Utility Tunnel Construction Research Articles

Determination of the Zone of Influence of Utility-Tunnel Construction

Results are presented for experimental investigations, and recommendations given regarding the width of the zone of influence, depending on the parameters of the tunnel under construction, and the characteristics of the enclosing soils. A method is proposed for estimation of the width of the zone of influence, making it possible to account for adjacent settlement.

Numerical modeling of tunneling effect on buried pipelines

The underground space in urban areas is frequently congested with utilities, including pipelines and conduits, that are affected by underground construction, e.g., tunneling. This paper carries out finite element (FE) analyses to investigate the effects of tunneling-induced ground movement on pipelines, with special attention to the different soil responses to uplift and downward pipe–soil relative movements. A series of numerical parametric studies with 900 FE simulation runs in total is performed to encompass various combinations of ground settlement profiles, pipe dimensions, material properties, pipe burial depth, and soil properties that are typical for utility pipelines and tunnel construction in urban areas. The results are summarized in a dimensionless plot of relative pipe–soil stiffness versus ratio of maximum pipe curvature to maximum ground curvature, which can be used to directly estimate the maximum pipe bending strain and (or) to directly assess the tunneling-induced risk to pipelines. The FE results and dimensionless plot are validated against field and centrifuge test results reported in the literature. Effect of pipeline orientation with respect to the tunnel centerline is explored. It might be unconservative if design analysis only considers the case that the pipeline is perpendicular to the tunnel centerline.

Optimisation of construction site layout using a hybrid simulation-based system

The layout of temporary facilities for a construction project greatly impacts project performance as demonstrated in many prior studies. This paper demonstrates how the site layout process can be automated for specific types of construction. Utility tunnel construction was selected as the specialty area, for which a partially automated site layout application was built. This approach integrates general purpose simulation for modelling space, logistics and resource dynamics with genetic algorithms for optimizing the layout based on various constraints and rules. We achieve this by implementing a site layout optimisation system within a simulation environment which already models tunnel construction processes. The new modelling strategy provides a medium for seamless integration between the resulting site layout and the discrete event production simulation models. The paper describes the approach taken and the system developed, presenting a practical case study from a tunnelling project in Edmonton, Canada to illustrate the system’s performance and its validation.

Application of the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving in Tunnel Construction

Despite the importance of innovation in construction, there is no structured approach to systematically support innovation. The theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ) provides a unique approach for structuring the development of innovative solutions for technical problems and has the potential for substantial results in construction innovation if used properly. This paper describes TRIZ and introduces its tools through applications in the field of utility tunnel construction. This paper describes how TRIZ tools can be used to generate conceptual solutions to a number of tunnel construction problems. In order to assess the practicality of the TRIZ analysis, the proposed solutions are compared to recent innovations in the field and actual solutions developed by experts. The comparison shows that although TRIZ tools were used by nonexperts in the tunneling field they included most of the features that exist in solutions developed by experts and were also able to point to technologies that are not yet widely used in the tunneling industry. The use of TRIZ in these applications showed that despite the advantages of the theory, further research and supporting tools are required to facilitate its day-to-day use in the construction industry.