RAILWAY TUNNELING

ROCK TUNNELS

• Tunnels excavated in firm,

cohesive media
• Very soft rock (chalk/talc) :
Chunnel Project (Channel tunnel)
between England and France
• Tunnel Boring machine (TBM) used
• Very hard rocks : igneous or
metamorphic rocks
SOFT GROUND TUNNELS

• Tunnels excavated in soft /

plastic / cohesive or cohesion
less media.
• Tunnels through soils.
• Kolkata Metro underground
tunnels excavated in marine
clays: especially shallow tunnels
• Overburden < 50m
• Water poses problem during
excavation.
MIXED FACE TUNNEL

• Part of the tunnel is driven through rocks and part of it through

soils.
• Interface: Usually a weathered material. If shear stress mobilized
along the interface exceeds the shear strength of weathered
material, it leads to stability problems.
• Difficult to construct.
SHIELD TUNNELS

• Adopted for construction of soft ground tunnels.

• Used in Kolkata Metro Underground project
• Steel cylindrical shell: front and rear end
• Front end: has a cutting face to cut the soil and advance the tunnel
• Rear end: assembly of high capacity compressors which push the
shell in forward direction
SHIELD TUNNELS

• Steel shell:
• Provides safety during construction
• Permits simultaneous installation of supports at rear end
• Permits excavation in sub-aqueous conditions
ADITS

• Short transverse tunnel connecting two parallel tunnels or tunnel

which provides access to a side hill tunnel.
TUNNEL PORTAL

• Portal frame is designed for the load of the sliding hill mass in case
the hill is unstable.
DRIFT

• Small diameter tunnel excavated ahead of face of advance before

excavation of full size tunnel, to ascertain exact geological
conditions.
PILOT TUNNEL

• Essential to excavate in situations where prediction of geological

conditions at a given depth is absolutely uncertain.
• Exploration up to certain depth is uneconomical or even not
possible.
• Preliminary design of tunnel: on the basis of parameters estimated
from extrapolated geology which gives rise to uncertainty
• Studying the rock mass in pilot tunnel excavated removes the
uncertainty.
TUNNEL ALIGNMENT AND GRADIENT

• Precise and detailed survey is necessary. A small error in setting the

alignment would result in the two ends never meeting at all.
• When starting work, both the ends of the tunnel as well as the center
line are marked with precision so that the correct length can be
determined.
TUNNEL ALIGNMENT AND GRADIENT

• The following points require special attention when deciding the

alignment and gradient of a tunnel;
1. The alignment should be straight as far as possible since normally such
route would be the shortest and most economical
2. The minimum possible gradient should be provided for a tunnel and its
approaches.
3. Proper Ventilation and adequate lighting should be provided inside the
tunnel.
TUNNEL ALIGNMENT AND GRADIENT

4. The side drains in a tunnel should be given a minimum gradient

of 1 in 500 for effective drainage.
5. In longer tunnels, the gradient should be provided from the
center towards the ends for effective and efficient drainage.
SIZE AND SHAPE OF TUNNEL

• Depends on:
• Nature and type of ground
• Single or double railway line
• The shape of the tunnel should be such that the lining is able to resist
the pressures exerted by the unsupported walls of the tunnel
excavation.
• Hard rock: any shape. Generally designed with a semicircular arch with
vertical sidewalls.
• Soft grounds: Circular
SHAPE AND PURPOSE OF TUNNELS

Shape Purpose
Circular Water and sewage
Elliptical Water and sewage mains
Horseshoe Roads and railways
Arched roof with vertical walls Roads and railways
Polycentric cross section Roads and railways
SIZE AND SHAPE OF TUNNEL

• The size of a railway tunnel depends upon the gauge of the railway
track and number of lines. The typical dimensions for railway
tunnels are specified below;

Gauge Single line Double line

(mm) Breadth (mm) Height (mm) Breadth (mm) Height (mm)
BG (1676) 4880 – 5490 6700 – 7320 8530 – 9140 6700 – 7320
MG (1000) 4270 – 4880 6100 – 6700 8530 – 9140 6100 – 6700
USE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGIES

1. Cut and cover method of tunneling

2. Shield tunneling
3. Tunneling using drill and blast systems
4. Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM)
5. New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM)
CUT AND COVER METHOD

• Affects all public services such as water supply, sewerage mains,

electric and telephone lines. Simple method for construction of
shallow tunnels.
• Bottom up method – Trench is excavated with ground support.
Tunnel may be in-situ or precast. The trench is then carefully back-
filled and the surface is reinstated.
• Top down method - Constructing the permanent structure from the
ground downward, starting with a roof slab and then progressively
building lower slabs while simultaneously excavating the soil. This
method uses precast and diaphragm walls for earth retention.
CUT AND COVER METHOD

500

Typical cross section of an underground railway

(cut and cover method); all dimensions are in mm
TUNNELING USING DRILL AND BLAST SYSTEMS

• Used in hard rock.

