TUNNELING ON SOFT SOILS

1.0 Introduction

Three basic considerations as t the construction methods and

corresponding costs should be clarified during preliminary proposals.

1. As the material hard or easy for tunneling and will be explosives be

needed.

2. What part of tunnel needs supports and what type of supports are
needed.

3. Is water likely to encounter and if so in what portion of the tunnel

and in what quantities.

Most of the hard massive rocks can be excavated readily and may stand
without support unless disturbed by geological considerations.

Though workability of tunneling improves with diminished harness, their

stability to stand without support decreases, as in case of many shales,
clays etc. Similarly presence of near by water basins at higher levels
indicates possibility of water inflow into the tunnel. Similarly presence of
surface springs from which warm water issues may indicate deep seated
water flows.

Incase of tunneling in soft sound the stand up time after excavation will
be shorter than incase of hard/firm rocks. The stand up time varies from
zero in sands upto one day in stiff days.
On the major differences between rock and soft ground tunnels is the
influence of water table on tunnel construction. In soft ground tunneling
fight with water may be a continuous construction problem.

2.0 Methods of Tunneling in soft soil :

The methods employed for tunneling vary with the type of strata
encountered i.e. hard rock or fully self supporting strata and soft strata
requiring supports during and after construction.

The soft strata or soft soils are classified as below :

Strata needing instant support after excavation - sands or other cohesion

less soils.
Soft ground needing instant support for roof i.e. soft clay soil.

Firm ground wherein roof will stand for a short period but sides for a
much longer period - Firm clay, dry earth etc.

Self supporting ground when soil stands unsupported for a short period
and for length upto 4-5 mtrs.

2.1 Some of the common methods of tunneling in soft strata are :

Fore poling method

Shield tunneling method
New Austrian tunneling (NATM) method
Needle Beam method
Liner plate method
American method etc
Compressed air tunneling
Mechanical pre cutting method

2.01 Fore poling method :

This method is used under running ground and similar soil. The method
is slow and requires skilled miners. For tunnels of small dimensions at
smattes depths this method is applied.

Needle beam method :

This method is suitable for soils in which roof could stand unsupported
for a very short period (a few minutes).

Mechanical Pre cutting method :

This method was developed to over come the difficulties of tunneling

particularly in urbane areas where ground is mostly alluvial, where level
of ground water is high, building density, traffic volume not allow easy
working.

This method consists in creating in the ground, previous to any

excavation, a groove of various - thickness depending on ground
characteristics, the lie of which follow theoretical extrudes profile of the
tunnel, with a length which may vary from 1.5 m to 4 m. This method
allows to place a previous protection in the ground before excavation,
which prevents any precompression in the upper ground.

Precutting in soft ground :

In soft ground a groove is bored and this groove is filled with concrete, in
order to for a shell to shelter laterally the earth and the vault concreting.

The groove excavation and equipment used are some as that for rock
except that the groove thickness is larger so that the "prevault" gets
sufficient strength.

The m/c used included a gantry like moveable frame, with a free passage
in the middle or a boring machine. The boring system includes a chain
provided with picks, moving on a supporting arm, the length of which
can allow to bore a groove up to 2.5 m. The chain is rotated at an
adjustable speed of about 1 m/sec the boring assembly is moved on the
two tracks. The gantry and the extrudes - line of tunnel are concentric so
that groove perfectly envelopes the tunnel.

The groove begins where the vault starts and follows vault extrudes. With
progress of ground cutting (2m/minutes) the groove can be filled with
quick setting shotcrete, early enough to avoid decompression of the
ground. As soon as compressive strength of vault concrete is sufficient
(80 bars) the trench excavation can be full face made by Mechanical
machines.

To absorb local dissymetric pressures, which are encountered due to

variations in the geological structure and seepage water, arches are
positioned under each trench which can be totally or partially recovered
when final is placed. The arches suit the shape of the vault.

With reference to traditional tunneling methods in soft ground,

mechanical precutting offers the following advantages.
Natural ground properties are retained and any alteration is avoided by
means of immediate filling of groove with concrete.

Almost total suppression of ever breaks due to uniform precutting.

Improved safety for staff on work site and safety of adjutant buildings
ensured by low settlement.

Progress ............ can be increased.

(Adopted France - sub ways)

Shield Tunneling Method :

In USSR, hydraulic tunnels in soft soils are constructed, using shield

driving method. Tunnels are built upto 150-200 km in soil with
compressive strength varying from 5 to 50 Mpa, with the help of shields
of conventional and mechanical types 2 to 6 m dia. Prefab R.C. elements
and cast insitu pressed concrete are used for lining. (Tunneling rates
using prefab. R.C. lining are 700m/MO or more - rate of tunneling about
1.8 m / shift to 2.4 m shift).

In shield tunneling the excavated hole should be well supported until

permanent lining is constructed.

A full cycle of shield tunneling of composites of

a) Excavation & temporary support at the front face at an appropriate
depth
b) adjoining shield, taking support on previously erected,
c) Placing another course of ring of the permanent lining,
The shield . Of cutting edge, trunk, tail

The design of shield depends on the skin resistance, . Unfavourable

loading conditions. The shield .. with I section provides to
counter full over burden weight with equal section at bottom. Further
leading . the B.M. ..upon the ring wall (both for )

M = (pr2)/4 cos 2
Axial force = N = pr sin2

Max. B.M. @ crown & supporting

M = + (pr2)/4

1 p r4
Radial deformation = = ---- -------- cos 2
12 E j

1 p r4
Shortening of vertical dia. = 2max = ---- ------
6 Ej

The choice of shield of suitable depth is basic problem. It is generally

based on dimensions of jacks & lining segments. The ration of shield
length to diameter (L/D) governs steerability, mobility & steadiness of its
direction. The L/D is also called objective length.

