WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE?

THE STATE OF THE ART OF TUNNELING IS DISCUSSED. ALTHOUGH TUNNEL BORING MACHINES ARE BEING DEVELOPED, A LARGE PROPORTION OF TUNNELS IN SOIL ARE STILL EXCAVATED BY HAND TOOLS. HARD ROCK IS STILL BEST EXCAVATED BY CONTROLLED BLASTING. TUNNEL LINING COSTS CAN AMOUNT TO OVER 50% OF THE TOTAL TUNNEL COSTS; METHODS ARE BEING SOUGHT TO REDUCE THIS EXPENSE WHILE IMPROVING TUNNEL LINING DESIGN. NEW SUPPORT TECHNIQUES USING ROCK BOLTS AND SHOTCRETE ARE BEING EMPLOYED. THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TUNNEL INEVITABLY GENERATES MOVEMENTS IN THE SURROUNDING SOIL OR ROCK TOWARD THE TUNNEL OPENING. DECISIONS TO UNDERPIN NEARBY STRUCTURES OR REALIGN THE PROPOSED TUNNEL ARE PREDICATED ON REASONABLY ACCURATE PREDICTIONS OF THESE EFFECTS. THE FUTURE OF TUNNELLING IS INCREASED AUTOMATION. CONCERTED EFFORT IS NEEDED ON THE PART OF GOVERNMENTS, OWNERS, FINANCIERS, DESIGNERS, CONTRACTORS, AND EQUIPMENT MANAGERS TO IMPROVE TUNNELING METHODS. DETAILED RECORDS OF UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION IN URBAN AREAS SHOULD BE KEPT. THE COST/BENEFIT RATIO OF SUCH CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE EVALUATED.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1606878
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 102, No 3, PP 68-72, 4 FIG, 1 PHOT
• Authors:
  • SCHMIDT, B
  • Collins, J P
• Publication Date: 1971-3

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Public Works
  • Publisher: Hanley Wood
  • ISSN: 0033-3840
  • Serial URL: http://www.pwmag.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; City planning; Costs; Excavation and tunneling; Presplitting (Blasting); Rockbolts; Shotcrete; Structural supports; Tunnel lining; Tunneling; Tunneling machines; Urban areas
• Old TRIS Terms: Supports
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Finance; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00215436
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 10 1971 12:00AM