An Examining and Analyzing Study on the Fire Resistance Design for Immersed Tunnels

침매터널 내화설계에 관한 조사 분석적 연구

Recently, Busan-Geoje fixed Link Immersed Tunnel and the Tokyo Port Waterway 2 Submarine Tunnel have been constructing. Furthermore it was mentioned to construct an immersed tunnel from Korea to Japan. As a result, it is expected that the demand to use the immersed tunnel will be increased. However, if a fire occurs in the immersed tunnels, it will damage tunnel elements and not save human lives more seriously than normal tunnels on the ground because of the absence of exits as well as closing structure of the immersed tunnels. In fact, the fire accident in the Eurotunnel which connects between France and the Unite Kingdom through the immersed tunnel had occurred twice in 1996 and 2008, and the inner surface of the tunnel got damaged such as concrete popout and structural damage. As a result, not only economic injury but enormous expense to repair and reinforce the tunnel were derived because of the suspension of traffic after the fire happened. Now, from the examining and analyzing study on the fire resistance of immersed tunnels in developed countries and Busan-Geoje fixed Link Immersed Tunnel, we suggest the establishment method of fire resistance to insure the fire safety of immersed tunnel.