Tunneling in Soft Ground and

Hard Rock
Terminology:

A tunnel is an underground passageway, dug through the surrounding

soil/earth/rock and enclosed except for entrance and exit, commonly at each end. A
pipeline is not a tunnel, though some recent tunnels have used immersed tube
construction techniques rather than traditional tunnel boring methods
A tunnel is relatively long and narrow; the length is often much greater than twice
the diameter, although similar shorter excavations can be constructed, such as cross
passages between tunnels.

The definition of what constitutes a tunnel can vary widely from source to source.
For example, the definition of a road tunnel in the United Kingdom is defined as "a
subsurface highway structure enclosed for a length of 150 metres (490 ft) or
more."[1] In the United States, the NFPA definition of a tunnel is "An underground
structure with a design length greater than 23 m (75 ft) and a diameter greater than
1,800 millimetres (5.9 ft)."[2]
Content :
-
Introduction
- Tunneling in soft ground

- Tunneling in hard rock

- sequence of operation
- methods of tunneling
 TYPES OF
GROUND
• HARD GROUND
- Self supporting

• SOFT GROUND
- Running ground
- Soft ground
- Firm ground
- Self supporting ground
 TYPES OF SOFT
GROUND
• Running ground : required support immediately ,e.g. dry sand

• Soft ground : roof requires immediate support while sides can

remain standing for few minutes.

• Firm ground : roof can stand for few minutes and sides
for
much longer time ; e.g. dry earth

• Self supporting ground : remain unsupported up to short length of

1.5 to 4 m. ; e.g. sand stone
 • Tunneling in Soft Soil - Challenges

• Preventing soil movements

• Soil pressure
• Water seepage

• Techniques
• Cut and Cover
• Supporting Beams
• Roof lining
• Tunnel Shields
 Tunneling in Hard Rock
• Tunneling Methods
• Heating and quenching (old technique)
• Drilling
• Percussion drills (penetrate rock by impact action alone)
• Rotary drills (cut by turning a bit under pressure against the
• rock face)
• Rotary-Percussion drills (combine rotary and percussion
• action)

• Blasting
• Primary blasting vs Secondary blasting
• Explosives
• Dynamite (expensive)
• Ammonium Nitrate (cheaper but not good in water logged
• areas)
• Slurries (mixture of explosives, gel and water)
• Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)
 FACTOR AFFECTING THE CHOICE OF A METHOD

• Size of tunnel
• Type of ground
• Available equipment
• Method of sequence of excavation
• The extent of ground support method
• The method of attacking the heading
• METHOD OF TUNNELLING IN SOFT GROUND

METHODES REQUIRING USE OF TIMBERS

• Fore poling method

• Needle beam method
• Army method
• Belgian method
• English method
• American method
• Austrian method
• German method
• Italian method

OTHER METHOD
• Linear plate method
• Shield method
• Compressed air method
FORE POLING METHOD
• Used for running ground
• Now replace by compressed air tunneling

 Sequence of operations for 1.50x1.50 mtr.

• Sunking of shaft
• Bent is placed from the sheeting
• Holes are driven in the sheeting from 7.5 c/c above the cap and
below the cap.
• Fore pole consist of plank with wedge ends are entered one at a
time
• Driven through half length at 15 cm/mtr inclination
• Timber laid at the end of all spiles.
• Face sheeting broken out and ground is allowed to run.
• Put temporary supports at end called horse head.
• The other end of forepole is supported with board of size
45 cm.
• Now, repeat the procedure and inserted boom for the support of
board.

merits :
• Used without compressed air
• Used for small dimensions in running ground
demerits :
• slow process
• used only for small cross section
NEEDLE BEAM
• It consist of a stout timber beam from main temporary support
• It is used when the soil roof can stand for a few minutes

Sequence of operation :

• A drift of about 1 mts. is driven on working face

• Roof of this drift is lagged with sheeting
• Apply trench jack on it
• A needle beam of 5 to 6 mtr. is inserted and one end is carried on
plank and other on stout post.
• With help of jacks , drift is widened side ways
 BELGIAN METHOD

It is used for moderately firm or hard soils.

