Unit 2

Syllabus
Tunneling

Tunneling, functions & types of tunnel, Criteria for selection of size & shape
of tunnels. Pilot tunnel, shaft, addit and portal, Needle beam, Drilling &
blasting method of tunneling including various operations like mucking,
NATM, TBM & earth pressure balance method of tunneling in soft soil,
Drainage in tunneling- Pre drainage and permanent drainage, Ventilation in
tunneling-temporary and permanent, Micro tunneling.
Tunnels are underground or underwater
passageway, excavated through the
surrounding soil/earth/rock enclosed
except for entry and exit, commonly at
each end.
A tunnel may be used for foot or vehicular
road traffic, rail traffic, or for a canal.
Secret tunnels are constructed for military
purpose.
Special tunnels, such as wildlife
crossings, are built to allow wildlife to
cross human made barriers safely.
 HISTORY OF
TUNNELS
The first ever tunnels were made
by cavemen.
About 2180B.C., Babylonia tunnel
was built under Euphrates river. It
was 900m long, 3600mm wide and
4500mm high.
The largest tunnel built in ancient
times was 1470m long, 7600mm
wide and 9000mm high between
Naples and Pozzuoli in 36B.C.
 Tunnelling, functions & types of tunnel

 To provide the shortest route through an obstacle.

 To provide the rapid or timely provision of facilities.
To reduce the steep gradients especially while climbing up and
then climbing down rapidly i.e. in short distance.
 To avoid the expensive acquisition of valuable commercial land.
 To avoid the damage of built urban facilities, roads, pavements,
etc.
 When the depth of ground cutting exceeds 20 m.
To avoid the expensive maintenance cost in open cut area in
sliding lands, sinking or unstable grounds, snow-drifting
grounds, ponding, marshy, soaked, etc areas.
• Function:-
1. For underground road transportation
2. For underground rail transportation
3. For underground water distribution
4. For purpose of ventilation
5. For purpose of reducing cost for open cut
6. Saving time and cost
Tunnel are classified into 2 types
1. Hard rock tunnelling
2. Soft rock tunnelling
 CLASSIFIED BY EXAMPLE OF TUNNELS
• Purpose Railway tunnels, metro system,
highway tunnels, pedestrian tunnels,
water tunnels, sewage tunnels,
services tunnels, storage tunnels.

• Geological location / condition Rock tunnels, earth tunnels,

and submerged tunnels.

• Cross-sectional shapes Rectangular shape, circular shape,

elliptical shape, egg shape, horse
shoe shape, and segmental
shape.
 Pilot tunnel, Adit, portal and Shaft
• A small tunnel or shaft excavated in the center, and in advance of the main drivage, to gain
information about the ground and create a free face, thus simplifying the blasting operation is
called as pilot tunnel

• Shafts are vertical duct constructed for ventilation

• An adit is a horizontal or near-horizontal passageway

to a larger underground excavation for the purposes of

ventilation, water removal, or auxiliary entrance.

• Portal is opening of tunnel.

The shapes of tunnel are usually
determined by their purpose, ground
conditions, construction method and/or
lining materials.
There are four shapes of tunnel:-
 Circular shape tunnel
 Elliptical shape tunnel
 Horseshoe shape tunnel
 Oval/Egg shape tunnel
 This type of section offers
greater resistance to external
pressure.
 If ground is highly unstable, such
as soft clay or sand, it is
necessary to use circular section.
 For carrying water and
sewerage circular shape
tunnels are used e.g. Aqueduct
Elliptical Shape Tunnel

