TUNNEL

LINER PLATE
FEATURES & BENEFITS OF
ARMTEC TUNNEL LINER PLATE
SAFE All underground work can be undertaken from within the assembled shell.
ECONOMICAL Strong corrugated steel plates provide maximum strength at the
lowest weight. Two-flange design provides optimum stiffness.
VERSATILE Many shapes are available; liner plate can be installed horizontally for tunnels
and relines, or vertically for shafts and caissons.
SIMPLE Excavate – muck out – assemble liner – grout. No complex tunnelling
equipment is required.
EASY TO HANDLE With only two basic parts (plates and fasteners), no special skills are required
for assembly. All plates can be carried by a single person if required.
READILY AVAILABLE Structures are made to order in our central factory and shipped to the
customer’s project location.

Applications:
• Soft ground tunnelling
• Relining existing structures
• Vertical shaft liners
• Caissons
• Rockfall protection
(mining applications)

Digging at the tunnel face using Pipe Arch Shape used in relining an existing masonry culvert under a railroad.
a shield.

COVER PHOTO: Custom shape designed for relining a railroad masonry culvert.

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General
Armtec steel Tunnel Liner Plate is a corrugated steel, two-flange sectional lining system designed for use primarily in
soft-ground tunnelling. Tunnel Liner Plate is available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, from as small as 1.3 m
diameter to a maximum 8 m diameter.

Product Description
1.6 2.0 2.8
Two components Curved corrugated two-flange steel plates, curved to suit
16 mm diameter “speed bolts” ASTM A307
Plate Thickness: 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm
Finish Galvanized or black steel
Shapes Circular, ellipsed, arch, pipe arch, underpass
Plate size 500 mm wide x 300pi mm (942 mm)
500 mm wide x 350pi mm (1100 mm)
500 mm wide x 400pi mm (1257 mm)
Design method AASHTO Standard Specification for Highway Bridges, Division I, Section 16.

Tunnelling vs Cut and Cover Assembly c. Minimum over-excavation is

Tunnelling is most often used when Tunnel Liner is assembled completely required: As all connections are
the surface above the works cannot from within the progressing made from within the finished
be open cut. This may be due to the structure. This is possible due to the portion of the structure, the
following: bolted flanged circumferential seams excavation needs to be only
• traffic above and the use of retaining clips and sufficient to allow assembly of the
• existing buildings or structures bolts at the longitudinal seams. All plates. This reduces risk of impact
• space or clearance restrictions components can be safely hand- on the structure due to settlement
carried into the assembly area. above.
Typical tunnelling applications would
include the installation of drainage or Tunnel Liner Plate is one of the safest d. Bolt torque recommended is 135
utilities in: products available for soft-ground to 170 N.m.
• urban environments tunnelling due to:
• under highways Completing the Installation
a. Full assembly from inside the After installation in the excavated
• under railways completed portion of the structure tunnel or shaft line, the Tunnel Liner
Additional uses of Tunnel Liner b. Small plates (500 mm wide) allow Plate is grouted into place. Grouting
include: minimum unsupported excavation. is normally undertaken at the end of
• caissons and shafts In poor soils this can be as little as every shift. Factory-installed grout
(vertical tunnelling) the excavation required to install a ports allow work to be completed
• pipe relines, where access is single plate. For greater efficiency, from within the structure.
available only from inside the liner excavation should permit
• pipe relines with vertical or installation of a complete ring.
horizontal changes in alignment
(sharp turns)

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BUILDING A TUNNEL WITH
ARMTEC TUNNEL LINER PLATE
Widely varying soil conditions require that a full geotechnical investigation be undertaken before any tunnelling
solution can be properly designed and installed. Soil type, dead loads, live loads and potential hydrostatic pressure will
help determine the selection of plate thickness required.
Installation methods will be determined by the soil property and behaviour and also by the depth of bury and presence
of potential live loads over the tunnelling site.
Grouting of the assembled tunnel liner, once in place, is always required in order to ensure the stability of the finished
installation.
The following chart can be used as a guideline in determining the installation method utilized.

Situation Potential Solution*

Clays and cohesive soils above water Excavation of one full ring (500 mm) at tunnel face is possible
table
Partially cohesive soils Reduce excavation at tunnel face to allow for partial ring to be installed.
Consider use of ‘poling plates’ at crown.
Loose, ravelling soils Minimize excavation to one plate at a time. Consider use of poling plates at
the crown. For poor conditions, use full or partial shield at tunnel face
Low cover (shallow burial) Use poling plates at crown
Moderate cover/live load Use poling plates at crown
High water table Dig sump and dewater at all times
Very deep burial Over-excavate at tunnel face to allow for ‘squeeze’
All applications Grout finished sections daily or at end of shift

* Notes: A full geotechnical investigation must always be undertaken.

