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Papers from WTC and ITA conferences have been made available as PDF documents.
List of endorsed conferences
World Tunnelling Congress
Abstract: Submerged floating tunnel (SFT) may suffer from currents and waves long-term actions. Studies have indicated that optimizing SFT cross-section shape could reduce these impacts. This paper further proposed various conceptualized SFT cross-sections and quantitatively analyzed their hydrodynamic characteristics using numerical approaches. Findings are that the chamfer, arched top edge, or guide...
Abstract: The WestConnex road tunnel project is the largest civil infrastructure project under construction in Australia. The motorway project is being delivered in three stages and is predominantly underground. It includes 33 km of new or improved motorway linking Sydney’s west and southwest with the Central Business District, and the corridor to Sydney Airport and Port Botany. This paper covers Stage...
Abstract: The Ollachea Tunnel is located in Puno (Peru), at an altitude of 2,700 m in the rainforest brow of the Andes. It is part of the South Interocean Highway, has a length of 906 m, an inner section of 80 m2, and has an intermediate emergency exit. It can be considered as a pioneering project in tunnelling since it is foreseen to encounter high enthalpy thermal underground water, with temperatures...
Abstract: In the field of TBM self-driving technology development, efforts are underway to adapt, for use in various tunnel construction sites, a learning system for TBM alignment control which assists in tunnelling along the intended alignment by guiding the operator determine force points of thrust force application. Furthermore, confirmation is being carried out regarding said system's performance...
Abstract: Geologically highly-stressed tunnels in swelling rock, like clay and Anhydrit-(gypsum)-Keuper, often experience difficulties throughout their entire lifespan and repeatedly require retrofitting. In many tunnels, difficulties already arise during construction, e.g. Belchentunnel (CH) or Engelbergbasistunnel (D). Utilizing computational, constructive and concrete-technology reserves in tunnel...
Abstract: To minimize hindrance on the navigation during the construction of the Maas-Delta-Tunnel (Blankenburg connection, Rotterdam, the Netherlands), the length of the immersed tunnel was shortened to merely two elements and by this very deep cut-and-cover sections needed to be constructed. A stringent execution sequence, whereby uplift safety in every stage was guaranteed, led to feasible lengths of...
Abstract: Empirical performance prediction models are developed in this study based on field data obtained from Gayrettepe-New Istanbul Airport Metro tunnel excavations of 5,313 m excavated by two identical EPM TBMs in basically clayey soils of Danismen Formation. Geotechnical characteristics of the soils (liquid and plastic limits, natural water content, fine material content) are obtained from site...
Abstract: Performance predictions and cost estimates are often decisive in the selection of excavation methods and have a major influence on the planning and risk management of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) excavation projects. A process of great complexity is involved during tunnel boring. When hard-to-very hard rock (i.e., low-to-extremely low boreability), the complexity is accentuated, and the...
Abstract: Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project was recently completed in Sri Lanka. This project involves 2 Rolled Concrete Core (RCC) Dams connected through a tunnel by the Drill and Blast method. The water is transferred from the 2nd regulatory dam through a 15.4 km Headrace Tunnel to the top of a 618 m deep drop shaft that feeds the high-pressure water to an underground powerhouse and turbine...
Abstract: Although the tensile and shear resistance performances of rock bolts have been extensively studied, other performance measures such as compression and erosion resistance are required to be examined. Various types of rock bolts have been developed recently; however, owing to the lack of experience in tunneling and data on the use of support members in design and construction, it is difficult to...
Abstract: Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) serves as the key to a sustainable transport system with most of the lines built underground without the need for significant land use. The 43-kilometers Thomson-East Coast line (TEL) runs from Singapore’s North to the city center and continues along the east coast towards the airport. Throughout the tunnelling history of Singapore, a significant body of...
Abstract: ABSTRACT: The use of tension elements to ensure and prevent uplift of such as deep shafts or metro stations has commonly been used in the Copenhagen region over the past decades. Ground bar anchors has especially been used and the experience and knowledge with the use of such geostructural elements have developed significantly since the beginning in the mid and late 90's in Denmark. This paper...
Abstract: The Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link under construction between Denmark and Germany is an immersed tube tunnel consisting of 79 standard tunnel elements each 217 m long, and 10 special elements in two levels each 39 m long. All the tunnel elements are produced in a special tunnel element factory being constructed near Rødbyhavn on Lolland. The tunnel element factory was initially intended to be a...
Abstract: When used as permanent tunnel support, rock bolts are now universally required to serve a minimum 100-year design life. A couple of options may be considered when designing permanent rock bolts using either Glass-Fibre Reinforced Polymer bolts or steel rebar. Whilst the industry standard steel bar bolt with double corrosion protection system offers suitable protection in non-aggressive...
Abstract: Within the scope of the Melen project, a tunnel project with an inner diameter of 4 m has been designed to transport the drinking water brought to the distribution centre in Kağıthane district on the European side of Istanbul to the western part of the city. At the beginning of the project, a 21 km long TBM tunnel and 8 shafts, due to both the lowering of the TBM to the tunnel elevations and...
Abstract: East Coast Zone of Indian Railway has planned 445km of additional railway line to support the transportation of metal ore and coal to major ports of east India along with movement of passenger traffic in state of Odisha. The project includes construction of more than 50 tunnels all with unique challenges. RITES Limited is awarded the work for preparing the Detailed Project Report for design of...