Shield Tunneling Method Research Articles

Resist Liquefaction of Subsoil of Metro and Improvement of Segments of Shield Tunneling

Nanjing’s metro is studied as a example to introduce resist liquefaction method in this paper. Dynamic diffuse theory of structure is supposed to evaluate the width and depth of foundation treatment to resist the seismic liquefaction to think of metro structure, liquefied soil layers and different liquefaction-index. High pressure jet grouting method is researched as shield machine construction through foundations of buildings or ancient wall. An improved segments of shield tunneling method is suggest to ensure the resist liquefaction method to success.

Double-O-Tube shield tunneling for Taoyuan International Airport Access MRT

From 1989 to 2010, 20 tunneling projects have been carried out with the Double-O-Tube (DOT) shield tunneling method in the world. In this paper, the DOT shield tunneling for the construction of Taoyuan International Airport Access (TIAA) Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system is introduced. A 6.42m-diameter, 11.62m-wide DOT shield machine was used to build the first DOT tunnel in Taiwan. Field data indicated that, throughout the tunneling operation, the rolling angle of the DOT shield varied between +0.23° and −0.39°, which was within the limiting design values of +0.6° and −0.6° proposed by both TIAA MRT and Shanghai Metro. For the six surface settlement troughs collected from Tokyo, Shanghai and Taipei, the ground loss due to DOT shield tunneling ranged from 0.23% to 1.30%, and the average ground loss was 0.78%. As compared with the ground loss due to single-circular Earth-Pressure-Balance (EPB) shield tunneling in cohesive soils, the range of ground loss due to DOT shield tunneling was relatively narrow, and the peak ground loss value was significantly less. Underground excavation with the DOT tunneling method would increase the tunneling duration for about 32%. The cost per meter of tunnel constructed with a DOT shield was about 1.5 times that constructed with single-circular shields. The cost of shield machine and segment lining were 23% and 53% of the total tunneling costs respectively. The expensive DOT shield machine and the complicated manufacturing and assembly of DOT lining segments are the main reasons for higher cost of tunneling. However, it would cost a lot more budget and it would be much more risky to excavate three cross-passages between the single-circular tunnels under the river.

The Major Problems and Countermeasures on the Shield Machine Tunneling in the Hard Rock Stratum

With the rapid development of urban construction, the shield construction technology has been greatly developed. Shield tunneling method generally adapts to relatively uniform soil, soft rock and sand rock strata, and the shield tunnel construction has been more mature for the homogeneous strata. However, for the soft and hard interbedded strata, how to solve the problems of breaking the hard rock, increasing the tunneling efficiency and reducing the construction costs, are difficult problems in the shield tunnel construction. In this paper, based on a great deal of theoretical analyses and engineering practices, the effective methods of improving the efficiency of tunneling, reducing cutter wearing and decreasing the construction costs in the process of the shield tunneling construction in hard rock and gravel layer are proposed.

Development of Polymer Shield Tunneling Method and Study on the Property of Injection Materials

Development of Polymer Shield Tunneling Method and Study on the Property of Injection Materials

Evaluation of grouting in tunnel lining using impact-echo

The shield tunneling method is commonly used for tunnel excavation. After the excavation, curved reinforced concrete members are used to support the surrounding ground/rock and seal the tunnel. Grouting is performed to provide adhesion between the concrete members and the ground. The assessment of the grouting quality by pull-out tests and core sampling is destructive, time-consuming and expensive. In the present case, impact-echo was applied as a means of non-destructive and time-effective evaluation. Excitation was conducted by an impact hammer on the surface of several concrete plates and the reflection was acquired by a low frequency accelerometer. Combined use of time domain characteristics, spectral content and wavelet transform reveal the effectiveness of grouting and indicate that impact echo is valuable for quick and reliable assessment of grouting in such cases.

EXAMINING THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT TREND OF LONG-DISTANCE STEEP TURN PIPE IMPELLING CONSTRUCTION METHOD (LDSTPICM) THROUGH TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

ABSTRACT In support of the government's promoting Taiwan into a high-tech island, and to excel the national economic development and social prosperity, besides efforts made to actively develop Taiwan's local power facilities in power transmission, distribution and conversion systems, but how best to provide highly stabilized and safe power requirements has also emerged as a critical issue to the power industry. As the construction methods are becoming infinitely more complex and difficult following the conversion of underground electric cable piping works, the earlier shield tunneling method and linear propulsion method introduced to the island can no longer support the demand, and only the “Long- distance steep turn pipe impelling” construction technology cam truly satisfy the current versatile power transmission market. The LDSTPICM is of an innovative technology that has not yet been prompted and introduced to the country. The study first attempts to systematically discern the construction method's key technology and implementation tips by interviewing Japanese industry scholars and experts that hold the technology, and then to utilize the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to examine the key factors in the technology transfer of Taiwan Power Company's Phase VI power transmission plan, and at last to summarize the LDSTPICM's future development trend in Taiwan's relevant industries. The study findings reveal that it not only calls for the technology provider and government outfits to render active support by expeditiously drafted relevant laws, regulations and package measures concerning the construction method, but also detailed guidelines concerning the construction method's technical guidelines and operating procedures. Furthermore, with professional know-how and experience accumulation remain the core factors in achieving technology transfer of the construction method, the construction method's being drastically differ from the current propulsion construction method prevailing locally has its key technology primarily lies in the compatibility of curving machinery, curving propulsion piping and functionality of curved piping. As a result, it is prudent to rely on the means of technology transfer for assimilating professional technical capability and through ongoing experience accumulation can the ultimate objective be achieved in speeding up localizing the technology.

Safety in quick construction of a long water conveyance channel by shield tunneling method

The new Ishioka Tunnel project (in the second work section) involves the construction of a water conveyance tunnel with an inner diameter of 3.5 m by the slurry shield tunneling method. The project has two characteristics, long-distance excavation and quick construction. The tunnel has a length of 5,000 m without any intermediate shafts. This is one of Japan’s leading long-distance tunnelling projects. Construction including design is carried out quickly over a period of 36 months. Permanent excavation was started in late April 2004. A highest rate of monthly shield advance of 500.85 m was recorded. Construction was carried out rapidly at an average rate of monthly shield advance of 338 m, higher than 320 m as planned. The shield reached the reception shaft approximately two months earlier than scheduled. This paper provides an outline of construction and describes the major techniques applied. (A) This paper was presented at Safety in the underground space - Proceedings of the ITA-AITES 2006 World Tunnel Congress and the 32nd ITA General Assembly, Seoul, Korea, 22-27 April 2006. For the covering abstract see ITRD E129148. “Reprinted with permission from Elsevier”.

Use of compact shield tunneling method in urban underground construction

Abstract In Tokyo Metropolis, the rehabilitation and renewal of sewer systems is an urgent issue due to the aged sewers and increases in wastewater and stormwater runoff. In such urban area, shield tunneling confronts various problems, such as high construction costs, adverse effects on living environments, and densely used surface and underground spaces. To solve these problems, the authors developed a new shield tunneling method, which is called the “compact shield” method. This paper describes the concepts used for the construction of shield sewer tunnels without inner linings and an overview of the segments and a shield machine that were newly developed.

Urban soft ground tunneling in China – experiences from Shanghai and other cities

This paper introduces the different kinds of urban soft ground tunnels in China built by shield method, immersed tube method and pipe jacking method. Although the history of urban soft ground tunneling is only around 40 years in China, enormous tunnels were built together with great progress especially since last decades. A lot of experiences and lessons gained from practices are not only valuable to Chinese tunnel engineers but also to tunneling industry in the world. In this paper we focus on the tunnel activities in Shanghai. Some significant technical features are highlighted. The most of the road tunnels in China were built by mining method. The modern tunneling methods like shield tunneling method or immersed tunneling method were only used in the cities where the ground is composed of soils. Up to now, the road tunnels built by the shield method are only found in Shanghai, and the immersed tube tunnels exist in three cities, named Shanghai, Guangzhou and Ningbo. Some project details and technical challenges are presented in this paper. As for MRT tunnels, there are about 210 km length of MRT tunnels in operation in mainland of China. MRT systems are being in operation only in four cities, while another 16 MRT lines are under construction or planning now. We focus on the planning, design and construction of MRT tunnels in Shanghai. Details of project and shield tunnelling machine are given in this paper. There are also other types of tunnels constructed or under construction by shield method or pipe jacking in China. With the development of our building infrastructure in the new century, the construction of different types of TBM projects and immersed tube tunnel projects are booming. We are looking forward to more innovative tunneling technologies to be employed in China. (A). Reprinted with permission from Elsevier. For the covering abstract see ITRD E124500.

Shield tunneling database management for ground movement evaluation

Tunneling in urban environments is very challenging and ground movements induced by tunneling are major concerns during excavation. Based on many case histories, one realizes that many factors such as geological conditions, shield operation, and tunnel geometry affect ground movements. Therefore, to understand the complicated behavior of ground-shield interaction, all geological data, instrumentation records, tunneling data, surveying records, and daily activity updates have to be systematically collected and managed. During the excavation of the Bangkok MRTA project, a 22 km twin-tunnel, observation and data collection were extensively conducted at the subway project while eight EPB shields were excavating the tunnel. In this context, a computerized database system was assembled using all information collected from the MRTA project which records on a ring-by-ring (1.2 m interval) basis. The database contains monitoring results that include all shield operational records, field instrumentation readings, and geological information. The database system consists of different hierarchic levels. The main database provides linkages to sub databases (e.g., second and third levels), and within main databases. Input data were associated with the lining ring number along the tunnel alignment. The main advantage of this computerized database is that it does not only serve as a data management tool, but can also be used for studying of the ground-shield interaction by providing: (1) records of operational parameters (i.e., face pressure, penetration rate, thrust force, grouting pressure, time and shield position) along the tunnel alignment; (2) instrumentation readings (i.e., surface settlements, sub-surface settlement, lateral deformation and pore pressure); (3) tunnel alignment coordinates; (4) instrumentation layouts; and (5) geological conditions. Hence, this computerized database is useful for the study of the EPB shield tunneling method and ground deformations. Moreover, the database was used as an evaluation system to identify which ground- and EPB-characteristic have the greatest influence on ground movements and to show correlations between parameters. Therefore, this developed database can help tunnel engineers and shield operators to evaluate ground deformations caused by the shields during the tunnel excavation. (A) Reprinted with permission from Elsevier. For the covering abstract see ITRD E124500.

Observational control of slurry shield tunnels with super close spacing under the nearby bridge abutments loads

The Rinkai Line is a new railway line of around 12.3 km in length, connecting Shin-Kiba Station with Osaki Station through the new Tokyo subcentre on the waterfront in Tokyo. On March 1996, a section of about 4.9 km between Shin-Kiba Station and Tokyo Teleport Station was put into service as a first phase. As part of a second-phase construction, the Rinkai Line Higashi-Shinagawa Tunnels have been constructed by slurry shield tunnelling method. This tunnel project stretches about 983 m from Tennozu Isle Station to Shinagawa Seaside Station. This project required that the parallel twin tunnels had very close clearance (the minimum clearance 1/4 0.6 m). Furthermore, tunnel excavation was located very close to some important existing sensitive structures, such as abutments of bridge and an oil tank. At the Higashi-Shinagawa bridge section, the shield drove through just underneath the piled foundations with the minimum clearance of around 3.0 m. Mair and Taylor (1997) reported some case histories related to the response of buildings on piled foundations to ground movements induced by tunnel process. However, very limited published case histories related to the evaluation on the effect of tunnelling on piled foundations exist so far because of including the complex interaction mechanisms. Therefore, careful management of the tunnelling works was required. In order to prevent excessive settlements and to ensure the safety of the adjacent existing structures, detailed in situ monitoring of the nearby structures, surface and subsurface ground movements was planned and implemented. An automatic measuring system was adopted as a measure of controlling ground movements, and the optimum control value was established for soil pressure inside the shield chamber for stabilizing tunnel face. Furthermore, the monitoring of segmental lining was also carried out to confirm the safety of the segmental lining design at very closely excavated sections. At the Higashi-Shinagawa bridge section, grout injection from the preceding shield was planned and carried out to stabilizing the surrounding ground as an auxiliary measure. It worked quite well to suppress the loosening of the surrounding grounds and the movement of the piled foundations. This paper describes the in situ monitoring results of the existing bridge pier movement during the shield construction. Main conclusions are as follows: (1) By careful and well-controlled tunnel excavation, detailed monitoring of the ground movements and rapid data processing, it has achieved well-controlled volume losses to values less than 0.5% in spite of the tough tunnel construction with super close spacing and the existing nearby structures. (2) Bridge pier's settlements were well controlled, being less than 4.0 mm, and the shield construction has successfully completed without any problems. (3) The grout injection from the inside of the preceding tunnel could effectively control the loosening of the surrounding grounds and the pile settlements. (A) Reprinted with permission from Elsevier. For the covering abstract see ITRD E124500.

Large rectangular cross-section tunneling by the multi-micro shield tunneling (MMST) method

The Metropolitan Expressway Public Corporation is planning to construct a 4-lane highway tunnel of rectangular cross-section with a shallow depth below an existing city street which width is approximately equal to the one of tunnel to be newly constructed. A non-cut-and-cover method is required. To achieve this, the multi-micro shield tunneling (MMST) method has been developed. To construct a large cross-section as a whole section of tunnel, first, smaller cross-sections, as units of tunnel, which are located at the circumference of a whole section of tunnel are excavated by shield machines and lined with segments. Secondary, these smaller units are connected and, finally, a tunnel by the MMST method is completed by excavating soil inside connected smaller units which function as a lining of whole section of tunnel (a large cross-section). This paper describes the MMST method and the outline of the shield machine developed to be applied to the MMST method, the construction results of the tunnels and the test implementation.

Present status and technology of shield tunneling method in Japan

Recently in Japan, it has often been necessary to construct tunnels under more severe conditions and to develop new techniques. However, present design techniques cannot appropriately reflect the construction techniques; and thus, traditional methods are still often used. On account of the well-balanced progress between construction and design in the shield tunneling method, an innovation of the design technique is required. This paper shows an outline of the shield tunnel technique at present, behavior of shield tunnels in-site, and improvements required for design.

Observations of Ground Movements during Tunnel Construction by Slurry Shield Method at the Docklands Light Railway Lewisham Extension—East London

This paper describes monitoring results of ground movements due to slurry shield tunnelling on the Docklands Light Railway Lewisham Extension (hereinafter referred to as DLR). The DLR tunnels (twin bored tunnels) run from Island Gardens Station to Greenwich Station in East London, passing under the River Thames, a distance of around 4.2 km. The construction of the tunnels, which were at shallow depth, needed an extensive appraisal of the potential damage induced by ground movements to the overlying and underground structures. Therefore, in order to effectively minimize the ground movements, a slurry shield machine with a diameter of 5.85 m was employed. Careful control of excavation was carried out during shield tunnel construction. As a result, the slurry shield tunnelling method in Woolwich and Reading Beds by well controlled monitoring was successfully conducted, leading to volume losses less than 1.0%. This paper focuses on the ground surface movements, particularly the transverse and longitudinal settlement profiles, and volume losses during shield tunnel construction, in relation to the ground conditions. Based on the monitoring results, combined with previous centrifuge model test results and other field monitoring data, practical methods to appropriately predict ground movements due to shield tunnelling are proposed.

シールド工法における前方異常物体の自動位置決定および形状計測

シールド工法における前方異常物体の自動位置決定および形状計測

Construction of underground space by a new shield tunnelling method: spiral tunnelling and ramification of multi-circular face shield : Sonoda, T; Hagiwara, H; Osaki, H; Noguchi, T; Nakamura, M Tunnlg Underground Space TechnolV7, N4, Oct 1992, P355–361

Construction of underground space by a new shield tunnelling method: spiral tunnelling and ramification of multi-circular face shield : Sonoda, T; Hagiwara, H; Osaki, H; Noguchi, T; Nakamura, M Tunnlg Underground Space TechnolV7, N4, Oct 1992, P355–361

Construction of underground space by a new shield tunnelling method: Spiral tunnelling and ramification of multi-circular face shield