The relative length generally 0.40 <L/D < 1.4. In present condition L/D >
0.75
. & Mayo gave following formula.

Approximate steel weight of a tunnel shield

W = 15 ( D-10)

where W = in tons
D = in feet

The main working procedures of shield tunneling will be

a) Excavation,
b) Mauling (Haulage)
c) Shield advancement
d) Erection of tunnel lining
e) Grouting, caulking & drainage

Excavation: It is toughest part involves:

a) Application of roof shield after partial excavation

b) Supporting by breast boards which inturn supported by the
stiffener rings.
c) Reduction of load due to saturated water in the over burden by
application of compressed air,
d) Artificial solidification if required by injection of pipes radially,
e) Grouting to create arch action and create binding in the
surrounding
f) Provision of bulkhead wall at the face to counter possibility of
gushing of liquid soil.
g) Development of blind push i.e. to close the face by mechanical
excavators.
h) Rotary excavator /sheet cutters are attached to cross members
half in scooping material and transfer the same by buckets.
.. (Haulage)

Effective haulage & one of the major problems of efficient tunnel

driving. In shield tunneling it is performed in two steps.

i) Immediate removal of soil from the . body

ii) Its conveyance to the ventilation of working shaft generally belt
conveyors are installed to facilitate disposal of muck.

This is generally accomplished by

a) Belt conveyors
b) Loador cars
c) Traction engines
d) Truck etc.,

c) Shield advancement : Accurate propulsion & direction of shield is

very delicate part of shield tunneling because it determines not
only how far the designed alignments & gradients will be
conformed to but it also seriously effects the construction. Extra
.. may have to be placed at bottom to prevent the shield
from nosing down i.e., wobbling.

The correct direction of the shield must be checked by geodetic

instruments for every push. For this diopter is hung from top of tail
section in the adjustable side lines. For correct alignment the spider
lines should strictly coincide with those of the hanging from the
completed sections of the tunnel.

d) Erecting of Tunnel lining. : Simple mechanical device with hoisting

winch the rope which is led on a moving boom, both mounted on a
traveling platform used for placing lining segments. This will be adopted
for tunnel for smaller diameter. For tunnels of larger diameter the lining
segments are erected with hydraulically operated erector arm which can
be directly mounted on axis of the shield tail of on a traveling platform
following closely behind.

e) Grouting . Caulking & Drainage

Lining segments must be followed as soon as possible after placing the

almost all kinds of ground, by the grouting the back space left behind
the shield tail after the push . to prevent considerable surface
subsidence & increase in saturated muck/soil/.. pressure. The
usual left between respective surface of circular shield thin
and smoother dia. Lining ring, its max. height at the crown being equal
to sum of the thickness tail shin (max. 60mm), width of the safety gap
(50mm) left between extruders of the lining of intrudes of the tail of any
. anticipated in the tunnel, horizontal bow string bars (turn buckle
rods) at the . Line may be employed.

The grouting has several function such as

Establishment of tight buck fill

Water sealing
Stabilization of surrounding ground so contributing to reduction
by ground pressure acting on ring,

Generally i) Primary grouting intended to fill the back space ( p = 0.5 to

0.6 MPa)

ii) Secondary grouting intended for sealing of stabilizing (p

= 1 to 2.5 Mpa)

The grout plugs are 40 to 50 mm dia. Minimum 4 grout holes are

provided in each lining ring in staggered position.
.. et al. extension of grouting in homogeneous material can
be completed from formula

where
h = Pressure head
t = duration of grouting
n = void content
k = Coeff. Of permeability

The secondary grouting can be carried out with .

The following grout materials

1. Cement grout, cement ..

2. Lean mixture of various types of cement & plasticising agents.
3. Bitumen e.
4. Hot bitumen
5. Various chemical agents

But due consideration shall be given for .. of material and ground

water content. Deformation due to grout pressure shall be constantly
checked.

Highest permissible grouting pressure which remains within safety

margin to avoid upheaval of the layer can be calculated.

From Terzaghis such pressure theory

For homogeneous soil:

Where

C = C.. (t/m2)
= density (t/m3)
= friction angle
h = height of over burden
= ph/pv
d = 36 A ( A = vol. Of .. grout in m3)

Lining Segments:

It is essential to have lining segments instantaneous bearing capacity, to

be water tight and allow for rapid & simple positioning. The main
requirement for such lining segments are:

Instantaneous bearing capacity against external earth & water pressure

without detrimental deformation & leakage.

Resistance to impact stresses due to rough handling, transport &

erection operations.

Resistance to high axial stresses produced during advancement (push) of

the shield by propulsion jacks.
Resistance to moisture and ground water effects of the segment itself
of its joints and water temperature also to ensure resistance against
action.

Economy in construction of maintenance.

Types of lining :

a. Brick lining : being and in exterior days.

b. C.I.Lining : easy operation by heavy .. demand weight,
appearance of surface. Not much is practice
now
c. Structural steel : easy operation suitable for further dia tunnels
symmetric for corrosion fabrication difficult
expensive.

d. concrete segments : cost effective though involves multiple operations

for errections
achieve good aesthetic appearance.
No. of types of segments can be cast to suit the
requirement.

Access of Ventilation shafts.

1. provided by vertical shaft in rock by mining method.

2. In soil shaft seeking done by partial excavation and repeating the
process successively after inserting rings.