Application of rock cover alteration ratio concept in preliminary design of unlined pressure tunnels

Abstract

Unlined pressure tunnels were first driven by the Norwegians into hard granitic rock, which is the ideal material for this type of structure. However, the increase in demand for electric power has propelled the industry to develop projects at sites all over the world with less favourable geological conditions. The paper places emphasis on the preliminary design phase when no field measurements are available. A recent study by Rancourt (published in 2010) has investigated the spatial distribution of the minimum stress that is required to control hydraulic jacking around unlined pressure tunnels. Various surface topographic profiles including slopes, hills, and valleys; the rock cover to tunnel diameter ratio; as well as the presence of geological features such as shear zones and dykes were investigated with numerical modelling. Effective rock cover predictions are compared to those given by the well-known Norwegian design criterion, and a correction factor called cover alteration ratio (CAR) has been introduced. In this paper, a design methodology is proposed for use of CAR at the preliminary design stage in the form of a factor of safety against hydraulic jacking to be used in conjunction with the Norwegian criterion. Limitations on the use of the Norwegian criterion are highlighted.