IMPROVED DESIGN FOR TUNNEL SUPPORTS: ANALYSIS METHOD AND GROUND STRUCTURE BEHAVIOR, A REVIEW

The report presents the results of a study on observational methods and their potential for improving tunnel design and construction. Advantages and limitations of these methods in particular regarding their application in the United States are examined and initial steps to improve the methods are presented. Specifically, the report gives a detailed description of the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM), the most advanced observational method. Following a review of contractual and legal issues in tunneling, an assessment is given of the technical, contractual, operational and economic aspects of observational methods that need to be improved. The first research results providing such improvements are presented. They include a concept for less conservative empirical design methods, a comprehensive review and critique of presently available analysis methods, a simplified analysis method for preliminary design and an extensive discussion of ground structure behavior. These results which are not only applicable to observational methods and the detailed review of the NATM can be used in practice.

• Corporate Authors:

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Department of Civil Engineering, 77 Massachusetts Avenue
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02139

  Department of Transportation

  Office of University Research, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Einstein, H H
  • Schwartz, C W
  • STEINER, W
  • Baligh, M M
  • Levitt, R E
• Publication Date: 1980-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 503 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction; Construction projects; Contract administration; Contracts; Design; Economic factors; Excavation and tunneling; Finite element method; Jurisprudence and judicial processes; Legal factors; Soil mechanics; Structural analysis; Structural design; Structural mechanics; Tunnel supports; Tunneling; Tunnels; Underground structures
• Identifier Terms: New Austrian Tunneling Method
• Uncontrolled Terms: Design criteria; Structural behavior; Tunnel design
• Old TRIS Terms: Economic considerations; Underground supporting
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Economics; Geotechnology; Highways; Law;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00326067
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/RSPA/DPB-50-7910Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-OS-60136
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 19 1981 12:00AM