First Name: Gopalji Roll No.

: CE21M112 Lecture date:05/10/2021

Dr N. Kumar Pitchumani was the speaker of our 12th lecture of industrial seminar
subject. He is the Technical Director at AECOM India Pvt. Ltd. He discussed various aspects
of 'Metro Projects'.
Typically, there are two types of construction methods use for underground metro
stations. First one is top-down construction and another one is bottom-up method. Top-down
method is use in congested areas. In top-down construction slabs act as internal bracing to
support excavation. Ground surface can be restored early in top-down method. Removal of
muck is done through opening in slabs. Bottom-up method is conventional method. Main
disadvantage of this method is that restoration of ground surface can only be done after
construction is completed. In top-down construction method first diaphragm wall is
constructed. Then road is constructed till king post. Then excavation is started and strut is
installed so that diaphragm wall can get support. Then roof slab is constructed. In bottom-up
method also diaphragm walls are constructed. But in this method excavation is done till final
level. During excavation struts are installed at different level for support. Once the excavation
is done then slab is constructed. In construction of slab first of all base level slab is
completed. Then concourse slab is constructed and then after roof slab is constructed. Finally
after provide waterproofing above roof slab backfilling above roof slab is done to reinstate
the existing situation.
To construct station above the existing underground station is difficult. During
construction above the station, many things that to be taken care like safety of existing
station, proper and accurate analysis to be done to determine forces, displacement, deflection,
etc. Generally underground tunnel construction is done by TBM(tunnel boring machine).
Tunnel boring machines are used as an alternative to drilling and blasting (D&B) methods in
rock and conventional hand mining in soil. TBMs have the advantages of limiting the
disturbance to the surrounding ground and producing a smooth tunnel wall. This significantly
reduces the cost of lining the tunnel, and makes them suitable to use in heavily urbanized
areas. The major disadvantage is the upfront cost. TBMs are expensive to construct, and can
be difficult to transport. The longer the tunnel, the less the relative cost of tunnel boring
machines versus drill and blast methods. This is because tunneling with TBMs is much more
efficient and results in shortened completion times, assuming they operate successfully.
Drilling and blasting however remains the preferred method when working through heavily
fractured and sheared rock layers. Segments are fitted along with TBM tunneling.
While designing the station many aspects to be taken care like state of collapse and
serviceability. Factors to be considered while designing are overall stability, toe stability,
CE5060 – 2021 Technical Report on Industrial Seminar Lectures Page 1 of 2
First Name: Gopalji Roll No.: CE21M112 Lecture date:05/10/2021

basal heave, uplift conditions, strut failure, wall deflection, ground settlement, effect of
buildings, etc. Various types of analysis and tests are done before construction which
includes effect of groundwater pressure, determination of soil settlements and wall deflection,
variation in rock head, etc. After that designing is completed according to tests. Diaphragm
walls are embedded according to ground investigation. If designing are not done properly
then it may create many problems like existing building foundation problems, sink hole
formation and cracks, etc. Using PLAXIS analysis construction of tunneling and station are
done. Many heritage buildings are near to construction sites. So safety of heritage building
must be considered. These buildings need to be assessed for damage and protected. For that
structure of tunnel is done outside the influence zone of building.
Cross passages constructed using shield tunneling. During tunneling under railway
tracks volume loss is kept minimum. Volume loss can be controlled by selecting correct soil
conditions and verifying the pressure readings. Tunneling under river need to cope with a
mixed face. Compressed air is used for every intervention.
Construction of underground station and tunnels required proper and sufficient tests,
as it might affect buildings and other construction. Technology makes life easier as TBM
does for tunneling.

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