DEVELOPMENT OF TUNNELING METHODS AND CONTROLS
IMPROVEMENTS IN EQUIPMENT AND METHODS DURING THE PAST 15 YR HAVE KEPT TUNNEL EXCAVATION COSTS FROM APPRECIABLE INCREASES WHILE THE GENERAL CONSTRUCTION COST INDEX HAS DOUBLED. TUNNEL DRILLING RATES HAVE INCREASED FROM 20 FT PER WEEK 100 YR AGO TO 100 FT PER WEEK 50 YR AGO AND TO ABOUT 300 FT PER WEEK TODAY. A MILESTONE IN TUNNEL DRIVING WAS THE 3-1/2-MILE-LONG FUCINUS TUNNEL (19 FT WIDE AND 9 FT HIGH) STARTED IN A.D. 41 AND REQUIRING 30,000 SLAVES 11 YR TO COMPLETE. THE CONCEPT OF BORING MACHINES TO DRILL TUNNELS GOES BACK TO 1882, BUT THE GREATEST ADVANCE HAS BEEN MADE IN THE LAST 5 YEARS. A TABLE LISTS THE MAJOR COMPLETED MOLE TUNNELING PROJECTS. COST SAVINGS UP TO 40% OVER CONVENTIONAL DRILL-SHOOT-MUCK CYCLE METHODS CAN BE PROVEN. THE REQUIREMENT FOR AND TYPES OF TUNNELL SUPPORTS BEING USED ARE ANALYZED. A LASER BEAM IS AN EXCELLENT CONTROL METHOD FOR PRECISION DRILLING WITH A BORING MACHINE. TUNNELING SAFETY HAS PROGRESSED TO A SATISFACTORY LEVEL. DURING A MILLION MAN-HOURS AT BLANCO TUNNEL, COLORADO, ONLY SIX MINOR LOST- TIME ACCIDENTS OCCURRED. /ASCE/
-
Supplemental Notes:
- Vol 96, No C02, PROC PAPER 7577, PP 99-118, 9 FIG, 2 TAB,
-
Authors:
- Armstrong, E L
- Publication Date: 1970-10
Media Info
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Boring; Costs; Drilling; Excavation and tunneling; Lasers; Tables (Data); Tunneling machines
- Subject Areas: Construction; Finance; Highways;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00215358
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Dec 2 1970 12:00AM