 These tunnel serve as water

sewage condition.
 The smaller cross section at
the bottom maintains the flow
at the required self cleaning
velocity.
 Because of their narrow base
they are not used as traffic
tunnels.
 These section have narrow
cross- sections at bottom.
They are best suited for
carrying sewage.
 They maintain self-cleansing
velocity of flow of sewage both in
dry and rainy seasons.
 They resist external as well as
internal pressure due to their
circular walls.
 These section of tunnels are
difficult to construct
 They are commonly used for rock
tunnelling.
 These shape consist of horizontal
roof together with arched sides and
a curved invert.
 It has the advantage of utilising the
compressive strength of concrete in
resisting the loading by means of arch
action and the base is wide enough for
traffic.
 They are most popular as traffic tunnels
for road and railway routes.
 They are also difficult to construct.
The tunneling survey is an underground survey done for
constructing a tunnel
The survey done can be divided into 3 methods:-
 Surface survey
 Transferring the alignment underground
 Levels in tunnels
 Surface survey connects points representing each portal of a tunnel.
 A traverse connecting the portal points determines the azimuth, distance &
differences in elevation of each end of the proposed tunnel.
 Based on the local conditions and proposed length of the tunnel the methods of
working are adopted.
 It is always advisable that the survey is based on the suitable local coordinate
system.
 The alignment is permanently referenced by a system of monuments within
an area outside each tunnel portal.
A long tunnel excavation is carried inward from both ends. But vertical shafts are
also sunk up to the required depth along the alignment of the tunnel at
intermediate locations along the routes. The vertical alignment can be done by:-
• Plumb bob
• Optical collimator
• Laser
A heavy plumb bob (5 to 10 kg) is suspended on either a wire of heavy twine.
Oscillations of the bob can be controlled by suspending it in a pot with high
viscosity oil. The bob is suspended from a removable bracket attached to the
surface side of the shaft.
 Optical plumbing becomes important with the increase in depth of internal shaft.
A Laser equipment can be used to provide a vertical line of sight. The laser
generates a light beam of high intensity and of low angular divergence and can be
projected over long distances since the spread of the beam is very small to
provide a visible line for constant reference.
Laser Equipment
 In transferring levels underground, little
difficulty is encountered at the ends of the
tunnel, but at the shaft use is made of
• Steel tape Depth measured by Steel
tape
• Chain
• Constructed rods
• Steel wires
 Now a days EDMI is also used. But in all
cases the main idea is to deduct the height
of the shaft measured from the top of a
benchmark of known value.

Depth measured by EDM

 Classical method
 Cut and Cover method
 Drill and Blast method
 Immersed Tube method
 Sequential Excavation Method (SEM)
 Tunnel Boring Machines(TBM)
 Shield tunneling method
 New Austrian tunneling method
Supports are predominantly timber, and transportation of
muck is done on cars on narrow gauge tracks powered by
steam.
Progress is typically in multiple stages i.e. progress in one
drift, then support, then in another drift and so on.
 The lining would be of brickwork.
These craft-based methods are no longer applicable,
although some of their principles have been used in
combination up to present day.
 Some of the great tunnels were built with this method.
In this method excavation is done by hand or simple drilling
equipment.
Cut and cover tunnelling is a common and well-
proven technique for constructing shallow
tunnels.
In this method trench is excavated and roofed
over with an overhead support system strong
enough to carry the load of what is to be built
above the tunnel.
• Step one: Construction of diaphragm walls, piles,
and decking.
• Step two: Excavation within the diaphragm
walls, installing struts as work progresses.
• Step three: Construction of permanent floor
slabs and walls.
• Step four: Fitting out the internal structures,
backfilling, and reinstating the surface
structures.
CUT AND COVER METHOD
This tunnelling method involves the
use of explosives.
Drilling rigs are used to bore blast
holes on the proposed tunnel surface
to a designated depth for blasting.
Explosives and timed detonators are
then placed in the blast holes.
Once blasting is carried out, waste
rocks and soils are transported out of
the tunnel before further blasting.
• Drill and blast method is mostly used method for the excavation throughout the world.

• The method can be used in all types of rocks and the initial cost is lower than the mechanical method like TBM.

• Compared with bored tunneling by Tunnel Boring Machine, blasting generally results in higher duration of vibration levels.

• The excavation rate is also less than TBM (usually 3 to 5m a day).

