WHAT'S AHEAD FOR TUNNELING MACHINES?

TEN YEARS OF TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION DATA FROM 1955 TO 1965 ARE REVIEWED TO ESTABLISH PARTICULAR CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PAST-TUNNELING MARKET. THESE CHARACTERISTICS INCLUDE: (1) TOTAL FOOTAGE OF TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED EACH YEAR, (2) A BREAKDOWN OF THESE TUNNELS ACCORDING TO USE (WATER TRANSPORTATION, VEHICLE TUNNELS, RAILROAD AND SUBWAY TUNNELS AND MINING TUNNELS), AND (3) A PROFILE OF THE 1955-1965 TUNNELING ACCORDING TO UNLINED-TUNNEL DIAMETER AND TUNNEL LENGTH. THIS DATA PROVIDED A HISTORY OF TUNNELING ACTIVITY AND GROWTH RATES WHICH WERE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EXPERT OPINIONS AND ANNOUNCED FUTURE TUNNELING EXPECTATIONS TO DEVELOP A FORECAST OF 3,000 MILES OF WORLDWIDE-TUNNELING ACTIVITY FROM 1966 TO 1976. TO ESTIMATE THE IMPACT OF TUNNELING MACHINES ON THE TOTAL MARKET, A DETAILED COST ANALYSIS IS OUTLINED FOR DRILL AND BLAST VERSUS MECHANICAL BORING. THE ECONOMIC COMPARISON SHOWED TUNNELING MACHINES TO BE AN EFFECTIVE ECONOMIC ALTERNATIVE IN A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF FUTURE TUNNELING. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT TUNNELING MACHINES WILL COMPLETE 1,000 MILES OF THE TOTAL 3,000 MILES FORCASTED BETWEEN 1966 AND 1976. /ASCE/

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Vol 94, No C02, PROC PAPER 6178, PP 211-231, 11 FIG, 9 REF,
  • Authors:
    • Hill, G
  • Publication Date: 1968-10

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  • Accession Number: 00219337
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Apr 21 1994 12:00AM