For maximum safety, all excavation work can be completed from inside the finished section.
Armtec Tunnel Liner Plate is generally not recommended for use with tunnel boring machines (TBM).

O
F PO FP

Tunnel heading out from a Liner Plate shaft Tunnelling tram used to remove spoil from the tunnel
face.
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DATA ON ARMTEC TUNNEL
LINER PLATE
Armtec Tunnel Liner Plate is a two-flange corrugated steel plate. All plates
have a covering width of 500 mm (along the centre line of the tunnel).

Y
25.4 mm
Rad.
52 mm
Ra mm

25 mm
No Swage (NS)

Varies
Ra mm
Ra mm

d.
.4
N.A.

25
Both ends plain and punched with

d.
d.

.4
.4

25
25
square holes. 15.88 mm Dia.
Tunnel Liner Bolt (Typical)
70 mm 90 mm 90 mm 90 mm 90 mm 70 mm

Two plate lengths of 300 pi mm two swaged ends.

Single Swage (SS) and 400 pi mm enable a size range
One end is swaged to fit into the Bolt Torque required is between
adjacent plate, and punched with of 1300 mm up to 8000 mm in 135 N.m and 170 N.m.
slotted holes. The other end is plain increments of 100 mm diameter.
and punched with square holes. Armtec provides layout and assembly
Circumferential seams are made by drawings with every order.
butting adjacent plate flanges and
bolting from the inside. Longitudinal
seams (end of plate) are overlapped Hex Nut

Double Swage (DS)

by means of a ‘swaged end’ and a
Each end is swaged and punched with ‘non-swaged’ end. Bolts are used to
slotted holes. secure the lap (see right). Longitudinal Slotted Hole

seams are staggered from one ring to Swaged End of

3 plate types Liner Plate

the next. To facilitate complete

Spring Steel
assembly from within the finished Speed Clip

structure, the top centre (starting)

plate has two ‘non-swaged’ ends. The
bottom centre (finishing) plate has Square Hole Speed Thread

Properties and Dimensions of Armtec Liner Plates

Nominal Design Area Y Moment of Section Modulus Radius of Approximate Weights

Thickness Thickness (mm2/mm) (mm) Inertia Bottom Top Gyration (single Plate kg)
(mm) (mm) (mm4/mm) (mm3/mm) (mm3/mm) (mm) 300 Pi mm 400 Pi mm
3.0 2.95 3.522 22.910 1198.77 52.32 37.42 17.84 15.73 20.53
4.0 4.0 4.776 23.556 1634.48 69.39 50.38 17.89 20.98 27.37
5.0 5.0 5.970 24.172 2054.55 85.00 62.58 17.94 26.22 34.21
6.0 6.0 7.164 24.789 2480.01 100.04 74.67 18.00 31.46 41.05
Y = Distance from outer face to neutral axis, in mm No. of Bolts/Plate 11 13

Ultimate Longitudinal Seam Strength of Armtec Liner Plates

Thickness 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0

(mm)
Strength 497 802 1117 1246
(kN/m)
Bolt Size ASTM A-307 ASTM A-307 ASTM A-449 ASTM A-449
(mm x mm) Long. 16 x 32 16 x 32 16 x 38 16 x 38
Circ. 16 x 32 16 x 32 16 x 38 16 x 38

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HEIGHT OF COVER TABLES
Depth of Tunnel Limits for Armtec Liner Plates (in metres)
CL-625 Live Load Granular Soil (φ = 17o) W = 1.94 Mg/m3

N.A.* Diameter Specified Thickness (in mm) for Minimum and Maximum Height of Cover
(mm) 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0
1300 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
1500 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
1800 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
2100 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
2400 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
2700 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
3000 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
3300 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
3600 1.2m - 18m 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
3900 1.2m - 10m 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
4200 1.2m - 4.2m 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
4500 1.2m - 3.9m 1.2m - 27m 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
4800 1.2m - 3.6m 1.2m - 15m 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
5100 1.2m - 9.9m 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
5400 1.2m - 5.2m 1.2m - 27m 1.2m - NL
5700 1.2m - 4.9m 1.2m - 17.4m 1.2m - 28.5m
6000 1.2m - 4.7m 1.2m - 11.4m 1.2m - 18.3m

