TUNNELING WITH CONTROLLED STRESS WAVES

This report describes a concept for hard rock tunneling that uses controlled stress waves to fracture rock. Tests with high explosive charges demonstrated the feasibility of the concept, but follow-on tests with an electrohydraulic stress wave source were unsuccessful. Development of a repeatable stress wave source is necessary to the success of the concept. Extrapolations of test data indicate that the concept could reduce the specific energy requirements for hard rock tunneling by an order of magnitude compared to present tunnel boring machines. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  Naval Construction Battalion Center

  Civil Engineering Laboratory, Point Mugu
  Port Hueneme, CA  United States  93043
• Authors:
  • Odello, R J
• Publication Date: 1977-12

Media Info

• Pagination: 16 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Electrohydraulic mechanisms; Excavation and tunneling; Hydrodynamics; Pulse generators; Rocks; Rods; Spallation; Stresses; Tunneling; Wave motion; Waves
• Uncontrolled Terms: Stress waves
• Old TRIS Terms: Electro-hydraulic method; Electrohydrodynamics
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Geotechnology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00175859
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: CEL-TN-1511
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 28 1978 12:00AM