STEPS:-

A. Drilling blast holes and loading them

with explosives.

B. Detonating the blast, followed by ventilation to

remove blast fumes.

C. Removal of the blasted rock (mucking)

D. Scaling crown and walls to remove loosened

pieces of rock.

E. Installing initial ground support.

F. Advancing rail, ventilation, and utilities.

When a canal, channel, river, etc., needs
to be crossed, this method is often used.
A trench is dug at the water bottom and
prefabricated tunnel segments are made
water tight and sunken into position
where they are connected to the other
segments.
Afterward, the trench may be backfilled
with earth to cover and protect the
tunnel from the water-borne traffic, e.g.,
ships, barges, and boats.
Soil in certain tunnels may have sufficient
strength such that excavation of the soil
face by equipment in small increments is
possible without direct support. This
excavation method is called the sequential
excavation method.
 Once excavated, the soil face is then
supported using shotcrete and the next
excavation is continued for the segment.
The cohesion of the rock or soil can be
increased by injecting grouts into the
ground prior to excavation of that segment.
 In New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) a flexible lining is employed.
 It transforms the rock or soil surrounding the tunnel profile from a load
exerting system into a load-carrying one.
 This is achieved through monitoring the behaviour of underground
excavations and the revision of support to obtain the most stable and
economical lining.
 Earth pressure balance
• Earth pressure balance, or EPB, is a mechanized tunneling method in which the excavated
material is used to support the tunnel face whilst it is being plasticized using foams/slurry &
other additives to make it transportable and impermeable.