SEQUENCE OF
OPERATION :
• A top heading ABCD for the full rise of the arch is driven &
supported.
• Heading is widened sideways , and supported by additional
crown bars on sill.
• Oiling the arch
• Inserted the shore at side and excavate the MNOP.
• Shoring is removed and space is filled with masonary.
 ARMY METHOD OR CASE METHOD
• It is derived by USA army for
constructing small tunnels at shallow
depth
SEQUENCE OF
OPERATION :
• A common gallery of wood 1.1x1.8x0.05 mtr. of wood is used.
• A top braced is removed and ground is excavated for a short
distance.
• The box is moved ahead and set next cap.
• After that remove the breast one by one and excavate .
MERITS :
• Simple,economic
• Outskilled labour can driven
DEMERITS :
• Only for short tunnel
 ENGLISH METHOD

• The main characteristic of this method is excavation of

full section of the tunnel at once using longitudinal
struting and alternate of masonary work and excavation.
SEQUENCE OF
OPERATION
•
:
Top head is driven upto 5 mtr.
• It is supported on crown bars
• Then widening of the heading is then done by digging away the
earth at each side.
• Then started excavation of part -2 and put the sill
• Part -3 in same manor and started masonary
MERITE
S:
• simple method of hauling are possible
• masonary lining is built , so making the construction
strong and homogeneous.
DEMERITES :
• use of lots of timber
• process are slower due to alternate of excavation & masonary
 AMERICAN METHOD
• It is used for railway or highway tunneling
• a top drift is driven and supported by laggings,cap timber and parts
• SEQUENCE
side are widened OF OPERATION :
• walls plates are introduced at the springing supporting the arch set
• vertical posts are driven
• sides and benching are cleared & tunnel lining is started
 LINIER PLATE METHOD
• It is presented steel plates ,plain or corrugated are used to
support the soil during excavation.

• The size of plates are 0.9 x 0.4 with flange of .05 mtr.

• The plates are bolted to each other through holes in flange.

• A hole of 0.4 mt. depth is cut at crown and liner plate “ a” is
SEQUENCE OF OPERATION :
inserted
• Excavated sides and place “b” and “c” plates
• Now two wooden wall plates of size about 20 cm. x 5 cm. and
placed on each side of the bench
• Jacks are removed
• The bench is then cleared and the wall plates are under pinned at
bottom
 SHEILD METHOD
• It is used for driving a tunnel through water bearing strata.
• It is an equipment which acts as a bridge with roof for workers.
• It open at one end or both end.
• It consist sledges , conveyors etc.
LENGTH OF SHEILD :
1. storage required
2. problemes of changing direction
•COMPONENTES OF SHIELD :
•1.The skin
•2.Cutting edge
•3.Propelling jack
•4.The hood
•5.The tail
•6. Port holes
SHAPE OF
SHIELD :
• Resistance of motion : contact
area of the shape

• Cross section area / unit

perimeter
for circular and square=d/4

• Resistance to pressure caused by surrounding soil :

circular is best

• Permission for rotation of shield about its own axis :

circular is preferable
 SEQUENCE OF
OPERATION :
• The ground is excavated ahead of the sheild of .45 to .75 meter.
• The shield is jacked forward.
PRIMARY LINING :
• It is the name given to the heavy cast iron lining used in
conjuction with the shield.
• SECONDARY LINING :
• 5 to 7 cm. concrete is placed over the flange of iron.

MERITS :
•Fulldimension available
•Speedy
•Moving with constant support to the advanced tunnel.
 COMPRESSED AIR METHOD
• Used of compressed air
• Used in soft ground
COMPRESSED AIR TUNNELING IN CLAY :
• No timbering is required inside the tunnel
• Pressure required inside the tunnel is p = wh. ;w=weight of soil
EQUIPMENTES FOR COMPRESSED AIR
TUNNELING
•
:
air lock & accessories
• bulk head to fix air lock
• blow line
• air compressor
• gas trapes
• DURATION OF WORK IN COMPRESSED AIR FOR
LABOURES :
• p = 12.5 pa ;8 hr(break 0.5 hr)
• p= 14 to 21 pa; 4 hr (break 2hr)
Tunneling in Hard Rock
• Sequence of operation :

1. Locating centre line on the ground.

2. Construction of shaft.
3. Transferring centre line to the inside of tunnel.
4. Setting up and drilling hole for blasting.
5. Loading holes and carrying out blasting
6. Providing ventilation.
7. Loading and hauling muck.
8. Pumping of ground water.
9. Electric supports
10. Placing reinforcement steel.
11. Placing concrete lining.
 Methods of tunneling in rock
1. Full face method

2. Heading and bench method

3. Drift method
Full face method
• In this whole section of tunnel is attacked at the same time.It is
suitable for the small cross sectional area about 3 m dia.

• Entire section is drilled, the holes are charged and explosives are
discharged

• Bars are installed whose width is less than height.

• Columns are installed vertically whose height is less than its

width.
Heading and Bench method
• It is used when tunnel is very large and the quality of rock
is not satisfactory.

• If rock is hard and self supporting heading advanced ahead

by one round ahead of the bench.

• The bench provides platform for timber supports.

• To heading is usually 3 to 3.5 m ahead of bench.

 Drift method
• A drift is a small tunnel driven through all or a portion of the
length of the tunnel prior to excavating full bore.

• Types:
1. Centre drift
2. Side drift
3. Top drift
4. Bottom drift
Centre drift
• Generally 3 * 3 m to 2.5 * 2.5 m centre drift is driven through
portal to portal.
• Holes for enlargement are ring drilled with a drill set upon
the axis of tunnel.

ADVANTAGES :

• Good ventilation
• Mucking work does not disturbed
• Elaborate supporting system not required.
 Side drift
- Two drifts are advanced along the sides of tunnel.
-Breakups are then made in form of arch and permanent
timbering is erected to support the roof.
 Top drift
• When a drift section chosen lies in top of the tunnel section it
called top drift.
 Bottom drift
• In this , the lower part is first blasted and cleared for the full
length.
• 1. Drilling holes by percussion, rotary percussion and rotary
• 2. Rotary or Rotary Percussion methods –loose soils
• 3. Rotary Drilling –rocky soils
• 4. Spacing –300-500m ; reduced to 50-100 m in geologically
disturbed areas. Lateral Spacing –10-15m from C/L of tunnel.
• 5. Depth –20-50 m deeper than proposed invert level of tunnel.
For detailed undisturbed observations, shafts can be excavated .
• Shafts –vertical or inclined tunnel excavated to reach and to get
information for the area surrounding proposed tunnel and tunnel
section
• 6. Section of 3m x 1.5 m to 3 m x 2m. Minimum depth of
excavation. Temporary and Permanent Shafts
The choice of tunnelling method may be dictated
by:

• Geological and hydrological conditions,

• Cross-section and length of continuous tunnel,
• Local experience and time/cost considerations (what is
the value of time in the project),
• Limits of surface disturbance, and many others factors.
Tunnel Construction Methods:

• Classical methods
• Mechanical drilling/cutting
• Cut-and-cover
• Drill and blast
• Shields and tunnel boring machines (TBMs)
• New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM)
• Immersed tunnels
• Special methods (Tunnel jacking, etc.)
 Classical Methods

• Among the classical methods are the Belgian, English, German,

Austrian, Italian and American systems. These methods had
much in common with early mining methods and were used until
last half of the 19th century.
• Excavation was done by hand or simple drilling equipment.
• Supports were predominantly timber, and transportation of muck
was done on cars on narrow gauge tracks and powered by steam.
• Progress was typically in multiple stages i.e. progress in one
drift, then support, then drift in another drift, and so on.
• The lining would be of brickwork.
These craft-based methods are no longer applicable, although
some of their principles have been used in combination up to
present day. Nevertheless some of the world’s great tunnels were
built with these methods.
The English method (crown-bar
method, figure left)

started from a central top heading

which allowed two timber crown bars
to be hoisted into place, the rear
ends supported on a completed length
of lining, the forward ends propped
within the central heading.
Development of the heading then
allowed additional bars to be erected
around the perimeter of the face with
boards between each pair to exclude
the ground. The system is economical
in timber, permits construction of the
arch of the tunnel in full-face
excavation, and is tolerant of a wide
variety of ground conditions, but
depends on relatively low ground
pressures.
• The Austrian (cross-bar) method

