BORING MACHINES WILL DRIVE THE WORLD'S TUNNELS
TUNNEL BORING MACHINES (TBM) ARE BEING USED INCREASINGLY AS LABOR COSTS GO UP AND THE DEMAND FOR TUNNELS GROWS. THE MACHINES DISTURB THE ENVIRONMENT LESS THAN BLASTING METHODS. HOWEVER, THE COST OF THE MACHINE IS HIGH AND A NEW JOB USUALLY REQUIRES NEW EQUIPMENT TO DRILL THE PROPER SIZE. THE MOST COMMON FAILURE HAS BEEN THE INABILITY OF THE TBM TO COPE WITH CHANGING ROCKS AND SOIL CONDITIONS. IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE IN AND NEW USES FOR TUNNELING MACHINES ARE DISCUSSED. FOR ADVANTAGEOUS USE OF A TBM, THE TUNNEL HAS TO BE LONG ENGOUGH (AT LEAST A MILE) SO THAT THE CONTRACTOR CAN WRITE OFF THE MACHINE'S COST ($300,000 TO $1,500,000) ON THAT ONE PROJECT. THERE IS A NEED FOR STANDARDIZATION OF TUNNEL SIZES SO THAT THE MACHINES CAN BE USED MORE FREQUENTLY AND NOT, HAVE TO BE SPECIALLY BUILT FOR A SPECIFIC NEED.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/08919526
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Supplemental Notes:
- Vol 187, No 4, PP 22-28, 13 PHOT
- Publication Date: 1971-7-22
Media Info
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Serial:
- Engineering News-Record
- Publisher: McGraw-Hill, Incorporated
- ISSN: 0891-9526
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Boring; Costs; Environment; Standardization; Tunneling machines; Tunnels
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Finance; Highways;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00215433
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Oct 3 1971 12:00AM