TUNNEL COLLAPSES: ARE THEY UNAVOIDABLE?

The paper discusses the causes and repair of collapses during tunnel construction, and recommends how to make them less likely. Collapses for geological reasons occur whatever construction method is used. A few of them are due to meeting an unforeseeable geohydrological or geotechnical situation. Most of them are the result of similar situations, that could be foreseen but are not recognised for various reasons. Collapses occur because of the following types of tunnel instability: (1) in the face; (2) beyond the face, for example in the pilot tunnel; (3) a stretch of excavated but not yet supported tunnel; (4) a stretch of excavated but not yet supported face; (5) during excavation of the invert; and (6) near other intersecting tunnels. The repair of tunnel collapses consists of stabilisation and reconstruction, according to a defined procedure, approved before construction starts and integrated with the monitoring plan and design review and control; it has five stages. Although tunnel design should not assume that the most extreme conditions will occur, it should allow for such conditions by simulating the results of possible collapses, integrating ground investigations with design, predefining a monitoring plan, and defining technical criteria for intervention, and administrative responsibilities and procedures.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09568700
• Corporate Authors:

  THE MINING JOURNAL LTD

  60 WORSHIP STREET
  LONDON,   United Kingdom  EC2A 2HD
• Authors:
  • PELIZZA, S
  • Grasso, P
• Publication Date: 1998-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 71,73,75
• Serial:
  • WORLD TUNNELLING AND SUBSURFACE EXCAVATION
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: THE MINING JOURNAL LTD
  • ISSN: 0956-8700

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction management; Continuous structures; Control; Design; Failure; Forecasting; Geology; Repairing; Simulation; Stability (Mechanics); Surveillance; Tunnels
• Uncontrolled Terms: Site investigation
• ITRD Terms: 3666: Construction method; 9006: Continuous; 3874: Control; 9011: Design (overall design); 5520: Failure; 132: Forecast; 4053: Geology; 3635: Repair; 9103: Simulation; 5722: Site investigation; 5930: Stability; 9101: Surveillance; 3374: Tunnel
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Geotechnology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00752453
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Sep 18 1998 12:00AM