Tweet Share

• Send by email

  Send by email

  

  Short-Term Rockburst Prediction in TBM Tunnels

  Rockbursts in the tight confines of a TBM tunnel can be highly hazardous events given the proximity of vital equipment and workers to the rockburst source, and the space constraints that severely limit employment of countermeasures. Consequently, the ability to predict rockbursts with some measure of confidence as excavation proceeds (i.e. in the ‘short-term’) is critical to the safety of both workers and equipment. The Neelum Jhelum project in the Azad Kashmir region of northeast Pakistan, with twin 8.5 m diameter main-beam gripper TBMs operating under high horizontal stresses and overburdens up to 1,870m, encountered rockbursts, prompting development of a investigative system to predict these events. The system relies on analysis of probing data, TBM boring parameters and above all, a sophisticated microseismic detection and analysis capability. Investigation techniques that failed to give useful results, or were not implemented for other reasons, are also discussed.

  Recipient :

  Name ^* :

  E-mail address ^* :

  ^* Required fields

  Send   or  Cancel

• Print