WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR MECHANIZED TUNNEL EXCAVATION?

Possible future projects are divided into competent rock tunnels and difficult conditions; a section on shaft sinking is also included. In competent rock conditions, state-of-the-art equipment, systems and organization must be used efficiently. Larger cutters will be developed and water jets will be used at 14-34 mpa to provide improved chip removal and lubrication. Non-circular tunnels for highways and railways are being built, the initial steps using a circular tunnel borer on a pair of tunnels close to each other; invert rearing machines would be more efficient and may soon be available. Machines with a large drum cutter wheel with disc cutters mounted on its periphery are being used to bore non-circular tunnels in mining. Techniques designed to deal with squeezing ground, severe faulting and mixed faces are discussed. These will be an increasing use of automation, such as automatic steering by laser. Mechanical shaft sinking equipment is under development to produce shafts at twice the rate of conventional sinking.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03620565
• Corporate Authors:

  Pergamon Press, Incorporated

  Headington Hill Hall
  Oxford OX30BW,    
• Authors:
  • Robbins, R J
• Publication Date: 1985

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 93-96
• Serial:
  • Underground Space
  • Volume: 9
  • Issue Number: 2-3
  • Publisher: Pergamon Press, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0362-0565

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic control; Automation; Drilling; Equipment; Excavation; Excavations; Faults; Forecasting; Highways; Hydraulic jetting; Lasers; Mechanization; Methodology; Mines; Railroad tracks; Rock excavation; Rocks; Shielding (Tunneling); State of the art reports; State of the art studies; Technology; Tunneling; Tunneling machines; Tunnels
• Old TRIS Terms: Excavation technology; Hydraulic jets; Rock tunneling
• ITRD Terms: 3882: Automatic; 3871: Drilling; 3674: Equipment; 5155: Excavation (process); 4068: Fault (geomorphol); 132: Forecast; 2755: Highway; 3643: Hydraulic jetting; 6772: Laser; 3863: Mechanization; 9102: Method; 5117: Mine; 4154: Rock; 3394: Shield driving; 8588: State of the art report; 3855: Technology; 3374: Tunnel
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Geotechnology; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Public Transportation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00456337
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 1986 12:00AM