Waterproofing Systems with Membranes
In order to arrive at a projected service life of 100 years, among other things underground water must be prevented from entering a tunnel’s traffic area and the bearing structure must be protected from underground water. This report explains how this is achieved with waterproofing systems consisting of waterproofing membranes in the case of pressure-tight mined tunnel structures.
1 The Waterproofing System
The waterproofing system in tunnels caters for three important functions:
It separates the subsequent bearing structure from the excavation support in order to avoid constraining forces
It protects the inner shell from possible aggressive underground water
It protects the traffic area from underground water
A tunnel can either be sealed all-around with a waterproofing membrane (Fig. 1) or devised as a water impermeable concrete structure from the very outset. Table 1 contains a list of the most important waterproofing systems for the closed construction method.
The proper...