required a strongly constructed

central bottom heading upon which
a crown heading was constructed.
The timbering for full-face
excavation was then heavily braced
against the central headings, with
longitudinal poling boards built on
timber bars carried on each frame of
timbering.
As the lining advanced, so was the
timbering propped against each
length to maintain stability. The
method was capable of withstanding
high ground pressures but had high
demand for timber.
The German method (core-leaving method)

provided a series of box headings within which the

successive sections of the side walls of the tunnel were
built from the footing upwards, thus a forerunner of
the system of multiple drifts.
The method depends on the central dumpling being
able to resists without excessive movement pressure
transmitted from the side walls, in providing support to
the top 'key' heading prior to completion of the arch
and to ensuring stability while the invert arch is
extended in sections.
The Belgian system (underpinning or flying arch
method)

started from the construction of a top heading, propped

approximately to the level of the springing of the arch for a
horseshoe tunnel. This heading was then extended to each side to
permit construction of the upper part of the arch, which was
extended by under- pinning, working from side headings. The system
was only practicable where rock loads were not heavy.
The first sizeable tunnel in soft ground was the Tronquoy tunnel on
the St Quentin canal in France in 1803, where the method of
construction, based on the use of successive headings to construct
sections of the arch starting from the footing, was a forerunner
to the German system described above.
 -
Mechanical Drilling and Cutting Crushing Strength of rock
 Tunnel measured 22 x 15,
40m, and was excavated
with multiple drifts.
Classical multiple face excavation
 Cut and Cover Method

construction involves using

excavation equipment to dig a large
trench or rectangular hole in the
ground which is then covered by a
concrete deck.

Once the deck is in place, surface

activity can largely resume as
construction works continue below.
1. Installation of retaining
wall

2. Excavation and
installation of stell strut
3. Installation of decking and
roof slab

4. Construction of station box

5. Installation of side walls and
base slab

6. Backfilling and reinstatement

Drill and blast Methods:

Drilling and blasting is the

controlled use of explosives and
other methods such as gas pressure
blasting pyrotechnics, to break
rock for excavation. It is practiced
most often in mining, quarrying
and civil engineering such as dam,
tunnel or road construction.
The result of rock blasting is
often known as a rock cut.
 The process for bored tunnelling involves all or some of the following
operations:

• Probe drilling (when needed) • Transportation of muck

• Grouting (when needed) • Lining or coating/sealing
• Excavation (or blasting) • Draining
• Supporting • Ventilation
 Shields and tunnel boring machines (TBMs)

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.
TBM General Component:
 New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM):

NATM known as the sequential excavation

method (SEM) or sprayed concrete lining
method (SCL), is a method of modern tunnel
design and construction employing
sophisticated monitoring to optimize various
wall reinforcement techniques based on the
type of rock encountered as tunneling
progresses.
This technique first gained attention in the
1960s based on the work of Ladislaus von
Rabcewicz, Leopold Müller, and Franz
Pacher between 1957 and 1965 in Austria
NATM has seven elements:
1. Exploitation of the strength of native rock mass – Relies on the inherent strength
of the surrounding rock mass being conserved as the main component of tunnel
support. Primary support is directed to enable the rock to support itself.

2. Shotcrete protection – Loosening and excessive rock deformation must be

minimised. This is achieved by applying a thin layer of shotcrete immediately
after face advance.

3. Measurement and monitoring – Potential deformations of the excavation

must be carefully monitored. NATM requires installation of sophisticated
measurement instrumentation. It is embedded in lining, ground, and boreholes.
In the event of observed movements, additional supports are installed only
when needed, with a resultant overall economy to the total cost of the project.
NATM has seven elements:
4. Flexible support – The primary lining is thin and reflects recent strata
conditions. Active rather than passive support is used and the tunnel is
strengthened by a flexible combination of rock bolts, wire mesh and steel ribs,
not by a thicker concrete lining.

5. Closing of the invert – Especially crucial in soft ground, the quick closing of the
invert (the bottom portion of the tunnel) which creates a load-bearing ring is
important, and has the advantage of engaging the inherent strength of the rock
mass surrounding the tunnel.

6. Contractual arrangements – Since the NATM is based on monitoring

measurements, changes in support and construction method are possible, but
only if the contractual system enables them.

7. Rock mass classification, ranging from very hard to very soft, determines the
minimum support measures required and avoids economic waste that comes
from needlessly strong support measures. Support system designs exist for each
of the main rock classes. These serve as the guidelines for tunnel reinforcement.
 HISTORY OF NATM
⦿ The term New Austrian Tunneling Method
Popularly Known as NATM got its name from
Salzburg (Austria).
⦿ It was first used by Mr Rabcewicz in 1962. It
got world wise recognition in1964.
⦿ The first use of NATM in soft ground tunnel in
Frankfurt (Europe) metro in 1969.
⦿ The basic aim of NATM is for getting
 Need of Pandoh Takoli Bypass Project

⦿Social Benefit: The project would help expedite the

improvement of infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh
and reduce the time and cost of travel for traffic
plying on the stretch.
⦿ Travel Time: Travel time would be reduced by
1.3hr to 2 hrs.
⦿ Infrastructure: Construction of 10 new 2 lane
tunnel for a total length of 16.8km and
1 existing tunnel and 19km of 4 Lane Highway.
⦿ Safety: Safety of traveler will be increased because
of Tunnel infrastructure and 4 Lane Highway
infrastructure.
 DEFINITION OF NATM
⦿ The New Austrian Tunneling Method is a
support method to stabilize the tunnel perimeter
by means of sprayed concrete
,anchors and other support and uses monitoring
too control stability.
 BROAD PRINCIPLES OF
NATM
⦿ The NATM integrates the principles of the
behavior of rock masses under load and
monitoring the performance of underground
construction during construction.
 7 FEATURES OF NATM
⦿ Mobilization of the strength of rock mass
⦿ Shotcrete protection
⦿ Measurements
⦿ Primary Lining
⦿ Closing Invert
⦿ Rock mass classification
⦿ Dynamic Design
 FEATURES OF NATM
⦿ Mobilization of the strength of rock
mass - The method relies on the inherent
strength of the rock mass being conserved as
the main component of tunnel support. Primary
support is directed to enable the rock to support
itself.
⦿ Shotcrete protection - Loosening and
excessive rock mass deformation should be
minimized by applying a layer 25-50mm of
sealing shotcrete immediately after opening of
the face.
 FEATURES OF NATM
⦿ Measurements - Every deformation of the
excavation must be measured.
NATM requiresinstallation of sophisticated
measurement instrumentation. It is embedded in
lining, ground such as load cells, extensometers and
relectors.
⦿ Primary Lining - The primary lining is thin. It is
active support and the tunnel is strengthened not by
a thicker concrete lining but by a flexible
combination of rock bolts, wire mesh and Lattice
girders.
 FEATURES OF NATM
⦿ Closing of invert – Early as far as possible
closing the invert so as to complete the arch
action and creating a load-bearing ring is
important. It is crucial in soft ground tunnels
⦿ Rock mass classification - The participation
of expert geologist is very important as the
primary support as well as the further designing
of supports etc during the excavation of rock
requires the classification of the rock mass.
 FEATURES OF NATM
⦿ Dynamic Design – The designing is
dynamic during the tunnel construction.
Every face opening classification of rock is
done, and the support are selected
accordingly. Also the design is further
reinforced based on the deformation as
noticed during the monitoring.
 PSYCOLOGY BEHIND NATM

 a “design as you go” approach to tunnelling

providing an optimized support based on
observed ground conditions.

 a “design as you monitor” approach

based on observed convergence and
divergence in the lining as well as
prevailing rock conditions.
 NATM
⦿ Flexibility to adopt different excavation
geometries and very large cross sections.
⦿ Flexibility to install additional support measures,
rock bolts, dowels, steel ribs if required.
⦿ Easy to install a waterproof membrane.
⦿ Easy to install primary support, i.e. shotcrete.
⦿ TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) is not an effective
method as compared to NATM
SEQUENCE OF EXECUTION OF
NATM
⦿ Portal Development
⦿ Survey and Profile making
⦿ Drilling Hole and Rock bolting
⦿ Loading Explosive
⦿ Charging (20 to 30 min)
⦿ Blasting
⦿ Defuming Through Ventilation Pipe
⦿ Removal Of Muck
⦿ Scaling/Chipping With Boomer
⦿ SHOTCRETE Ist Layer ( Upto 50mm )
⦿ SURVEY
⦿ SUPPORT SYSTEM (Wire Mesh , Steel Rib/Lattice
Girder )
⦿ SHOTCRETE 2ND LAYER (150 – 200mm)
⦿ Systematic Rock Bolting
 PORTAL DEVELOPMENT
⦿ Portal development is the process to stabilize
the entrance and exit of the tunnel
 SURVEY AND PROFILE
MAKING

⦿The basic procedure of tunnel surveying is

to align the center line in the ground and
transfer that to the tunnel.
⦿ Marking of profile as per design and
drawing of that tunnel.
SURVEY AND PROFILE
MAKING
 DRILLING HOLE & ROCK
BOLTING

⦿ Process of making hole in rock

surface for blasting and rock bolting.
⦿ Equipment used- Drill Jumbo, Crawler
Drill

Prepared by- Suman Paul

DRILLING HOLE
 LOADING EXPLOSIVE
⦿ TYPES OF EXPLOSIVES-
⦿ Explosives based on chemical nature
 High or detonating explosives- Process is extremely
rapid, almost instantaneous.
 Low or deflagrating Explosives- Low velocity of
burning and produce pressure by progressive burning
⦿ Explosives based on availability
 Powder explosives
 Disruptive explosives or Dynamites

Prepared by- Suman Paul

LOADING EXPLOSIVE
 CHARGING
⦿ A exporter having a red light/button used for blasting
⦿ Start charging face at least 15 minutes after start
drilling out a safe position.
⦿ Charging should be done always from the top to bottom , it should be done
200m away from the explosive area.
⦿ Take blasting cord with in the basket and correct
detonator straight after hole is finished charged.
⦿ As soon as charging out of the basket is done prepare ignition- cable and
correct electrical dets.
⦿ Push red light for blast after it give signal.
Wheel-loader
⦿ organized andand placed
before blasting Dumper insidetrucks
Tunnel. have to be
 BLASTING
⦿ Definition- The process of breaking rocks into
smaller pieces by use of explosives. A picture of
phase with explosive loading Ready for blasting.
⦿ Control Blasting
 Volume excavation difficult to achieve
 Permission & license is must for usage, storage &
transportation
 Limited permission available for usage, when its must
 Usage is still restricted like drill & blast
BLASTING

Prepared by- Suman Paul

VENTILATION IN
TUNNEL
⦿ Ventilation is required because of :
 Remove Dust and Gas caused by drilling,
blasting, loading of excavated materials and
Shotcreting.
 Exhaust gas and smoke discharged by diesel
 Poison gas made from explosive or organic
solvent

 Poison gas, flammable gas or oxygen

shortage gas in ground
 High temperature and high humidity
VENTILATION IN
TUNNEL

Prepared by- Suman Paul

 FACE MAPPING
⦿ After the blast, geological mapping of
excavated face are being done with their
orientation with geological features (Joints,
Faults & Folds) w.r.t tunnel is prepared.
⦿ Based on Geological observation support
system is decided, and support is being
installed.
 MUCKIN
G
⦿ Mucking is a process in which muck is
carried in the dump truck after blasting and
throw outside the tunnel. Mucking has to be
not lower than the bottom plate of last
lattice girder.
MUCKIN
G
 SACLING/CHIPPING

• Scaling/Chipping in progress of tunnel

removing lose rock from heading
and it helps to make space for tunnel
support by remove under cut after
blasting.
• Scaling/chipping is done with boomer
machine to remove the muck which stick to
the phase
ROCK MASS
CLASSIFICATION
⦿The excavation in the rock is dependent on
the rock class based on several factors such
as – compressive strength of rock, water
condition, number of cleavages, condition
of cleavages, dip and stike of the rock etc.
⦿ There are various approaches of
classification of the rock mass and most
predominantly are RQD,RMR and Q factor
of the rock mass.
 ROCK QUALITY
DESIGNATION INDEX (RQD)
⦿ The Rock Quality Designation index (RQD)
was developed to provide a quantitative
estimate of rock mass quality from drill
core logs.
RQD is defined as the percentage of intact
core pieces longer than 100 mm in the total
length of core. The core should be at least of
size (54.7 mm in diameter) and should be
drilled with a double-tube core barrel.
 RMR VALUE
⦿ RMR value dends upon the following
factors:
 1. Uniaxial compressive strength of rock
material. 2. Rock Quality Designation (RQD).
3. Spacing of discontinuities. 4. Condition of
discontinuities. 5. Groundwater
conditions. 6. Orientation of discontinuities.
 Q FACTOR
⦿Q Factor: It depends on the following:
 i) Block size
 ii) Inter block shear
 iii) Active stress
 iv) Reduction for joint water flow
 v) Presence of weakness zones
⦿ Q factor varies from 0.01 to 1000 i.e. from
exceptionally poor rock to exceptionally
good rock
ROCK SUPPORT SYSTEM
 COMPONENTS AND
SEQUENCE OF EXECUTION
I.
AFTER BLASTING
Sealing Shotcrete – Shotcrete 25-50mm
generally
II. Fixing of Lattice Girder – lattice girder is 3 Bars
of steel reinforcement placed at three corners of
triangle with 8mm steel bar for connection. Easy to
handle comparison of steel ribs.
Fixing of wire mash – generally used 6mm thick
III. wires (fig 6 )
IV. Primary Lining with Shotcrete – In layers each
not thicker than 150mm
V. Rock Bolting – discussed separately
VI. Pipe Fore poling – Used for crown support for
next Excavation cycle ( for Rock Class
after III only)
 SHOTCRETE
⦿ Shotcrete is the generic name for cement, sand
and fine aggregate concretes which are applied
pneumatically and compacted dynamically
under high velocity”.
⦿ Pre-shotcrete
 First the profile and the after needs to be washed
down so that there will be a good connection
between rock and shotcrete.
 Areas where are over break situations should be
sprayed first with a thin layer (max 10 cm).
 The shotcrete needs to be sprayed from the bottom
upwards to have a good abutment for upper
shotcrete.
TYPE OF SHOTCRETE
⦿ Wet Mix Shotcrete:
 All ingredients, including water are thoroughly
mixed and introduced in the delivery equipment. Wet
material is pumped to the nozzle where the
compressed air is added to provide high velocity for
placement and consolidation of the material into the
receiving surface.
⦿ Dry Mix Shotcrete:
 Pre-blended dry or damp materials are placed into
the delivery equipment. Compressed air conveys
material through a hose at high velocity to the
nozzle, where the water is added. Material is
consolidated on the receiving surface by high impact
velocity.
DRY VS WET SHOTCRETE
⦿ Dry Shotcrete ⦿ Wet Shotcrete
I. Less power input I. Greater power
is required. required.
II. Low initial cost, II. Costlier
low maintenance process.
and cheaper III. Higher
III. Productivity is productivity
about 10-
comparatively 16 cum/hr
low IV. Rebound is
IV. Rebound is less
greater
SHOTCRETE

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 TUNNEL SUPPORT
SYSTEM
⦿ Support acting by applying a confining
pressure to the surrounding ground
 Shotcrete
 shotcrete with lattice girders
⦿ Support applying both a confining pressure
and acting as reinforcement of the
surrounding ground
 Un-grouted mechanically or chemically anchored
rock bolts
 Grouted (resin or mortar) rock bolts
 Driven anchor bars

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 TUNNEL SUPPORT
SYSTEM
⦿ Systems providing plain "brute strength”
support
 heavy steel ribs
 lattice girders
 steel linings
 concrete segments
 driven tubes (umbrella arch)
 Shields
⦿ Systems which consolidate the ground to amend
its geotechnical and/or hydrological properties
 consolidation grouting
 compressed air
 freezing

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SUPPORT SYSTEM AS PER ROCK
CLASSIFICATIONS

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 WIRE MESH
⦿ Wire mesh
 Wire mesh is used to support small pieces of
loose rock or as reinforcement for shotcrete.
 Stabilization of applied shotcrete until setting
and hardening
 Increase of shear strength
 Preventing dropping of shotcrete
portion after cracking or failing of the lining.
 SIZE: Standard size is 150 x 150 x 6 mm

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 FOREPOLING
⦿ The Forepoling Umbrella System (FUS)
has proved to be an soil
reinforcement method efficient in face
tunneling.
⦿ . The system comprises steel pipes openinstalled
from the tunnel face to form a roof above the
tunnel heading thereby contributing to
decreasing the deformations caused by
tunneling and increasing the tunnel heading
stability.
⦿ Generally forepoling is used for soft ground
rock conditions.
FOREPOLING
 LATTICE GIRDER
⦿ It is used when rock is loose.
⦿ It is used in class C , D and F of rock.
⦿ Functions of Lattice Girder
 Steel Rib/Lattice Girder Composite structure of
lattice girder and concrete confined to load
distribution.
 Carrying of “Green” shotcrete.
 Profile control
 Support for fore poling Placing of lattice girder
LATTICE GIRDER

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 ROCK BOLTING
⦿ A rock bolt is a long anchor bolt, for stabilizing
rock excavations, which may be tunnels or rock
cuts. It transfers load from the unstable exterior, to
the confined (and much stronger) interior of the
rock mass.
⦿ Rock bolt are used to support the upper part of the
tunnel.
⦿ It is inserted at an inclined angle 40-60 degree in
the rock.
⦿ Type of Rock bolt
 SDA :- Self Drilling Anchor
 SN :- Store Norphus Rock bolt
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 TYPES OF ROCK BOLTS
⦿ 1) SN Type – Normal steel tor steel bars of dia
28mm and above (generally used as 32mm) with
cement grout, some time the resin pouches can be
used for better anchorage.
⦿ 2) SDR – These are self drilling type of Rock
bolts with sacrificial bit at start, suitable for rapidly
collapsing soils where the drilled hole collapses
when drill bite is withdrawn.
⦿ 3) Expansion Rock Bolts – Swellex type. The
rock bolt is inflated after insertion with the water
pressure f o r b e t t e r anchorage.
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 SECOND LAYER OF SHOTCRETE
⦿ 2nd
layer of shotcrete is sprayed to cover
lattice girder and standard thickness
of shotcrete is 150 mm to 200 mm.
⦿ Function of 2nd Shotcrete-
⦿ 1. As sealing Shotcrete:
 Avoids first loosening of the surrounding ground.
 Closes joints and prevents fall-
downs; so activating the rock arch.
 Seals the surrounding ground.
⦿ 2. As main shotcrete (carrying member):
 To carry the load introduced by the ground in the
lining.

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 TUNNEL LINING &
PAVEMENT
⦿ Fixing of Reinforcement / Waterproofing
Membrane
⦿ Erection of Concrete Lining Gantry
⦿ Concreting in Tunnel
⦿ GSB laying in invert
⦿ DLC laying in invert
⦿ PQC laying in invert
⦿ E&M works

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FIXING OF REINFORCEMENT
/ WATERPROOFING
MEMBRANE

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ERECTION OF CONCRETE LINING
GANTRY

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CONCRETING IN TUNNEL

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GSB LAYING IN INVERT

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DLC LAYING IN INVERT

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PQC LAYING IN INVERT

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 CONCEPT OF 3D MONITORING
⦿ 3d monitoring is new technique using for
taking the right alignment of the tunnel
⦿ Optical targets are used for determining the
coordinates for measurements
⦿ The coordinates should be checked daily
⦿ It is necessary for the tunnel as by it we
know any displacement and wrong
alignments
 POINTS TO CARRY OUT A
SUCCESSFUL NATM PROCESS
⦿ Consideration of rock mechanics
⦿ Selection of a proper profile
⦿ Design of flexible support and slender lining (in
rock)
⦿ Careful excavation
⦿ Maintenance of rock strength, avoidance
of loosening and over-breaks
⦿ Direct contact of rock/soil and support
⦿ Continuous control by geotechnical
measurements
⦿ Installation of support without
delay and in correct
⦿ sequence
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General
Optical Target

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General
Optical Displacement Monitoring
Free Stationing

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