Construction Technology_Unit

4.1
Unit IV (6 hours)

Underground Tunneling –Tunnel alignment, size and

shape of tunnel, tunneling in hard and soft strata, tunnel
shaft-sinking and construction, tunnel lining, ventilation
and lighting in tunnel, advance techniques for tunnel
maintenance, Micro Tunneling.

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Purpose of Tunnels
It is an artificial underground passage to bypass
obstacles safely without disturbing the
overburden (i.e. land above it ), to carry freight,
passenger, sewage, water, etc. They avoid use of
costly land and
Functions of Tunnel-
1. To avoid long circuits around a mountain and
shortening the route.
2. They facilitates transport of passengers, utilities
through shortest route is possible. Also used for
military defense
3. To permit easy gradients in mountainous terrain so
that better level of service can be provided
4. It allows rapid and unobstructed transport facilities
in big congested cities 2
Purpose of Tunnels
1. Based on purpose
2. Based on material met with at the time of
construction
3. Based on shape
4. Based on alignment/position of tunnel

Tunnel surveying involve the following

operation

1. Location center line on the ground

2. Construction of shaft over center line
3. Transferring the center line inside the
tunnel
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 Types of tunnel Based on purpose

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 Types of tunnel Based on purpose

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 Types of tunnel Based on purpose

3. Defense tunnels (For emergency situations)

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 Types of tunnel Based on material
met with at the time of
construction
1. Tunnels in hard rock
2. Tunnels in soft rock
3. Tunnels under water

7 Department of Civil Engineering, PCCOE,

Pune – 411 044
 Types of tunnel Based on shape
1. Circular Section
2. D or Segmental Roof Section
3. Horse –shoe Section
4. Rectangular Section
5. Egg shaped Section

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 Types of tunnel Based on shape
1. Circular
• Best for resisting external as well
as internal pressure, hence they
are suitable for carrying water
under pressure
• These can be easily constructed in
soft soil and soft rocks
• If these shapes are to be used for
carrying traffic, then the invert
portion of the tunnel needs to be
filled to obtain a level surface

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 Types of tunnel Based on shape
2. Horse shoe & Modified Horse
Shoe
• Semi circular shape in roof portion
and curved portion inside walls
with almost flat portion in invert
portion
• Curved portion helps in resisting
internal & external pressure
• These are used for conveying
water hard rocks & soft soil
• Modified horseshoe shape has
flatter base and an ease in
construction
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 Types of tunnel Based on shape
2. Horse shoe & Modified
Horse Shoe

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 Types of tunnel Based on shape
3. D-shaped
 Roof portion is semi circular, and
walls are vertical Liverpool,
 This shape is suitable in hard rock United
 It is also suitable where external Kingdom
pressure due to water or unsound
strata upon lining is less
 Advantage of this shape over horse
shoe is the width of invert which
gives more working floor space
 Also, this shape eliminates the
tendency of wet concrete to
12 segregate away from walls
 Types of tunnel Based on shape
4. Egg shaped & Elliptical
Used in locations where rock is
stratified, soft and closely laminated
Also where the external pressure
and tensile forces in the crown are
likely to be high to cause serious
rock falls
Sewer tunnel
In these sections, velocity does not in London
reduce with reduction in discharge,
hence best suited for carrying
sewage
Elliptical sections are hydraulically
more efficient

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 Types of tunnel Based on shape
5. Rectangular
• These are best suited for
hard strata
• They prove costly as they
are completely made of
R.C.C. & difficult to Harbour Tunnel,
construct Baltimore, US
• Depth is less and hence
suitable for pedestrian
traffic, but can also be
used for vehicular traffic
with restriction on vehicle
height
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 Types of tunnel Based on
alignment/position of tunnel
1. Off-spur tunnels: Short length tunnels to negotiate
minor local obstacles
2. Saddle or base tunnels: Constructed in valleys
along the natural slope till the slope does not
exceed ruling gradient
3. Slope tunnels: These are constructed in steep hills
for economic and safe operations of road &
railways
4. Spiral tunnels: Provided in narrow valley in the
form of loops in the interior of mountain to
increase the length of tunnel and avoid steep
slopes

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 Types of tunnel Based on
alignment/position of tunnel

16
 Types of tunnel Based on
alignment/position of tunnel

17 Department of Civil Engineering, PCCOE,

Pune – 411 044
 Criteria for selection of size &
shape of tunnels
Ground strata

Traffic density

Tunnel length

Purpose of construction

Water table level

Availability of machinery

Availability of technical staff and labours

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 Pilot Tunnel

• When diameter of the tunnel required is

large (> 8m) then adopting full face
excavation may pose problems

• Instead a small diameter tunnel is excavated

parallel to the alignment of main tunnel

• Cross cuts are provided from pilot tunnel to

main tunnel

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 Pilot Tunnel

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 Pilot Tunnel
It serves as an exploratory tunnel and gives
information about the strata likely to be
encountered
It provides access for ground treatment

Time required for mucking in large tunnels is

reduced when pilot tunnels are used
Pilot tunnels also improve the drainage &
ventilation
Speed of work of main tunnel is increased due
to pilot tunnel
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 Shaft
It is a vertical or inclined opening/s provided during
excavation of tunnel from the surface of hill which
meets the main tunnel at intermediate locations for
conveyance of men, materials, ventilation, pumping
water, in addition to pulling waste rock.

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 Shaft-Necessity/purpose/
advantage
 To transfer the center line inside the tunnel
 To start excavation from both side so that total time required
for excavation will be less
 To remove excavated material and avoid delay in disposal of
excavated material
 To provide adequate natural ventilation
 To provide passage for pumping out water
 To provide passage for construction tool, machinery and
transport machinery into the interiors of tunnel
 Temporary storage and treatment of sewage.
 To serve as intake and return airways for the mine (ventilation
shaft).
 These shafts are used in applications such as hydro electric
projects, water supply, waste water shafts and tunnel projects.
 Drilled shaft machine is used in such process, where it consists
23 of special type of units that are used in both stable and unstable
soils. Storage of nuclear waste
Purpose of Shafts
Shaft sinking is used for many purposes-
To transfer the center line inside the tunnel
To start excavation from both side
To remove excavated material
To provide adequate natural ventilation
To provide passage for pumping out water
To provide passage for construction tool, machinery
Temporary storage and treatment of sewage.
To serve as intake and return airways for the mine
(ventilation shaft).
These shafts are used in applications such as hydro
electric projects, water supply, waste water shafts and
tunnel projects.
Drilled shaft machine is used in such process, where
it consists of special type of units that are used in both24
Shaft Sinking: Basic operation
involved
Sinking through the rock:
• Drilling
• Blasting
• Mucking and Hoisting
• Support or shaft lining
• Auxiliary operations:
a) Dewatering
b) Ventilation
c) Lighting or illumination
d) Shaft centering

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Shaft Sinking: Excavation-
drilling
Use of sinkers to
drill holes of 32–38
mm diameter and the
shaft jumbos to drill
holes of 40–55 mm
dia.
The hole’s length
varies between 1.5 m
and 3 m if the sinkers
are used, and it can
be up to 5 m in case
of the shaft jumbos.
Wedge cut, pyramid 26
Shaft Sinking: Basic operation
involved

CRYDERMAN MUCKER
CACTUS GRAB

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