• Drilling jumbos go to the tunnel face and drill a set of holes in the
portion to be tunneled. These holes are then charged with
controlled explosives and simultaneously blasted.
• Extensively used in Konkan Railway where drilling jumbos, electro-
hydraulic digging arm loaders and special loaders were imported
from Sweden.
TUNNELING USING DRILL AND BLAST SYSTEMS
TUNNEL BORING MACHINES

• TBM were first used for railway tunnels in the Udhampur –

Srinagar – Baramulla (USB) project and on DMRC.
• Minimize the disturbance to the surrounding ground and produce
smooth tunnel wall.
• This significantly reduces the cost of lining the tunnel.
• Major disadvantage is the upfront cost.
• Modern tunnels are longer, hence compared to drill and blast, the
cost of TBMs is actually less because tunneling with TBMs results
in a shorter completion time.
TUNNEL BORING MACHINES

• [Link] – TBM
• [Link] – BKC to Vidyanagari
• [Link] - Double shielded TBMs
TUNNEL BORING MACHINES

• Consists of rotating cutting wheel called a cutter head, followed by

a main bearing, a thrust system and trailing support mechanisms.
• In hard rock, TBMs excavate rock using disc cutters mounted in the
cutter head.
• The disc cutters create compressive stress fractures in the rock,
causing it to chip away from the rock.
• The excavated rock, known as muck, is transferred though
openings in the cutter head to a belt conveyors for removal from
the tunnel.
TUNNEL BORING MACHINES

• In a fractured rock: shielded hard rock TBMs can be used, which

erect concrete segments to support unstable tunnel walls behind
the machine.
• In soft ground: Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) machines and Slurry
Shields (SS) type of TBMs are used. Both type of machines operate
using thrust cylinders to advance forward by pushing off against
concrete segments.
NEW AUSTRIAN TUNNELING METHOD (NATM)

• Developed between 1957-1965 in Austria.

• Standard method for building tunnels in the mountainous areas.
• Uses geological stress from natural ground around the tunneling site to
build a tunnel safely.
• NATM uses machines and explosives to excavate natural ground.
• The main features on which NATM is based are:
1. Mobilization of the strength of rock mass
2. Application of thin layer of shotcrete immediately after face advance
measurements for protection.
NEW AUSTRIAN TUNNELING METHOD (NATM)

Drilling jumbo is used for Soil generated by blast site is carried

excavate into the drilling surface off site using a dump truck or belt
and fill it with explosives. conveyor.
NEW AUSTRIAN TUNNELING METHOD (NATM)

After excavation, concrete is

Rock bolts are then used to integrate
spread onto excavated areas to
the tunnel into natural ground.
reinforce natural ground.
NEW AUSTRIAN TUNNELING METHOD (NATM)

Depending on the conditions of This enables efficient construction of

the natural ground, arch-shaped a tunnel integrated into natural
steel material is used for ground using the geological stress of
reinforcement. the surrounding soil.
NEW AUSTRIAN TUNNELING METHOD (NATM)

Finishing work starts from end.

Firstly waterproofing sheets are Lining concrete is applied.
laid for mitigating ground water.
ELEVATED RAILWAYS

• Track is laid on the deck, which is supported by steel or RCC

columns.
• The platforms and station buildings are provided at the elevations
for the convenience of the passengers.
• Main advantage – Does not require any special land, no
interference of roads traffic.
• Limitations – High cost of construction, heavy noise pollution. In
case of accidents, loss of life and property is high.
ELEVATED RAILWAYS

Typical cross section of an elevated railway (all dimensions in mm)

 ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION

• Comprises of spans
with lengths varying
from 21.1m to 29.1m.
• Constructed by the
precast segmental
technique with epoxy
bonded joints and
traditional internal
pre-stressing.
 ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION

• Basic viaduct
supporting structures
• Pile foundation
• Pile Cap
• Pier
• Pier Cap
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION

I- Girder
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION

U- Girder
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION

Box- Girder
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION

Bearings
 ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION

• Pile Rigs
• Cast in-situ
friction piles
can go upto
1.2m
diameter
depending on
design.
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION

Auger and bucket cutter

ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION

Bucket cutter
Auger cutter

Hydraulic Pile Rig

ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION

Reinforcement cage
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
 ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION

• Generally
group of four
pile
foundations
are used
below one
pier.
 ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION

• These four piles are connected using pile

cap at their top thus acting as a single
unit and load can be distributed
uniformly.
 ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION

• Just above these piles,

metro piers are
constructed using cast
– in – situ method.
• Size typically ranges
from 1.8m to 2.2m
depending upon
design.
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION

• Above these piers, T-shaped pier caps are

provided.
• Can be constructed through cast-in-situ
or precasted method.
 ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION

• These pier caps are

brought to the site and
stitched to the already
casted piers.
 ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION

• Above these
pier caps,
bearings are
provided which
enables elastic
connection
between track
bed and sub
structures.
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION
ELEVATED VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION