MELBOURNE'S TROUBLED TUNNELLER GRINDS TO A HALT

The problems encountered in tunnelling Melbourne's underground railway are described. Drill and blast methods were prohibited to minimize ground disturbance under the tall buildings and steel ring beams had to be inserted at 1 m intervals just behind the face. Also shotcreting of the tunnel sides within 1 m of the face was required within one hour of exposure. The tunnelling machine covered nearly 40 m/week until it hit hard rock when numerous problems arose culminating in the failure of the main bearing. This failure meant that the machine had to be completely rebuilt with a new 12 spoked head and the triple-disc cutters replaced by more efficient single discs. Front support is provided by a sliding shoe, and steering jacks on the shoe help to prevent the head dropping. Bearing design was changed, and the cutter head speed reduced from 5.2 rev/min to 3 rev/min. Gearboxes and variable speed motors have been replaced with high-torque low-speed motors. Mucking out is now by rail instead of conveyor. The new hard-rock machine can work at up to 73 m/week.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03077683
• Corporate Authors:

  Institution of Civil Engineers

  One Great George Street, Westminster
  London,   United Kingdom  SW1P 3AA
• Authors:
  • Ferguson, H
• Publication Date: 1977-8-18

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 16
• Serial:
  • NEW CIVIL ENGINEER
  • Issue Number: 256
  • Publisher: EMAP CONSTRUCT LIMITED
  • ISSN: 0307-7683

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction; Drilling; Equipment; Failure; Hardness; Rocks; Shotcrete; Subways; Technology; Tunneling; Tunneling machines; Tunnels
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• Old TRIS Terms: Rock tunneling; Subway construction; Tunnel excavation
• ITRD Terms: 8006: Australia; 1041: Depot (transp); 3871: Drilling; 3674: Equipment; 5520: Failure; 5914: Hardness; 4154: Rock; 4730: Shotcrete; 3374: Tunnel
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Geotechnology; Public Transportation; I54: Construction of Tunnels;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00168093
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: Analytic
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 13 1981 12:00AM