Shield tunnels traditionally have been built with single-circle cross-sections. However, considerations related to construction costs and periods, as well as safety, have led to increased use of multi-circular faces in recent years. In the multi-circular face shield tunnelling methods proposed to date, the two circles may be placed either side by side or one above the other. The characteristics of the shield tunnelling methods differ, depending on whether the circles are arranged horizontally or vertically. The H&V (Horizontal variation and Vertical variation) Shield Tunnelling Method uses a special rolling control function in spiral tunnelling with multi-circular face shields. This method allows construction of tunnels that have multi-circular face shields. It also permits construction of tunnels that have multi-circular cross-sections, with the arrangement of the circles varying continuously from vertical to diagonal to horizontal, or vice-versa, as well as ramification from a multi-circular tunnel into separate single-circle tunnels. This paper discusses the H&V Shield Tunnelling Method, the manner in which the method is used, and the construction test used to verify this construction technique. Les tunnels creusés au bouclier construits jusqu'alors ont des coupes transversales uni-circulaires. Cependant, ces dernières années, des considérations liées au coût et au temps de construction, ainsi qu'à la sécurité, ont conduit à l'utilisation croissante de boucliers à face multi-circulaire. Dans le creusement au bouclier à face multi-circulaire proposé à ce jour, les deux cercles peuvent être placés soit côte, soit l'un au dessus del'autre. Les caractéristiques du creusement au bouclier différent selon que les cercles sont arrangés horizontalement ou verticalement. Le creusement au bouclier H&V (variation Horizontale et variation Verticale) utilise une fonction de contrôle spéciale pour le creusement en spirale avec des boucliers à face multi-circulaires. Cela permet aussi de construire des tunnels, qui ont des coupes transversales multi-circulaires, avec un ajustement des cercles variant continûment de la verticale à la diagonale jusqu'à l'horizontal, ou vice-versa, ainsi qu'une ramification partant d'un tunnel multi-circulaire jusqu'aux tunnels uni-circulaires séparés. Ce rapport traite du Creusement au Bouclier H&V, de la manière dont cette méthode est utilisée, et du test de construction utilisé pour vérifier la technique de construction.

Design of the shield tunnel for the trans-Tokyo bay highway

The Trans-Tokyo Bay Highway project is the first phase of an ambitious plan to connect Kawasaki and Chiba by a 15-km crossing of Tokyo Bay. The crossing involves a 5-km bridge, a 10-km undersea tunnel, and a manmade island in the middle of the bay. The construction method for the undersea tunnel must take into account the large external diameter of the primary lining (approx. 14 m); the extremely soft ground under the sea; the extremely high water pressure to which the tunnel will be subjected; and active seismic conditions in the Tokyo Bay area. This paper discusses the slurry shield tunnelling method adopted for the undersea tunnel portion of the project. L'autoroute Trans-Tokio-Bay est la première étape d'un plan ambitieux qui a pour but de connecter Kawasaki à Chiba, en traversant la baie de Tokyo. Le projet inclut un pont de 5 km, un tunnel sous-marin de 10 km et une île artificielle au milieu de la baie. La méthode de construction utilisée pour le tunnel doit tenir compte du diamètre intérieur important du revêtement primaire (à peu près 14 m); du terrain extrêment peu consolidé; de la pression d'eau considérable à laquelle le tunnel sera soumis; et des conditions sismiques actives dans la baie de Tokyo. Le présent article discute la méthode de creusement utilisée pour la partie sous-marine du projet, à savoir un bouclier à la bentonite.

A STUDY ON APPLICATION OF EXPERT SYSTEM TO CONSTRUCTION PLANNING FOR SHIELD TUNNELLING METHOD

The authors have developed the expert system to make construction planning for shield tunnelling method skillfully and rationally. As tunnelling conditions and technologies have been diversified in recent years, the knowledge of expert engineers has been accumulated. By utilizing the knowledge base from such expertise, this system can support construction planning and design shield machines automatically.This paper describes the motive for introduction of expert system, the method of making the knowledge base and the details of this system. The authors have estimated the application of this system to actual construction planning.

Construction of underground works in Shanghai, P.R.C.

For nearly thirty years, Shanghai has been constructing underground works designed to improve the city's infrastructure. A number of projects were undertaken using shield tunnelling method in order to determine whether this method could be used successfully in Shanghai's geology, which is characterized by silt and silty or puddly clay. These underground projects have included subway tunnels, sewage and water supply tunnels, road tunnels, and offshore discharge tunnels. This paper describes eight subsurface projects in Shanghai that have used the shield tunnelling method successfully. Pendant environ trente ans, Shanghaï a construit des ouvrages souterrains dans le but d'améliorer l'infrastructure de la ville. De nombreux projets furent entrepris en utilisant la méthode àécran de façon à determiner si cette méthode pouvait ětre utilisée avec succès compte tenu de la géologie de Shanghaï, qui est caracterisée par de la vase ou de l'argile boueuse. Ces projets en souterrains ont inclus des tunnel de métro, le tout à l'égout et des tunnels d'alimentation en eau, des tunnels routier, et de déversement au large. Ce papier décrit huit projets en souterrain àShanghaï qui ont utilisé avec succès la méthode à écran.