Tunnels

IS: 4880-1987 General design

1. For the alignment of tunnels and designs of tunnel supports and lining, the nature of soft or hard strata and its formation plays a vital role. 2. INVESTIGATIONS : 1. Surveys for preparation of plans and aligning the tunnel should be carried out covering the area of tunnel alignment, after establishing adequate number of temporary bench marks with reference to the G.T.S bench mark available in the vicinity. 2. Preliminary investigations for aligning the tunnel should be carried out on available 1:50000 survey of India topo sheets. 3. Detailed strip topographic maps along the tunnel alignment should be prepared to a scale 1:10000 with 5 m contour interval. 4. 5. At portal faces, the contour interval should be reduced to 2 m. If possible, aerial survey should be carried out for at least 3 km on either side of tunnel alignment. 6. If infrared aerial photo-graphy is used, it would facilitate to delineate hot water bearing zones in bed rock

3. Geological investigations
If the area is aerially photographed

1. 2.

origin and type of rock along the alignment Geological section along the tunnel alignment giving rock types and their disposition.

3.

Any geological feature which may affect the magnitude of rock pressure to be anticipated along the proposed alignment.

4.

Cover on the tunnel, position of subsurface rock and overburden contacts.

5.

physical, mechanical and strength properties of rock to determine supporting arrangements and also resistance to driving tunnel through rock

6.

Hydrological data and information regarding location, type and volume of water and injurious or trouble some gases contained in subsurface strata around tunnel grade.

Geological data should be developed through a comprehensive geological investigation which includes 1. Detailed geological mapping (rock formations, locations, and altitude of structural features such as folds etc to plan drill holes.) 2. Subsurface exploration(the core samples of each bore hole(NX size) shall be preserved and logged by an engineering)

3. geophysical investigations (establishing rock-soil boundary, delineating fault and shear zones, evaluating rock mass quality) 4. television investigation of bore holes 5. exploration drifts

TESTS
1. Laboratory Tests a) specific gravity b) modulus of elasticity c) Poissons ratio d) tensile strength e) compressive strength f) triaxial shear strength g) hardness of rock h) swelling index i) Porosity, grain size and cementing material for sand stones and similar rocks. 2. rock tests a) rock characteristics like shear strength parameters (C and I), compressive strength and deformation modulus b) deformation of rock around openings c) rock load on supports d) determining plastic fields

INSTRUMENTATION
a) tunnel closure b) bore hole extensometer c) load cells on ribs for determining the rock load coming on the steel supports ( 3 per section) d) pressure cells on the rock surface and at the intervals of support (not less than 600) e) strain meters in concrete lining These instruments may be provided at more than three sections or at the typical representative reaches met while excavating

Geometric design
1. Minimum Excavation Level (A-Line) It is the line within which excavated material of any kind and no supports other than permanent structural steel supports shall be permitted to remain. 2. PAY LINE (B-LINE) It is an assumed line (beyond A-line) to which payment of excavation is made whether the actual excavation falls inside or out side.