Geology of Tunneling

Physical Geology (CV230)

Dr. Shamsher Sadiq

Email: [email protected]
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 OUTLINE

• Introduction to Tunnels
• Tunnel components
• Tunneling methods
• Geological investigations
• Geological Profile
• Geological considerations in Tunneling
• Lithology
• Geological structures

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 Introduction to Tunnels

• An artificial underground passage, especially one built

through a hill or under a building, road, sea or river for
purpose of transportation connections between two points.
• Factor involved in design of tunnels,
• Size of tunnel
• Type of ground
• Available technology to construct tunnels (TBMs)
• Method of sequence of excavation
• The extend of ground support method

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 Tunnel components

• Crown: uppermost part

• Spring line: the point where the curved portion of a tunnel roof meets the
top of the wall. In a circular tunnel the spring lines are at the opposite ends
of the horizontal centerline.
• Lining: the wall that support overburden
• Invert: bottom floor
• Portal: entrance of tunnel

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 Tunneling methods

• Surface tunneling
• In a cut and cover tunnel, the structure is built inside an excavation and covered over
with backfill material when construction of the structure is complete.
• Cut and cover construction is used when the tunnel profile is shallow and the
excavation from the surface is possible, economical, and acceptable.
• Cut and cover construction is used for underpasses, the approach sections to mined
tunnels and for tunnels in flat terrain or where it is advantageous to construct the
tunnel at a shallow depth.

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 Tunneling methods

• Conventional tunneling

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 Tunneling methods

• Conventional tunneling

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 Tunneling methods

• Conventional tunneling (NATM-New Austrian Tunneling Method)

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 Tunneling methods

• Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)

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 Geological Investigations

• Objectives:
• Tunnel alignment: alternative options, final choice based on least geological
implications
• Selection of excavation method: Nature of rock and ground- Soil (excavation,
TBM) for rock (TBM, Blasting)
• Selection of design for tunnel: Strong ground-self supporting (D-shape, horseshoe),
soft soil (circular)
• Assessment of cost and safety:
• Assessment of environmental hazard: Induced vibrations by excavation methods
through blasting or cutting, dust, interferences with underground utilities (gas, water
pipelines), in Lahore UNESCO heritage buildings…

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 Geological Investigations

• Methods:
• Preliminary Surveys: Areal photography and seismic
surveying
• General topography: valleys, depressions, slopes, lowest and highest
point of ground
• Lithology of area: composition and thickness of rock formation
• Hydrological condition: depth of water table, possibility of major and
minor aquifer occurrence
• Structural condition: folding, faulting, joints and shearing planes

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 Geological Investigations

• Methods:
• Detailed Surveys: Accurate data about rocks or ground to be
excavated
• Borehole drilling: along proposed alignments and up to desired
depths, number of boreholes, rock samples for laboratory tests
• Drilling exploratory shafts and audits: direct approach to desired
tunnel for visual inspection
• Drilling pilot tunnel: exploratory tunnels
Samples obtained by these methods are tested in lab for their,
1. Mineral composition, 2. strength value, 3. modulus of elasticity, 4.
porosity and permeability

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 Geological Investigations

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 Geological Investigations

• Geological Profile: Geological information from survey and geological

investigations plotted along a longitudinal section, profile provides
following information,
• Location and depth of exploratory boreholes and shafts etc.
• Types of rocks: soft and hard rock
• Rock structure- stratified, massive, inclined, horizontal, degree and direction
of dipping, folding, faulting
• Hydrological conditions-water table location, aquifer occurrence

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 Geological Investigations

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 Geological Investigations

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 Geological considerations in Tunneling

• Lithology
• Hard ground: self sporting, very favorable, TBM and RBM
• Soft ground: Shale and poorly compacted sandstone, slates, phyllite has high
degree of cleavage, not self supporting- require support system
• Swelling rocks: Shale when exposed to water/moisture- swells, in such cases
strong support system is required

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 Geological considerations in Tunneling

• Horizontal strata
• Rare situation in occurrence of longer tunnel, might be considered favorable
• Thick layer equal to dia of tunnel provides natural acting beam action
• Thin and fractured- roof has to be arched or lining has to be provided, sides could be
left unsupported until there is a joint/fault (if exist treat)

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 Geological considerations in Tunneling

• Moderately inclined strata

• Dipping at angle of 45 can be said as moderately
inclined
• Maybe running parallel to dip direction or at right
angle to dip direction, each case has its own problems
• Parallel to dip direction: UDL load to arch or lining,
favorable
• Perpendicular to dip direction: unsymmetrical
pressure distribution, one half would have been
bedding planes openings into tunnel offering potential
slip plane/surfaces

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 Geological considerations in Tunneling

• Folded rock:
• Synclinal folds: the joint block form inverted
keystones in an arch and cause rock fall, in case
of water bearing strata-water can inflow and
cause difficulties in construction

• Anticline folds: the normal keystone condition

will provide an arching action to support
overburden, therefore unlikely to form rock falls.

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 Geological considerations in Tunneling

• Effect of faults:
• The relation between the fault slope direction
and the tunnel direction, width of the fault zone
• Potential surface for future movement-slip
surface
• Fault zones-highly permeable-likely to provide
passage for water seepage
• If tunnel has to pass through such situation how
we should design?

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 Lecture review questions

• Describe the geological factors for the tunnel site selection.

• Assignment: Search five (05) tunnel failure case history that involves geological
failure. Provide summary NOT more than 1 page. (Deadline 17 December 2019)

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