Laboratory considerations about frictional force on pipe surface when slurry machine is used

Pipe jacking is a name for a method to excavate a tunnel by pushing pipe into the ground from an especial pit. Size of tunnels in this method is different from under 900mm (microtunneling) to more than 3,000mm. Method of excavation is also different from hand digging to use of any kind of tunnel boring machines such as slurry and earth pressure balance (EPB) machines. Slurry pipe jacking was firmly established as a special method for the nondisruptive construction of the underground tunnels in urban area. During the pipe jacking and microtunneling process, the jacking load is an important parameter, controlling the pipe wall thickness, need to and location of intermediate jacking station, selection of jacking frame and lubrication requirements. The main component of the jacking load is due to frictional resistance. In this paper the skin friction between pipe surface and surrounding condition also lubricant quality based on a few fundamental tests, were considered. During this study unconfined compressive strength test, dynamic friction measurement test and direct shear box test were raised for one of the largest diameter slurry pipe jacking project in Fujisawa city in Japan. It could be concluded that in slurry pipe jacking, prediction of frictional forces are mainly dependent on successful lubrication, its quality and lubricant strength parameters. Conclusions from this study can be used for the same experiences.