Cutter force measurement on tunnel boring machines – Implementation at Koralm tunnel

Loading of a disk cutter on tunnel boring machines (TBM) is usually estimated from global machine thrust. In order to be able to measure cutting forces of an individual disk cutter, a new measurement method was developed and published in a previous paper (Entacher et al., 2012). This study presents the implementation process of the measurement method at the first TBM of the Austrian Koralm tunnel. Results show that peak forces are a multiple of average forces and that the distribution of forces across the tunnel face can be very irregular. The occurring forces are in very good agreement with geological features of the tunnel face such as highly fractured zones and orientation of schistosity.     

Analysis of tunnel diode antenna using iterative method

An efficient iterative method, based on the wave concept has been used to analyze the printed tunnel diode integrated antenna. A high computational speed has been achieved by introducing a 2D fast Fourier transformation (2D-FFT) in wave-guide environment. The simulated results are compared with published data and a good agreement is observed.     

Spatial characterization of joint planes and stability analysis of tunnel blocks

It has been gaining credence over the past several decades that the spatial characteristics of rock joints exert detrimental effect on the stability of tunnel structures. The deterministic joint spatial distribution around the tunnel was defined by digital photogrammetry technique, which statistically provides the basis for performing Monte-Carlo simulation of stochastic joints that are hidden inside the surrounding rock. The blocks generated by the intersection between structural planes and excavation surfaces were analyzed based on the block theory and limit equilibrium. The keyblocks were identified and the corresponding factors of safety were determined. All these analysis procedures were codified into the computer program GeoSMA-3D (Geotechnical Structure and Model Analysis). The developed software satisfied the fast analysis requirements of joint plane simulation, spatial block modelling, keyblock identification and failure process illustration. The case study was performed with reference to Dabeigou Tunnel on Duolun Second-class Highway in Duolun Town, Nei Mongol, China. Failure process illustration would be useful to facilitate the practical engineers to understand the basic mechanism and select the strengthening strategies.     

Probabilistic assessment of tunnel construction performance based on data

A probabilistic model for estimating tunnel construction time is learnt with data from past tunnel projects. The model is based on the Dynamic Bayesian Network technique. The model inputs are determined through an analysis of data from three tunnels built by means of the conventional tunneling method. The data motivate the development of a novel probability distribution to describe the excavation performance. In addition, the probability of construction failure events and the delay caused by such failures are estimated using databases available in the literature. The model is applied to a case study, in which it is demonstrated how observations from the tunnel construction process can be included to continuously update the prediction of construction time.     

Longitudinal tunnel ventilation control. Part 1: Modelling and dynamic feedforward control

Road tunnels exceeding a certain minimum length are equipped with a ventilation system. In case of a fire it is used to achieve a predefined air flow velocity in the tunnel by adequately controlling the installed jet fans in order to ensure sufficient visibility for persons to safely follow the escape routes. As the dynamics of the air flow in road tunnels strongly depend on the tunnel length, short tunnels with longitudinal ventilation systems pose a challenging control task. In this paper, non-linear dynamic feedforward control is proposed for longitudinal ventilation control in case of an emergency. For this purpose, an analytical non-linear zero-dimensional model of the air flow is feedback linearised. Due to its special properties, which are presented and analysed, two different versions of feedforward control are proposed: One is focused on performance, the other on robustness. Finally, the beneficial behaviour of the presented two-degrees-of-freedom control approach is demonstrated by its application to an Austrian motorway tunnel.     

Analysis of the behaviour of a yield-control support system in squeezing rock

Recent innovations in yield-control support systems allow to increase the rate of advance when tunnelling in difficult conditions is associated with severely squeezing rock. Such systems which imply the insertion in the lining of highly deformable concrete elements are being adopted successfully in tunnelling projects using conventional excavation methods. The Saint Martin access adit excavated in a Carboniferous Formation along the Base Tunnel of the Lyon-Turin rail line is presented as a case study. Numerical analyses are discussed to compare the results of computed and measured performance of a typical monitored section and to find out possible optimizations of the support system adopted.     

Some engineering properties of limestone: Tunnel Stra?ina case study (Croatia)

The paper presents geological and engineering geological characteristics of the Stra?ina Tunnel along the Bisko-Šestanovac section of the Zagreb-Split-Dubrovnik highway in Croatia. This paper compares the actual conditions of the rock mass during the excavation with a prediction model that preceded the excavation. From the engineering-geological viewpoint the rock mass in the tunnel was of a significantly higher quality than the prediction model. The specific geological feature of the Stra?ina Tunnel, with its right and left tunnel tube, is the passage of the right tunnel tube through a transgressive contact between Upper Cretaceous rudist limestones and Eocene foraminiferal limestones. Since this is the only tunnel in Croatia excavated through this particular transgressive contact, the geological and engineering properties of the transgression zone were up to now only assumed. Therefore, additional mineralogical, petrographical and engineering geological observations were carried out in order to determine and describe the transgression zone. The results are presented in this paper. In the left tunnel tube the contact between the mentioned litostratigraphical Units is of the fault type. This paper also briefly deals with the significance and cause of the overprofile excavation during tunneling through strongly karstified carbonate rocks. Consequently, special attention was paid to the overprofile during excavation since it can significantly affect tunneling costs.     

On numerical simulation of tunnel installation

The design of tunnels requires a proper estimate of surface settlements and lining forces. In engineering practice different design methods tend to be used, varying from simple empirical and analytical formulations to advanced finite element analyses. This paper begins with a review of empirical and analytical analyses for settlements and lining forces placing emphasis on the sequences of excavation and installation of support. Such installation procedures range from open face to closed face tunnelling and they tend to have a significant effect on deformations and lining forces. Hereafter the focus is on two-dimensional FE-analyses; again both for open face and for closed face tunnelling. Results for different installation procedures will be presented on the basis of two case studies. It is shown that installation procedures are most important to be considered in order to arrive at proper predictions for tunnelling settlements, horizontal deformations and lining forces. For the installation of closed face shield tunnelling a novel simulation method is presented, named the grout pressure method. It is shown that the grout pressure method yields the best predictions for both ground movements and structural forces.     

Computer modelling of current matching in a-Si : H/a-Si : H tandem solar cells on textured TCO substrates

Computer modelling is used as a tool for optimising a-Si : H/a-Si : H tandem cells on textured substrate in order to achieve current matching between the top and bottom cell. To take light scattering at the textured interfaces of the cell into account, we developed a multirough-interface optical model which was used for calculating the absorption profiles in the tandem cells. In order to simulate multi-junction solar cell as a complete device we implemented a novel model for tunnel/recombination junction (TRJ), which combines the trap-assisted tunnelling and enhanced carrier transport in the high-field region of the TRJ.We investigated the influence of light scattering and thickness of the intrinsic layer of the bottom cell on the optimal ratio i2/i1 between the thicknesses of the bottom (i2) and top (i1) intrinsic layers in the current-matched cell. The simulation results show that increasing amount of scattering at the textured interfaces leads to a lower ratio i2/i1 in the current-matched cell. This ratio depends on the thickness of the intrinsic layer of the bottom cell. The simulation results demonstrate that a-Si : H/a-Si : H tandem cell with 300 nm thick intrinsic layer in the bottom cell exhibits higher efficiency than the cell with 500 nm thick bottom intrinsic layer.     

牛官头隧道锚喷支护施工

介绍了甬台温高速公路牛官头隧道锚喷支护施工新材料、新工艺、新方法,并制定出施工中出现问题的对策。