A SYSTEMS STUDY OF SOFT GROUND TUNNELING

A fundamental investigation of soft-ground tunneling operations was made to identify and assess the potential technical and economic feasibility of new tunneling system concepts. Quantitative estimates were made of costs and rate of advance of different candidate system concepts relative to an assumed set of tunneling conditions. The magnitude of R and D effort required to achieve cost reductions and performance improvements over the 1970 to 1985 time period was estimated. The study concludes that the major restraints to reducing costs and increasing performance in soft ground tunneling over the 1970 to 1985 time period will result from the lack of any effective method for handling bouldery ground and from the lack of a method for rapid installation of the permanent tunnel liner continuously and concurrently with the advance of the face. With a 15-year R and D effort of $35 to $70 million, these problems could be substantially overcome and current tunneling costs could be expected to decrease by 40-65% and advance rates could be expected to increase by a factor of from 4 to 8. Cost differences among the more promising alternative system concepts were found to be small relative to the range of uncertainty associated with the cost forecasts. (Author)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with Little (Arthur D.), Inc., Cambridge, Mass.
• Corporate Authors:

  Fenix and Scisson Incorporated

  Tulsa, OK  United States 
• Authors:
  • Brandt, C T
  • Stone, R B
  • Smith, A R
  • Willis, B H
  • Pastuhof, A
• Publication Date: 1970-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 439 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Building materials; Chemical analysis; Construction; Construction equipment; Costs; Excavation and tunneling; Geological surveying; Planning; Reinforced concrete; Shields (Tunnels); Shotcrete; Soft soils; Soil chemistry; Subways; Systems analysis; Tunnel lining; Tunneling; Tunnels; Underground structures
• Uncontrolled Terms: Construction costs
• Old TRIS Terms: Advanced planning; Shields tunneling; Soft ground tunneling; Soil analysis; Underground supporting; Underground surveys
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Finance; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00039240
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-FRA-OHSGT-231 Final Rpt
• Contract Numbers: DOT-FR-9-0034
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 24 1973 12:00AM