• The spoil is admitted into the tunnel boring machine (TBM) via a screw conveyor (cochlea)
arrangement which allows the pressure at the face of the TBM to remain balanced without the
use of slurry.
A tunnel boring machine (TBM), also known as a "mole",
is a machine used to excavate tunnels with a circular cross
section through a variety of soil and rock strata.
The TBM is designed to support the adjacent soil until temporary
or permanent linings are installed.
Tunnel Boring Machine
Construction Methods For Different tunnel shapes
Methods Circular HorseshoeRectangular Elliptical
Cut and Cover 
Shield Driven 
Bored 
Drill and Blast  
Immersed Tube  
Sequential Excavation 
Jacked Tunnel  
 FACTORS AFFECTING SELECTION OF
TUNNELING METHOD
 Geological and Hydrological condition
 Cross-section and length of continuous
tunnel
 Local experience and Time/Cost
consideration
 Shape of tunnel
 Managing the risk of variations in ground
quality
 Limits of surface disturbance
Linings are required in most tunnels, always in soft
ground and frequently in rock.
They are required for two purposes: structurally to retain the earth
and water pressure, and operationally to provide an internal
surface appropriate to the function of the tunnel.
 The principal materials for permanent lining of bored tunnels are:
1. Concrete
2. Flake concrete
3. Reinforced concrete
4. Stone and concrete prefabricated blocks
5. Shotcrete
6. Anchor rod and steel frame
7. Prefabricated materials
Tunnel ventilation systems can be categorized into four main
types. The four types are as follows:-
• Natural Ventilation
• Longitudinal Ventilation
• Semi-Transverse Ventilation
• Full-Transverse Ventilation
A naturally ventilated tunnel is as simple as
the name implies. The movement of air is
controlled by meteorological conditions and
the piston effect created by moving traffic
pushing the stale air through the tunnel.
 This effect is minimized when bi-directional
traffic is present.
The meteorological conditions include
elevation and temperature differences
between the two portals, and wind blowing
into the tunnel.
Another configuration would be to add a
centre shaft that allows for one more portal
by which air can enter or exit the tunnel.
Many naturally ventilated tunnels over 180
m (600 ft) in length have mechanical fans
installed for use during a fire emergency.
 Longitudinal ventilation is similar to natural
ventilation with the addition of mechanical
fans, either in the portal buildings, the
center shaft, or mounted inside the tunnel.
 Longitudinal ventilation is often used inside
rectangular-shaped tunnels that do not
have the extra space above the ceiling or
below the roadway for ductwork.
 Also, shorter circular tunnels may use the
longitudinal system since there is less air to
replace; therefore, the need for even
distribution of air through ductwork is not
necessary.
 The fans can be reversible and are used to
move air into or out of the tunnel.
Full-transverse ventilation uses the same
components as semi-transverse
ventilation, but it incorporates supply air
and exhaust air together over the same
length of tunnel.
This method is used primarily for longer
tunnels that have large amounts of air
that need to be replaced or for heavily
traveled tunnels that produce high levels
of contaminants.
The presence of supply and exhaust ducts
allows for a pressure difference between
the roadway and the ceiling; therefore, the
air flows transverse to the tunnel length
and is circulated more frequently.
This system may also incorporate supply
or exhaust ductwork along both sides of
the tunnel instead of at the top and
bottom.
Semi-transverse ventilation also
makes use of mechanical fans for
movement of air, but it does not use
the roadway envelope itself as the
ductwork.
A separate plenum or ductwork is
added either above or below the
tunnel with flues that allow for
uniform distribution of air into or out
of the tunnel.
This plenum or ductwork is typically
located above a suspended ceiling or
below a structural slab within a tunnel
with a circular cross-section.
 Tunnels are more economical than open cuts beyond certain
depths.
Tunnels avoid disturbing or interfering with surface life and
traffic during construction.
Tunnels prove to be cheaper than bridges or open cuts to carry
public utility services like water, sewer and gas.
If tunnels are provided with easy gradients, the cost of
hauling is decreased.
In case of aerial warfare and bombing of cities, the tunnels
would grant better protection as compared to bridges.
MONITOR-MERRIMAC MEMORIAL TUNNEL BRIDGE
Project details:-
Project name-- Monitor-Merrimac
Memorial tunnel-bridge
Client-Common wealth transportation board
(formerly state highway and transportation
board)
Contractor – Virginia department
of transportation
 Distance between portals – 1.463 km
 Time required - 7 years (1985 to 1992)
Method of construction – Immersed
tube method
 Total cost of project – 400 million dollars
Location – Hampton roads Northfolk
and partly in Suffolk
 Qty. of materials – 40,800 Tons of concrete
21,800 Tons of Steel
3 Million of Tiles
• Traffic lanes -13 feet wide, 2.5-foot-wide ledges on either side of the roadway
• Vertical clearance -16.5 feet (road to ceiling)
• Uniqueness – Radio signals does not break
 Client: Indian Railway
Executing Agency: IRCON (Indian
Railway Construction Company Limited)
Contractor: HCC (IRCON being the Client for
HCC)
 Project Location: Jammu & Kashmir
 Construction Period: 2005-2013
 Length of the Tunnel: 10.96 Km
 Project Cost: 1150 Crore
 No. Of tracks: 1 (Broad Gauge)
Need of this Project: To reduce the travel time
and to sustain connectivity between Quazigund
(Kashmir) and Banhihal (Jammu)
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
•Width: 8.4 meters
•Height: 7.9 meters
 CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES
• New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM)
• Drill & Blast
• Road Header (relatively new machinery to
the Indian construction market)
 UNIQUENESS
• Tunnel is open throughout the year.
• Underground drainage system to avoid
seepage in tunnel.
• 3 m wide road in tunnel for maintenance,
emergency rescue & relief.
• Mobile connectivity inside the tunnel.
Challenges faced:-
•Presence of Soft geology.
•Presence of fairly populated village above the alignment.
Project Details :
 Client : Norwegian government
Contractor : Norwegian Public Roads
administration
Consultants : Foundation for Scientific and
Industrial Research
 Construction Period : 1995-2000
 Tunnel Length : 24.5 km
 Tunnel Width : 9 m (30ft)
 Route : Aurdal – Laerdal (Norway)
 Project Cost : 1082 Million Norwegian krone
 No. of lanes : 2
 Location : Sognog Fjordane, Norway
Drainage in tunnelling
• Drainage of tunnel means controlling of water
during and after the construction of the tunnel.
• Controlling of water is attained by preventing
excess quantity of water from entering the tunnel
and removing the water that does enter.

