• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.419-425
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• 2009

Recently, the number of shallow tunnel construction increases to improve the structural safety and environment-friendliness. In Semi-Cut and Cover Method, ground is excavated to the crown arch level and braced rib arch is set to backfill before the excavation of lower face. Semi-Cut and Cover Method is proposed to solve the problems occurred by the conventional Cut and Cover Method, such as unstability, high-cost and the large cutting slope to be reinforced. In this paper, the behaviors of Braced Rib Arch in shallow tunnel excavated by semi-cut and cover method was studied. Model tests in 1:10 Scale were performed in real construction sequences. The distance between supports of rib arch was 1.8 m and the length of spacer was 1.0 m. the size of test pit was 4.0 m (width)$\times$3.3 m (length) 4.0 m (height) in dimension. Tests results show that backfill load acting on arch was smaller than that in the conventional Open-Cut Method.

• Smart Media Journal
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• v.12 no.11
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• pp.67-76
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• 2023

We propose a visualization method to respond to civil complaints through an analysis of the impact of blasting. In order to analyze the impact of blasting on tunnel excavation, we propose a simulation visualization method considering the mutual influence of the construction infrastructure by linking measurement data and 3D BIM model. First, the level of BIM modeling required for simulation was defined. In addition, vibration measurement data were collected for the GTX-A construction site, terrain and structure BIM were created, and a method for visualizing measurement data using blast vibration estimation was developed. Next, a spherical blasting influence source library was developed for visualization of the blasting influence source, and a specification table that could be linked with Revit Dynamo automation logic was constructed. Using this result, a method for easily visualizing the impact analysis of blasting vibration in 3D was proposed.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.526-532
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• 2000

The uniaxial compressive strength of rock mass is known as the major factor in the assessment of drillability and the optimum excavation design in full-face tunnel excavation by TBM. Referring to worldwide cases, TBM has been applied mostly to the rock mass within the strength range of 80~250 MPa. Recently, a water way tunnel has been constructed as a part of Milyang dam project by TBM within the rock masses where the rock type is mainly granite with some granophyre, hornfels and andesite. Their uniaxial compressive strengths in extended area are estimated higher than 260 MPa. In this paper, the relation between the penetration rate and the rock mass properties is analyzed and TBM application to the very hard rocks is discussed. As a result that three suggestions to predict the TBM net penetration rate are analyzed, NTH method seems a better approach than other methods in the extremely hard rocks. NTH prediction matches with the results of actual values with the variations of 2~20%. Hardness measurement by Schmidt hammer and RMR estimation are carried out along the L = 5.3 km entire TBM tunnel alignment. The net penetration rate measured monthly is shown to be reciprocally proportional to Schmidt rebound hardness and RMR where coefficients of correlation, $R^2$are 0.705 and 0.777 respectively. As a result, they are good quantitative indices for the prediction of TBM net penetration rate in the extremely hard rocks. Magnitude of in-situ stress has a certain effect on TBM performance, and it is required to measure the in-situ stresses in TBM excavation design.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.129-138
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• 2011

Construction methods for underground structure are classified as bottom-up, up-up, and top-down methods depending on the procedure of construction related to a superstructure. In top-down construction methods, building's main structure is built from the ground level downwards by sequentially alternating ground excavation and structure construction. In the mean time, the main structure is also used as supporting structure for earth-retaining wall, which results in the increased stability of the earth-retaining wall due to the minimized deformation in adjacent structures and surrounding grounds. In addition, the method makes it easy to secure a field for construction work in the downtown area by using each floor slabs as working spaces. However top-down construction method is often avoided since an excavation under the slab has low efficiency and difficult environment for work, and high cost compared with earth anchor method. This paper proposes a combined construction method where semi-open cut is selected as excavation work, slurry as earth -retaining wall and CWS as top-down construction method. In the case study targeted for an actual construction project, the proposed method is compared with existing top-down construction method in terms of economic feasibility, construction period and work efficiency. The proposed construction method results in increased work efficiency in the transportation of earth and sand, and steel frame erection, better quality management in PHD construction, and reduced construction period.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.394-406
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• 2019

Difficult ground conditions (e.g., fault zone and mixed grounds) are highly probable to appear in subsea and urban tunnels because of the shallow working depth and alluvial characteristics. TBM usually experienced decrease of penetration rate and increase of downtime when it meets these difficult ground conditions. The problems are usually caused by the adverse geological conditions, and it is preferable to determine the optimal operational parameters of TBM based on the previous operational data obtained while excavating a preceding tunnel. This study carried out for efficient TBM excavation in fault zone and mixed grounds. TBM excavation data from the tunnel site in Singapore and the characteristics of the TBM excavation data was analyzed. The key operational parameters (i.e., thrust, torque, and RPM), penetration rate, and downtime were highly influenced by the presence of fault zones and mixed grounds, and the features was discussed. It is expected that the results and main discussions will be useful information for future tunneling projects in similar geological conditions.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.214-225
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• 2020

Uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of rock is one of the important factors to determine the advance speed during shield TBM tunnel excavation. UCS can be obtained through the Geotechnical Data Report (GDR), and it is difficult to measure UCS for all tunneling alignment. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to predict UCS by utilizing TBM machine driving data and machine learning technique. Several machine learning techniques were compared to predict UCS, and it was confirmed the stacking model has the most successful prediction performance. TBM machine data and UCS used in the analysis were obtained from the excavation of rock strata with slurry shield TBMs. The data were divided into 8:2 for training and test and pre-processed including feature selection, scaling, and outlier removal. After completing the hyper-parameter tuning, the stacking model was evaluated with the root-mean-square error (RMSE) and the determination coefficient (R²), and it was found to be 5.556 and 0.943, respectively. Based on the results, the sacking models are considered useful in predicting rock strength with TBM excavation data.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.528-546
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• 2018

Cases of TBM tunnelling have been consistently increasing worldwide. In many recent subsea and urban tunnelling projects, TBM excavation has been preferably considered due to its advantages over drill and blast tunnelling. Difficult ground conditions are highly probable to appear in subsea and urban tunnels because of the shallow working depth and alluvial characteristics. Under the difficult ground conditions, ground reinforcement measures should be considered including grouting, while it is of great importance to select the optimal grout material and injection method to cope with the ground condition. The benefits from TBM excavation, such as fast excavation, increased safety, and reduced environmental impact, can be achieved by applying appropriate ground reinforcement with the minimum overrun of cost and time. In this report, various grouting methods were reviewed so that they can be applied in difficult ground conditions. In addition, domestic and international cases of successful ground reinforcement for difficult grounds were introduced for future reference.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.185-195
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• 2024

The Incheon Metro Line 1 Geomdan Extension Phase 1 is the first project in South Korea where both a roadheader and TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) are being used together. The shield TBM tunnel section is 1,057 m long, and is mostly composed of rock, including the section beneath the Airport Railroad and the Gyeongin Ara Waterway. A 7.8 m earth pressure balance shield TBM was used for tunnel excavation. The average monthly advance rate for both the North and South tracks is 239.1 m, with a maximum monthly advance rate of 334.5 m. This technical article comprehensively evaluates the productivity of the shield TBM, focusing on the TBM excavation performance. Above all, it aims to provide useful reference material for the successful execution of shield TBM tunnel construction.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.173-194
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• 2017

Access shaft is of critical importance to the construction and operation of underground rock caverns. It usually has a relatively large cross-section and penetrates through fill materials, soil layers, and weathered rocks before reaching the caverns excavated in solid bedrock. In this paper, the design and construction of vertical shafts are reviewed in terms of diameter, depth, geological conditions, and support structure. Three shaft alternatives, namely alternative I: vertical shaft with spiral roads, alternative II: upper shaft with spiral roads & lower tunnels, alternative III: plain shaft, are proposed based on a simplified geological profile of the Jurong formation, Singapore. The advantages and limitations of the three types of shafts are discussed. The key issues relating to shaft design and construction, such as the shaft sinking, water control, support structure, are also discussed with a series of solutions provided, such as the sequential excavation, pre-grouting and diaphragm walls.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.671-683
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• 2017

Groundwater control is a significant issue in most underground construction. An estimate of the inflow rate is required to size the pumping system, and treatment plant facilities for construction planning and cost assessment. An estimate of the excavation-induced drawdown of the initial groundwater level is required to evaluate potential environmental impacts. Analytical and empirical methods used in current engineering practice do not adequately account for the effect of the jointed-rock-mass anisotropy and heterogeneity. The impact of geostructural anisotropy of fractured rocks on tunnel inflows is addressed and the limitations of analytical solutions assuming isotropic hydraulic conductivity are discussed. In this paper the unexcavated Zagros tunnel route has been classified from groundwater flow point of view based on the combination of observed water inflow and numerical modeling results. Results show that, in this hard rock tunnel, flow usually concentrates in some areas, and much of the tunnel is dry. So the remaining unexcavated Zagros tunnel route has been categorized into three categories including high Risk, moderately risk and low risk. Results show that around 60 m of tunnel (3%) length can conduit the large amount of water into tunnel and categorized into high risk zone and about 45% of tunnel route has moderately risk. The reason is that, in this tunnel, most of the water flows in rock fractures and fractures typically occur in a clustered pattern rather than in a regular or random pattern.