TUNNELLING'S FLEXIBLE FRIEND

This article reports that drill+blast is still used in a considerable proportion of tunnel construction projects, because of increasingly sophisticated drilling methods and use of explosives; sometimes, it can be used where other methods fail. The article reports on the activities of various companies here, and describes some of their equipment. Manufacturers and technical consultants have both been notably successful in meeting the technical challenges faced by drill+blast. These challenges include: (1) the maintenance of accurate profiles; (2) safer explosives use, especially in wet conditions; (3) increased advance rates; and (4) applications in difficult geology. For long tunnels, drill+blast competes with fully mechanised methods, especially the use of tunnel boring machines (TBMs). The large-capacity jumbos now generally available improve overall efficiency. The most important recent advances in blast-hole drilling have been in automation, including positioning, to enable more accurate removal of the ground at lower cost. Advance is the other major factor in drilling efficiency, and modern hydraulic drills have penetration rates about 50% higher than for earlier drill models. Blasting has become more accurate, but its use requires formal training for both safety and general security.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0041414X
• Corporate Authors:

  Miller Freeman

  Calderwood Street
  London,   United Kingdom  SE18 6QH
• Authors:
  • Jones, M
• Publication Date: 1999-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 45-7
• Serial:
  • Tunnels & Tunnelling International
  • Volume: 31
  • Issue Number: 12
  • Publisher: Progressive Media Markets, Ltd
  • ISSN: 0041-414X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automation; Construction; Drilling; Education; Errors; Excavation; Excavations; Full face tunneling; Geology; Methodology; Organizations; Presplitting (Blasting); Safety; Speed; Tunneling machines; Tunnels
• ITRD Terms: 3882: Automatic; 5188: Blasting; 3655: Construction; 3871: Drilling; 2284: Education; 6440: Error; 5155: Excavation (process); 3383: Full face tunnelling machine; 4053: Geology; 9102: Method; 9057: Organization (association); 1665: Safety; 5408: Speed; 3374: Tunnel
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Geotechnology; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00788442
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Mar 3 2000 12:00AM