• water in the tunnel comes from two sources

1) water used for washing drill holes.
2) Ground water or sub soil water.
• Drainage system is divided

1. Temporary Drainage system

a) Open ditch drainage system
b) Pumping system
2. Permanent Drainage system
a) By providing a central drain
b) By providing side drain
c) By providing corrugated iron shed and side drains
Open ditch drainage system

• This is the simplest method through which

water may be moved in open ditches, with
proper slopes, to the portals and may be
pumped out from there.
• It is suitable in impervious soils and rock
bases.
Pumping system

• In case of pumping system the quantity of

water that accumulates is collected in
sump wells and pumped out of the pump.
• For long tunnels, it may be necessary to
have more than one sump used.
Central drain system
• This system is suitable when the water coming
through the roof and the side walls of the tunnel is
sufficiently low.
• In this system a central drainage ditch is
constructed longitudinally sloping towards the
portals from where they could be pumped out of
the tunnel by suitable pumps
Single side drain system

• This system is adopted where the quantity

of water entering the tunnel is small.
• The method is adopted in case of tunnels
carrying a single lane highway or railway
track.
• For a draining water a single side drain of
sufficient capacity is provided.
By providing corrugated iron shed and side drains

• This is provided in tunnels in which water leaks from

the roof and side walls of tunnels. By providing
corrugated iron shed, shaped to the contour of the
roof, water is prevented from dropping on the
pavement or railway track. The corrugated shed
guides the water to the side drains and is drained out.
 MICRO Tunnelling
• Micro Tunneling.mp4
DEFINITION & PRINCIPLE:
Micro tunneling is a process that uses a remotely controlled Micro tunnel Boring Machine (MTBM)
combined with pipe jacking technique to directly install product pipelines underground in a single pass.

The jacking pipe is pushed behind thrust boring machine from a starting shaft or Launch shaft by the main
jacking station located in drive shaft up to the target shaft or reception shaft. At the same time an unmanned,
remote controlled microtunneling machine carries out the excavation at the tunnel face, the excavated
material to be transferred by hydraulic conveying system (Slurry system) outside the tunnel and to the
separation system at ground level. All these activities can be done while the operator is inside the control
cabin monitoring and controlling the parameters.
APPLICATION:
• The major applications for pipe jacking and Microtunneling Include new sewerage
and drainage construction, sewer replacement and lining, gas and water mains, oil
pipelines, electricity and telecommunications’ cable installation, and culverts.
• The technique can be used to negotiate obstacles such as motorways, railways,
rivers, canals, buildings and airfields in the path of pipe laying projects; to minimize
the surface disruption frequently associated with open cut pipe laying methods in
urban areas; or simply to provide a permanent underground tunnel construction.
• Construction methods are available to cope with both cohesive and non-cohesive
soils in dry or water bearing conditions. Excavation techniques are also available for
jacking through rock or mixed ground conditions.
Why Micro
tunnelling?
 No major trench excavation & backfilling.
 Less surface disruption.
 No traffic obstruction or road closures.
 Less inconvenience for residents and shops.
 Less amount of excavation to be handled and disposed.
 No Requirement to dewater.
 No effect on the ground water.
 No requirements for utility diversions in urban areas.
 No Noise and dust pollution.
 No expensive reinstatement cost of asphalt or other surface.
 Can always take the short cut route.
 High accuracy installation in line, level, gradient. 5
 Less environmental disturbance to sensitive areas.
MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENTS:
Micro Tunnel Boring Machine “MTBM”.
Control Cabin.
Guidance System.
Jacking Frame.
Slurry Conveyance System.
Separation Plant.
Lubricant Mixing & Injection Plant.
Electric Generator.
Lifting Equipment.
Mobile Store & work shop.
The Micro Tunnel Boring Machine with liquid conveyance system are applicable
in almost every kind of geology, especially in non-cohesive ground material,
even hard rock. The ground is excavated by a rotating cutting wheel in full
section, thereby the tunneling machine is continuously advanced by hydraulic
jacking cylinders . The driven cutting wheel can rotate in both direction. This
offer the possibility to correct or to compensate a roll of the machine which
occur as a reaction to the torque of the cutting wheel.
 CUTTING WHEEL:
For material excavation whilst jacking proceeds, the MTBM is equipped with a
cutting wheel. Different design and configuration of cutting wheel depend on the
type of ground or soil to be excavated so there is mainly cutter for soft soil,
mixed soil, and hard rock ground condition. Each type of cutting wheel have
different configuration of scrapper tools and cutting discs.
CONTROL CONTAINER:
Each container is equipped with individual compartments separating hydraulic power
pack from electric pane while operator and control room are protected in its own space.
GUIDANCE SYSTEM:
It consists of fixed portion which is the electronic laser fitted at starting shaft and the moving
portion which is the electronic target fitted at MTBM. The laser target helps to control the tunneling
machine. It records the position of the laser beam and sends the data via cable to the computer
mounted in the control panel of the control container. The computer display show the actual
horizontal and vertical position of the tunneling machine, from there the operator can take
corrective action by changing the steering cylinder position if required.
Deviation and Tolerance:
 JACKING FRAME:
• Required to produce the jacking force needed to push the MTBM and the jacking pipes into the
ground to a reception shaft.
• Consist mainly of steel frame equipped with hydraulic jacking cylinders, push ring, a rear plate
and a base frame.
• The push ring transmits the force from jacking cylinder to the pipe bell, the rear plate provide
supports to the shaft wall and the jacking cylinders for advance.
• Different design with different dimensions and capacity to suit different size of Jacking pipes
and drive length.

