This paper is to discuss TBM tunnelling in difficult ground conditions, when problems are met which may reduce dramatically the average progress rates and practical consequences may be such as to pose seri- ous questions on the use of mechanised TBM tunnelling versus drill and blast and other so-called traditional excavation methods. Following a few […]
The new high speed railway lines under construction in Europe foreseen the execution of very long large diameter tunnels under the most variable rock conditions. Standard Single Shield and Double Shield TBM are not always the right answer for the excavation of these tunnels, especially when adverse rock conditions are expected with rapid squeezing ground […]
Successful EPB tunneling strongly depends on the interaction between soil- ground-water con- ditions and the tunneling shield. This paper presents some results of a shield drive at Izmir Light Rail Transit System (LRTS) in Turkey. The first part focuses – besides a short project description – on the main soil char- acteristics and fundamental aspects […]