is guaranteed where it is required the most
■ Disadvantage:
– foul air and fumes have to travel a long distance before they can exit the tunnel
– In the process it is possible that the incoming fresh air will absorb some dust and smoke
■
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particles.
Mechanical ventilation by exhaust method / blow out method
■ foul air and fumes are pulled out through a pipe and is expelled by a fan
■ sets up an air current that facilitates the entrance of fresh air into the tunnel.
■ Advantage: foul air is kept out of the drilling face.
■ Disadvantage: fresh air has to travel a long distance before it can reach the face during which
period it may absorb some heat and moisture.
■ Combination of blow-in and blow-out methods
■ combining the blow-in and blow-out methods using a blower and an exhaust system
■ a tunnel can be provided with the best ventilation.
■ After blasting the ground, the exhaust system is used to remove the smoke and dust.
■ After some time, fresh air is blown in through the ducts and the rotation of the fans is
reversed to reverse the flow of air.
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DUST CONTROL METHODS
■ METHODS TO MINIMISE DUST ACCUMULATION
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– Wet drilling: To prevent dust flying
– Use of vacuum hood: hood fitted around steel
drill, connected to exhaust pipe; drilled rock is
sucked and removed
– Use of respirators: well designed respirators,
worn by miners
LIGHTING
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LIGHTING OF TUNNELS
■ Tunnels should be well lit
■ To ensure various activities and operations involved in tunnelling can be carried out
effectively and safely
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■ The common types of lighting equipment normally used in tunnels are electric lights,
coal gas, acetylene gas lights, or lanterns.
■ Electric lights are considered the best option,
– radiate bright light of the required intensity,
– free from smoke,
– manoeuvrable from the point of view of extension, removal etc.
■ Places where plenty of light should
normally be provided are
– operation points,
– equipment stations,
– bottom of shafts,
– storage points,
– tempering stations,
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– underground repair shops, etc.
The spacing of lights depends
on various factors such as
― tunnel dimensions,
― size of light source,
― nature of rock surface etc.
TUNNEL
TRACEDRAINAGE
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■ Essential to operate safely and smoothly during and after the
construction period
■ Sources of water - ground water and water collected from the
washing of bore holes
■ Water seeping in up through the ground as well as from the washing
of bore holes is collected in sump wells and pumped out
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– For long tunnels - a number of sump wells are provided for the
collection of water
■ After the construction is over, drainage ditches are provided along
the length of the portion of the tunnel that slope from the portal
towards the sump well and are used for pumping the water out.
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DRAINAGE ARRANGEMENTS
■ 3 systems
– Pre- drainage or preventing the entry of excess water from
entering the tunnel before starting the construction work.
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Temporary drainage system
– Dewatering of the tunnel- Removing the water that has entered
the tunnel during the construction of tunnel.
Permanent drainage system
– Permanent drainage- Keeping water off the tunnel after its
completion.
Temporary Drainage System
■ To remove groundwater from the tunnel at the time of construction.
■ Water is removed either by
1. Open-ditch drainage system : water is collected and removed in open ditches,
■ laid with proper slopes at some distance away from the place of work.
■ The open drains or ditches are constructed along the tunnel on both sides at the
invert.
■
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This drainage system is suitable for rock bases and water-resistant soil.
2. Pumping system: sumps are constructed at regular intervals of around 300 m
to 500 m.
■ The water is collected in the sumps and is pumped out.
■ For pumping the water, any types of the centrifugal pump could be used.
Permanent Drainage System
■ To remove groundwater from the tunnel after construction.
■ Water is removed either by
1. Providing a central drain : a central drain is provided between two railway
tracks or under the road pavement.
■ It should have sufficient capacity to control the expected water in the tunnel.
■ It should be provided with facilities for inspection and clearing.
■ Inspection manholes should be provided at a distance of 30 m to 50 m.
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2. By providing side drains: effective for single lane road or railway tunnel where
the volume of water to be drained is small.
In this system, drains are constructed on either side of the railway track or on the
road.
3. By providing corrugated iron shed and Side Drains: provided in tunnels in
which water leaks from the roof and side walls of tunnels.
■ By providing corrugated iron shed, shaped to the contour of the roof, water is
prevented from dropping on the pavement or railway track.
■ The corrugated shed guides the water to the side drains and is drained out.
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LINING
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■ Tunnels in loose rock and soft soils are liable to disintegrate
■ A lining is provided to strengthen their sides and roofs so as to prevent
them from collapsing.
■ The objectives of a lining are as follows.
– Strengthening the sides and roofs to withstand pressure and
prevent the tunnel from collapsing.
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– Providing the correct shape and cross section to the tunnel.
– Checking the leakage of water from the sides and the top.
– Binding loose rock and providing stability to the tunnel.
– Reducing the maintenance cost of the tunnel.
SEQUENCE OF LINING
1. In the first stage guniting is done to seal the water in rock tunnels.
2. Concrete lining is done either in one attempt as in the case of circular
tunnels or by separately tackling the vest, the sidewall, and the arch.
3. The concrete is cured to its maximum strength. If the humidity inside the
tunnel is not sufficient, curing can be done by spraying water through
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perforated pipes.
4. The different types of lining practices adopted by Indian Railways
depending upon ground conditions are depicted
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(a) In firm soil, only a roof arch is provided, resting on benches cut in firm rock at the sides.
(b) If the rock is less solid, side walls of masonry are also added.
(c) In soft soil, an invert is added, to protect the side walls from moving in as also to resist the upward
pressure of the soil.
Types and Thickness of Lining
■ lining provided inside tunnels may be of timber, iron, steel, brick, or any other construction
material
■ reinforced concrete or concrete surface – most common
■
–
–
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Concrete lining is provided in tunnels because of
its superiority in structural strength,
ease of placement,
– its durability,
– lower maintenance cost.
thickness
■ lining depends upon various factors such as
– conditions of the ground,
– size and shape of the tunnel,
– soil pressure, and
– the method of concreting
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■ thickness of concrete is calculated by the following empirical formula
T = 82 D,
– where T is the thickness of the lining in mm and D is the diameter of the tunnel in
metres.
■ On the basis of field experience, railway engineers have devised a thumb rule of
providing 2.5 cm of lining for every 30 cm of the diameter of the tunnel.
■ As per this thumb rule, the thickness of the lining of a tunnel with a 1 m diameter would
be (100/30) x 2.5 cm = 8.3 cm.
THANK
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