255 Ton Jacking Frame for jacking pipe OD 765mm.

850 Ton jacking Frame for jacking pipe OD
2400MM
SLURRY CONVEYING SYSTEM:
The Conveyance circuit consists of feed and discharge slurry pumps, settlement tank and the
necessary hoses and pipelines. Two flow meters, one in the feed line and the other in the slurry
line, are installed for controlling the flow rate. When running the feed pump clean water will be
flow into the excavating chamber via the feed line. In the excavating chamber the water will be
mixed with the excavated material. The running slurry pumps pump the mixed water via the slurry
line into a sedimentation tank or a separation plant. Excavated material will be separated from the
20
water and the water flows back into the water circuit.
SEPARATION PLANT:
Its mainly used to separate the soil excavated particles out from
the slurry, the main components of the separation plant are:
Coarse screen for intercepting stones .
Storage tank under the coarse screen.
Cyclone with cyclone feeder pump for removing fine particles.
Lubricant Mixing & Injection Plant:
The lubricants of the jacking wall is very important to keep the pushing force low as possible to allow
advance the line from the main jacking station, for this reason we are using a Bentonite powder to produce a
lubricant. The Bentonite mixture acts as lubricant and tunnel support medium in the pipe jacking process.
The suspension is mixed in a special jet mixer plant at job site and is pumped via Bentonite pump through
Bentonite hoses into the tunnel. There the suspension is pressed through injection nozzles in the machine
can into the annulus gap which is created by the diameter difference between the tunneling machine cutting
wheel and the concrete pipes, In case of long drives and suitable tunnel size for man entrance extra
automatic Bentonite lubricant station can be added to jacking pipes at selected intervals to insure
continuous lubricant to the full tunnel line, the station powered by compressed air and controlled from
operation panel through special control cable. 24
 POWER SUPPLY:
Usually diesel engine driven generator with sufficient capacity is
available on site to produce the required power needed to run the
following:
Tunnel Boring Machine Power pack.
Slurry Feed and discharge pumps.
Separation plant.
Bentonite Mixing Injection Plant.
Lighting system.
Ventilation system if required.
General power supply for power tools and work shop.
Lifting Equipment
A crane with suitable lifting capacity will be located on
the construction site full time to be used in the
following activity.
Mobilizations and set up of tunneling equipment.
Lowering the Tunneling Machine to the driving shaft.
Transport of jacking pipes.
Lowering the jacking pipe into drive shaft.
Removal of tunneling machine from reception shaft.
Sometimes we can use gantry crane to be placed over
the driving shaft for continuously lowering of required
jacking pipes.
Mobile Store & Workshop
container.
• A mobile container frame acting as store and work
shop is located in the construction site.
• The container is equipped with electric distribution
board with 400V & 230V electric power supply to
feed the site with required power for lighting,
dewatering pumps, running power tools
• also safety equipment and first aid kit will be
located in that container.
• A working bench with some tools like screw
drivers, open wrench, torque wrench, pliers for
different applications, special tools and instrument
to deal with electrical parts.
• Shelf’s for storing consumable material, special
instruments and power lines.
Drive Shaft
The starting shaft can be called jacking shaft as
it is the starting point for all jacking activity, the
following activity occurs at this location:
Construction of thrust wall and Jacking wall.
Installing Main Jacking station.
Position the Tunnel machine for starting the
drive.
Installing the fixed portion of measuring
system (Laser).
Installing Jacking Pipes.
Installing Shaft Slurry Pump.
Connecting the required power lines, slurry
lines to the MTBM.

