COST COMPARISON BETWEEN SUBTERRENE AND CURRENT TUNNELING METHODS. APPENDIX B. SUBTERRENE COST ANALYSES

A study was made to compare tunnel construction costs between the Subterrene tunneling system and methods currently in use. Three completed tunnels were selected for study cases to represent finished diameters ranging from 3.05 meters (10 feet) to 6.25 meters (20.5 feet). A conceptual nuclear powered Subterrene tunneling machine (NSTM) was designed. It was assumed that NSTM's were available for each of the three baseline tunnels. Costs were estimated (shown in Appendix B) for the baseline tunnels driven by NSTM. Savings of 12 percent for the 4.73 meter (15.5 foot) tunnel and 6 percent for the 6.25 meter (20.5 foot) tunnel were found to be possible using the NSTM as compared to current methods. A penalty of 30 percent was found for the 3.05 meter (10 foot) tunnel using the NSTM. The cost advantage for the NSTM results from the combination of (a) a capital rather than labor intensive system, and (b) formation of both initial support and final lining in conjuction with the excavation process.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Paper copy also available in set of 3 reports as PB-244 480-SET, PC$19.00.
• Corporate Authors:

  Mathews (AA) Incorporated

  11900 Parklawn Drive
  Rockville, MD  United States  20852

  National Science Foundation

  Division of Advanced Technology Applications
  Washington, DC  United States  20550
• Authors:
  • Bledsoe, J D
  • Hill, J E
  • Coon, R F
• Publication Date: 1975-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 235 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Analysis; Construction; Costs; Excavating equipment; Excavation and tunneling; Melting; Methodology; Nuclear excavation; Nuclear reactors; Rocks; Tunnel lining; Tunneling machines
• Uncontrolled Terms: Construction costs; Cost analysis
• Subject Areas: Construction; Economics; Finance; Geotechnology; Highways; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00093190
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: 9013-B Final Rpt., NSF/RA/T-75-001B
• Contract Numbers: NSF-C840
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 3 1976 12:00AM