Tunnel Length Wise
Short Tunnel - up to 500 m Length
Medium Tunnel – Over 500m to 1500 m Length
Long Tunnel – More than 1500 m Length
Classification Single Tube Bi-Directional Double Tube Unidirectional
of Tunnel
CP VN LG TE FS EG CP VN LG TE FS EG
Short Tunnel up
NA - *** - - - - - *** - - -
to 500 m
Medium Tunnel
up to 500 m to NA Yes Yes Yes Yes --- Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes *
1500m
Long Tunnel
NA Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes *
above 1500 m
Functional requirement based on the lengthwise classification of tunnels
having bearing of geometric design
*** - Lighting shall be provided for urban tunnels and preferably for tunnels longer than
100 m in non-Urban areas
NA – Not Applicable
CP – Cross Passage @ 300 m for uni - directional tube tunnel
VN – Ventilation
LG – Lighting
FS – Fire Safety – Fire extinguisher at spacing of about 50m
EG – Egress (Such egress shall have minimum dimension of 2m x 2.5m height
with adequate Ventilation & lighting and isolation for main tunnel through fire
proof doors)
Statutory Clearances & Approvals
a) Environmental & Forest Clearance
b) Permissions of Blasting in the Area
c) License for shortage and handling of explosive
d) Acquisition of right of way
e) Approval from fire authority in case of urban area
f) Clearance from Pollution control Board
Test on Core Samples
I. Unconfined Compressive Strength Strength & Hardness
II. Natural & Dry Density and Specific Gravity
III. Rate of Water absorption & porosity
IV. Young modulus of elasticity
V. Poission Ratio
VI. Tri Axial Strength
VII. Petrography Hand & microscopic petrography
VIII. Tensile Strength (in completely Geologically disturbed area)
Estimation of Length of Rock Bolt
L = 2+(0.15B/ESR)
L = Length of Rock Bolt in Meter
B = Width of Excavation in Meter
ESR = Excavation Support Ratio as per foregoing Para [Link]
Maximum unsupported span = 2 ESR Q0.4
ESR = Excavation Support Ratio as per foregoing Para [Link]
Excavation Category ESR
A Temporary mine openings 3–5
Permanent mine openings, water tunnel for hydro (excluding high pressure
B 1.6
penstocks) Pilot Tunnel drifts and heading for large excavation
Storage rooms, water treatment plants minor road and railway tunnel surge
C 1.3
chamber access tunnels
D Power station major road & railway tunnel civi defence chamber portal intersection 1
Underground nuclear power station railway station sports and public facilities
E 0.8
factories
Q = Rock Mass Quality Value
Estimated support Categories Based on RMR Value –
ORIGINAL RMR Rating
Adjusted
90- 80- 70– 50– 40– 30– 10–
Ratings 60–70 20–30 0 – 10
100 90 80 60 50 40 20
70 – 100
50 – 60 A A A A
40 - 50 B B B B
C, D,
30 – 40 C, D C, D D, E
E
20 – 30 G F, G F, G, J F, H, J
10 – 20 I I H, L, J H, J
0 - 10 K K L L
A) Generally, no support but Joint Intersection may require local bolting
B) Pattern Grouted bolts at 1 m Spacing
C) Pattern Grouted bolts at 0.75 m Spacing
D) Patterned grouted bolts at 1.0m Spacing and shotcrete 100mm
E) Patterned grouted bolts at 1.0m Spacing and shotcrete 300mm, only used if
stress changes are not excessive
F) Patterned grouted bolts at 0.75 m Spacing and shotcrete 100mm
G) Patterned grouted bolts at 0.75 m Spacing and mesh reinforced shotcrete 100mm
H) Patterned grouted bolts at 1.0m spacing and massive concrete 450mm thick if
stress change are not excessive.
I) Patterned grouted bolts at 0.75m spacing and mesh reinforced shotcrete 100mm
thick plus yielding steel arches as repair technique if stress changes are
excessive.
J) Stabilize with wire mesh cover support and massive concrete 450mm thick if
stress changes are not excessive
K) Stabilize with wire mesh cover support followed by 100-450mm shotcrete
including face, if necessary, plus yielding steel arch were stress changes
excessive.
L) Avoid failure development in this ground, if possible, otherwise use support
system for j or k
TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION METHODOLOGY
A) Survey and profile making
B) Advancing and face by appropriate excavation method
C) Defuming after blasting and scaling
D) Mucking including disposal
E) Plotting of excavated profile and geological mapping
F) Support installation – temporary and or permanent
ADVANCEMENT OF TUNNEL FACE BY EXCAVATION
1. Non-Blasting Technique
I. Tunnelling shield
II. Road Header
III. Tunnel Boring Machine
IV. Splitting Technique
a) Conventional wedging and splitting
b) Hydraulic splitters
c) Splitting rock using expansive chemicals
d) Other splitting agent such as cardox Nonex and penetrating cone fracture.
2. Conventional Technique of drilling & blasting
NEW AUSTRIAIN TUNNELING METHOD (NATM)/NORWEGAIN METHOD OF
TUNNELING (NTM)
Mobilization of the strength of ground mass
Shotcrete Protection
Measurement
Flexible Support
Closing of invert
Contractual arrangement
Rock mass classification determines support measures.