Instrumentation and Monitoring During Construction of Tunnels in Bairabi-Sairang NL Project A. K. Yadav* S. P. Deshmukh** Synopsis Northeast Frontier Railway is executing number of tunnels in connection with Bairabi - Sairang New line project to connect the capital of Mizoram state. The alignment passes through hilly terrain having soft and yielding strata. New Austrian Tunneling method is being adopted to bore the tunnel through the ground. In order to design the support system and also to monitor the performance of the tunnel during the construction phase, extensive instrumentation is being used. This paper illustrates instrumentation adopted for monitoring of tunnel behavior during construction of various tunnels in the project. 1. Introduction: Northeast Frontier Railway is executing many new railway lines/doubling/gauge conversion projects in hilly terrain of lower Himalayas in various North Eastern states. One such line under construction is from Bairabi to Sairang (Aizawl) to connect the capital of Mizoram. The 50.38 km line passes through the hilly terrain all along. There are 23 tunnels, the longest being 1.76 km. Topography in the region is largely immature with steep slopes, narrow intervening synclinal valleys and series of parallel SChief Administrative Officer/Con, No F. Railway **Dy. Chief Engineer/Con/Bairabi, N. F. Railway 371Fig. 1 : Plan of New Railway Line from Bairabi to Sairang, Mizoram hummocks. In such terrain, large number of tunnels are invariably involved. The geological strata in this area consist of sedimentary deposits having many folds and faults. During tunneling, it is observed that the strata is mainly soft and yielding, which as per Barton's Rock Mass Classification System is categorized as Type IV to Type VIII. In such weak soil/rock strata tunnels are being constructed using NATM (New Austrian Tunneling Method). Instrumentation has become an integral part of the design of underground structures. During construction of tunnels in soft yielding ground strata it is important so as to know the behavior of soil/rock strata after disturbing the equilibrium soil/rock condition due to making of an underground structure through the soil/rock mass. It is a tool to assist with measurements to check the adequacy of design, determine the need for modifications to loading or support arrangement. During Construction, control instruments were installed to monitor the effects of construction. Instrument data helps to determine how fast construction can proceed without adverse effects on the surrounding rock mass using available construction support system. Instruments can provide early warning of impending failure. Also apart from construction control, instrumentation is also indispensable for site investigation, design verification and safety of the structures. 372Requirement or the instrumentation The level of instrumentation required depends on the type of rock mass/soil condition and method of tunneling adopted as broadly given below. Classical Method - Used up to last half of 19th century. No instrumentation needed. Mechanical Drilling and cutting, Drill and Blast Method - Minimum instrumentation. Shield method by TBM - Ground movement monitoring, temperature, vibration (accelerometers), hydraulic pressure, and electrical current sensors are used. New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) (Design as we go), ADECO RS Method, NTM (Norwegian Tunnelling Method) - Dynamic design require extensive monitoring, Instrumentation is also used to monitor the in-service performance of the tunnel. For example, monitoring seepage, pore water pressure and deformations can provide an indication of the performance of a tunnel during its operation. Monitoring loads on rock bolts and movements within a tunnel shape can be appreciated in advance. Purpose of Instrumentation during tunneling, Design & Design Verification NATM monitoring of displacements and loads is an essential part of the construction process, providing input to the ongoing process of design and verification during construction. Where initial ground support is selected based on conditions encountered, monitoring can verify the adequacy of the support and indicate if more support is required. May be used to obtain data from pilot tunnels, or shafts which can be used for design of tunnel. Decisions regarding design of final lining may be taken 373Construction Control Early monitoring during construction can help in planning of later construction procedures or help decide whether contingency plans need to be used. Monitoring can be used to diagnose flaws in the contractor's construction methodology and indicate the required improvements. c. Safety In the process of determining the adequacy of ground support, monitoring also serves a safety function, warning of the potential for ground failure. d. — Regulatory/Environmental requirements * Monitoring may be required to ensure compliance with regulatory/environmental requirements (e.g., groundwater lowering, ground settlements, vibrations) e. Performance Monitoring * Instruments are used to monitor the in- service performance of a structure, For example, monitoring loads on rock bolts and movements within a tunnel can provide an indication of the stability of tunnel f. Contractual Documentation: * Monitoring data can also be used for avoiding/settling disputes between the Railways and the contractors. Parameter Measured Deformations (displacements, strains, changes in inclination etc.) Stresses. Forces on structural elements (bolt force, normal load on a compression element or steel arch). Piezometric levels (pore water pressure & seepage pressure). 