E80 Live Load Granular Soil (φ = 17o) W = 1.94 Mg/m3

N.A.* Diameter Specified Thickness (in mm) for Minimum and Maximum Height of Cover
(mm) 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0
1300 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
1500 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
1800 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
2100 1.5m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
2400 1.6m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
2700 2.4m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
3000 3.0m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
3300 4.5m - NL 1.3m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
3600 6.0m - 18m 1.5m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
3900 8.0m - 10m 1.6m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
4200 2.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
4500 2.6m - 27m 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
4800 3.0m - 15m 1.3m - NL 1.2m - NL
5100 3.6m - 9.9m 1.5m - NL 1.3m - NL
5400 1.8m - 27m 1.4m - NL
5700 2.1m - 17.4m 1.5m - 28.5m
6000 2.4m - 11.4m 1.6m - 18.3m
NL = No Limit A minimum limit of 1.2m cover was established based on previous
* N.A. = Neutral Axis good experience during installation to prevent loss of roof materials.
Live loads assumed negligible (and not included in computations) All tables above based on K = 0.22
beyond 2.4m for CL-625 and 9.1m for E80. All tables are per AASHTO design method. Values represent minimum
stiffness allowable. Actual job conditions may require greater effective
stiffness.

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HEIGHT OF COVER TABLES
Depth of Tunnel Limits for Armtec Liner Plates (in metres)
CL-625 Live Load Saturated Clay (φ = 8.7o) W = 1.76 Mg/m3

N.A.* Diameter Specified Thickness (in mm) for Minimum and Maximum Height of Cover
(mm) 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0
1300 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
1500 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
1800 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
2100 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
2400 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
2700 1.2m - 14m 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
3000 1.2m - 8.3m 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
3300 1.2m - 5.9m 1.2m - 22m 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
3600 1.2m - 4.8m 1.2m - 14.2m 1.2m - 42m 1.2m - NL
3900 1.2m - 4.5m 1.2m - 9.9m 1.2m - 26m 1.2m - 38m
4200 1.2m - 4.2m 1.2m - 7.4m 1.2m - 17.6m 1.2m - 24m
4500 1.2m - 3.9m 1.2m - 6.3m 1.2m - 12.4m 1.2m - 17.8m
4800 1.2m - 3.6m 1.2m - 5.8m 1.2m - 9.8m 1.2m - 13.6m
5100 1.2m - 3.4m 1.2m - 5.5m 1.2m - 8.2m 1.2m - 10.2m
5400 1.2m - 5.2m 1.2m - 7.3m 1.2m - 8.6m
5700 1.2m - 4.9m 1.2m - 6.9m 1.2m - 7.7m
6000 1.2m - 4.7m 1.2m - 6.5m 1.2m - 7.3m

E80 Live Load Saturated Clay (φ = 8.7o) W = 1.76 Mg/m3

N.A.* Diameter Specified Thickness (in mm) for Minimum and Maximum Height of Cover
(mm) 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0
1300 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
1500 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
1800 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
2100 1.5m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
2400 1.6m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
2700 2.4m - 14m 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
3000 3.0m - 6m 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
3300 1.3m - 22m 1.2m - NL 1.2m - NL
3600 1.5m - 14.2m 1.2m - 42m 1.2m - NL
3900 1.6m - 9.9m 1.2m - 26m 1.2m - 38m
4200 2.2m - 5.9m 1.2m - 17.6m 1.2m - 24m
4500 2.6m - 4.8m 1.2m - 12.4m 1.2m - 17.8m
4800 3.0m - 3.7m 1.3m - 9.8m 1.2m - 13.6m
5100 1.5m - 7m 1.3m - 10.2m
5400 1.8m - 6.3m 1.4m - 7.6m
5700 2.1m - 6.1m 1.5m - 7.1m
6000 2.4m - 5.7m 1.6m - 6.6m
NL = No Limit A minimum limit of 1.2m cover was established based on previous
* N.A. = Neutral Axis good experience during installation to prevent loss of roof materials.
Live loads assumed negligible (and not included in computations) All tables above based on K = 0.22
beyond 2.4m for CL-625 and 9.1m for E80. All tables are per AASHTO design method. Values represent minimum
stiffness allowable. Actual job conditions may require greater effective
stiffness.

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 Applications for Armtec Tunnel Liner Plate
• Tunnels • Mine entries
• Relines of failing underground structures • Vertical storage bins
• Vertical shafts

38m diameter rib reinforced Liner Plate shaft used for Liner Plate used as a signal support base in railroad
installation of a sub surface transformer, 21m deep application

Liner Plate pedestrian/bicycle underpass, installed Entrance to tunnel with sheeting headwall
beneath a live rail line

Product details and specifications are constantly evolving. This brochure is intended to provide general product information.
The product received may not be exactly as shown. Contact an Armtec Sales office for current product data.

Head Office: 370 Speedvale Ave. W., P.O. Box 3000, Guelph, ON N1H 6P2 www.armtec.com
Sales Offices: Nanaimo, Prince George, Langley, Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge, Saskatoon,
Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Guelph, Toronto, Peterborough, Chesterville, Forest,
Orangeville, Comber, Montreal, Quebec City, St. Clet, Sackville, Truro, Summerside, Bishop’s Falls
and St. John’s.

TLP/30C/BP/0607