The Dimensions of Jacking shaft depends on

the size of jacking frame and the manhole
need to be constructed.
Jacking wall and entry seal:
A Jacking wall contain a soft eye with bigger diameter than the tunneling machine
cutting OD will be constructed of concrete at the front of the jacking station to offer a safe
entry for the machine, And to prevent slurry pressure blowing back into the driving pit, a seal
ring will be fixed to the jacking wall, the seal itself is made up of rubber and mounted in a
steel frame work called the Launching seal.
Reception Shaft.
The jacking ends at the target shaft and it forms exit of the tunneling machine.
This shaft should be with a suitable dimension to remove the tunneling machine
and to construct a manhole if needed. The reception shaft should be free from
obstacles and ground water. The ground surface area should be large enough
and stable to take the size and load of crane used to lift the Tunneling machine.
Location Spacing & Number of Shafts.
The location and number of shafts is subject to the design of pipe line system, and the
capability of tunneling machine. Some shaft can be used as jacking shaft only, other can be
reception shaft only, some can be jacking and reception for previous drive, and in some cases we
can use one drive shaft for jacking two lines at different directions.
Boring process for slurry type MTBM can be described as follows
1. Excavate and prepare the driving shaft.
2. Set up the control container and any other auxiliary equipment beside the jacking shaft.
3. Set up the jacking frame.
4. Lower the MTBM into the driving shaft and set it up.
5. Set up laser guidance system and the MTBM in the driving shaft.
6. Set up and connection the slurry lines and hydraulic hoses on the MTBM.
7. The main jack pushes the MTBM through the launching eye.
8. After the MTBM is pushed into the ground, disconnect the slurry lines and hydraulic hoses from the
MTBM.
9. Retract the hydraulic jacks.
10.Lower a new pipe segment to the driving shaft.
11.Connect the slurry lines and hydraulic hoses in the new pipe segment to the ones in the previously
jacked segment (or MTBM).
12.Jack the new pipe segment and excavate, while removing the spoil.
13.Excavate and prepare the receiving shaft.
14.Repeat steps 8 to 12 as required until the pipeline is installed and MTBM reach reception side.
15.Remove the MTBM from the receiving shaft.
16.Remove the jacking frame and other equipment from the driving shaft.
17.Grout the annular space between the exterior pipe surface and the tunnel.
18.In case of sewer applications, install manholes at the shaft locations.
19.Remove shoring, lining, or casing from the shaft and backfill them. 41