374rane measuenentnsiumeniton i aun Instrument used in Tunnel monitoring ined wi shot, Daten db» eared ea ur! Eeenenee {2 sMinioreet ged Toa aorta ‘Mhntrrect grad ‘pt Genet Swede Posarecals Enters ge ff 20s he gourd suranga supp eon er NATM Tunneling Instruments and Observation of Parameters Summary of instruments used and parameters measured are given below. Porras INSTRUMENTS | OBSERVATION Convergence Crown settlement Rock mass settlements Load in rock boltsfanchors Loads in permanent See! structure eee eee Earth pressure Strain in tbs and Strain in shotcrete Pore water! Seepage pressure Convergence meter Prism targets Tape Extensometer. Rock bolts load cel Load cells shotcrete stress cell Earth pressure cells Strain gauge. Shoterete strain meter. Piezometer. Convergence measurement A. By tape extensometer Extensometer was used to measure convergence or dimensional change in shape of the excavated tunnel by mechanical methods. It 375 The contraction or elongation between two fixed points, Changes in x, y&2co -ordinate gives crown seltlement. 3D monitoring ean be done, ‘Two point dimension changes gives rock mass movement Ie gives load on rock bolts to evaluate its accuracy, Hoop load on stee! Ribs is obtained by this method, Gives loads on shotcrete Gives pressure due to rock mass around tunnels Frequency on the tensioned wire gives stain. Frequency on the tensioned wire gives strain.was fixed at 25 m c/c or change of strata in NATM of tunneling. Itis a portable instrument to measure the displacement between pairs of reference studs grouted into shallow drill holes in the structure of excavation. The tape extensometer basically consist of steel survey tape with punched holes loaded on a reel fixed to the body of instrument. It incorporates a tensioning mechanism for the tape as well as dial/digital indicator based distance measuring system. Its measuring range is up to 30 m and resolution is 0.05 mm. erage ke By Prism Targets: It has been used to measure dimensional change in shape of the excavated tunnel by optical method by measuring its x, y &z co-ordinates. In this method reflector targets are fixed along the periphiry of tunnel excavated profile and periodic readings are obtained which gives relative figures to know for any diamensional changes in structure. 376By convergence meter: Shape of excavated profile can be measured by this instrument directly by measuring the tension in the extended wire. It is being used at every 50m c/c or change of strata in NATM of tunneling. The vibrating wire convergence meter is designed to detect the deformation of rock or soil masses by measuring the contraction(or elongation) between 2 fixed anchor points. Anchor points are established in the mass and connecting rods from one anchor lead back to transducer assembly located at the second anchor point. Changes in distance between the 2 anchors are conveyed by the connecting rods and measured by the transducer. 377Rock bolt Load cell Itmeasures load in rock bolts. These are fixed at 100 m C/C interval or randomly as required. The vibrating wire load cell are composed of three or six VW gages mounted parallel to each other equally spaced in a ring cylinder of heat treated steel alloy. When load is applied on the cell, change in tension of the gauge causes change in the frequency that is induced by plucking coil. The average of the reading from the cells represents the mean load on the anchor. Data is measured in the form of graph showing cumulative load in tons. Once rock bolt is installed, its data is interpreted for any unusual behaviour. Load on rock bolt signify its integrity with the surrounding rock mass. eS LAOOPLOE OEE? Rib Load cell It measures load in ribs and struts, these are fixed at interval of 100 mc/c Once the PSS is installed, load coming on it is being measured and analysed for any unusual behaviour. Data is depicted in the form of a graph showing cumulative load in tons.Earth pressure cell These have been used to measure the pressure due to Rock mass on support provided for tunnelling. This are fixed in case of loose strata with PSS (Permanente Steel Support) used to provide support. The VW earth pressure cells consist of two circular stainless steel plates welded together their periphery and placed apart by a narrow cavity filled with deaired fluid. Then a pressure transducer is attached to the cell. The cell is installed with its sensitive surface in direct contact with the soil. External pressure acting on that surface rate balanced by an equal pressure induced in the internal fluid. This pressure is converted by the pressure transducer into an frequency signal to the readout unit. Data is measured in the form of graph showing cumulative load in tons. no soanenm eae ania coairten item, Beerrnanenee serrerssescssnngernnneseseeete SS errrrrriit Shotcrete stress cell These have been fixed at interval of 100 m c/c between excavated and shotcrete portion to measure radial and tangential stress in shotcrete during NATM method of tunnelling. It is formed from two rectangular steel plates welded around the periphery. The intervening space between the plates is filled with oil. Then a pressure transducer is attached to the cell. The stresses applied on the sensitive surface causes a corresponding rise in the oil pressure as the steel plates are squeezed together. The oil in the cell is reached through to a pressure transducer. A pressure transducer converts pressure in liquid into the frequency signal. The signal is transmitted to the readout and is displayed. 379wovegarn 7. Strain gauge In Steel section Itmeasure strain in ribs and struts. 8. Strain gauge in shotcrete Used to measure strain in shotcrete thereby estimating the stress on the section. 9. Piezometer Piezometers have been used to measure pore water pressure around tunnel. Pore water pressure gives seepage pressure and hydraulic pressure around the tunnel rock mass for checking of design parameter. 38010. Conclusions Instrumentation is important to synchronise design & construction process with actual observation made during tunnelling. Instrumentation is indispensable for site investigation, design verification and safety of the structure. Instrumentation in tunnels can be implemented in three stages pre- construction stage, construction stage and post-construction / operation stage. Extensive instrumentation has helped in economising the design of the support system in a continuously varying rock mass/soil property. 381