When shotcrete is used in tunnelling, a stable and robust shotcrete system is essential for safe and economical construction. In order to ensure a robust system, the reactive components of the concrete (cement, superplasticizer, accelerator) have to be coordinated. The article describes the Accelerator System Test (German: Beschleuniger-Systemtest BEST), which can be used to coordinate these components. On the Stuttgart–Ulm rail project, the BEST was used successfully to remedy unsatisfactory shotcrete performance.
The authors of this article believe that the best methods for excavation of the Brenner Base Tunnel are mechanized – specifically using either open-type or shielded hard rock tunnel boring machines....
Sandvik Construction Tunneling introduces the add-on instrumentation TCAD+ to their DT and DD series underground drill rigs used in tunneling and mining. The TCAD+ instrumentation, a successor of...
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.
Las Vegas the famous Nevada resort city with its casinos and entertainment-business, draws 90 percent of its water from Lake Mead. This largest reservoir in the United States is fed by the Colorado...
A new tunnel in the Swiss Canton of Graubünden, to be built within the next four years, should secure a long-term, winter-proof route between Upper Engadine and the Chur/Landquart region. Rhätische...
The work on the Brenner Base Tunnel, the 64 km long heart of the new Brenner rail line between Munich and Verona, is progressing apace. On March 19, 2015, work began on the main tunnel in Austria. Many high-level representatives of the European Union as well as national and local politicians took part in the official ceremony. EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc acted as “Tunnel Godmother” for the first main tube of the Brenner Base Tunnel. Also present were the Transport Ministers of the seven Alpine States, the Presidents of the regions and provinces from Bavaria to Verona.
On March 30, 2015, the tunnellers broke through the final few metres of the Ceneri Base Tunnel’s east bore between Sigirino and Vezia. Some two weeks after the first breakthrough in the west bore on March 17, which took place 13 months earlier than scheduled, this signifies that both southbound single-track tunnels for the tunnel have been excavated.
On March 25 the German Federal Railway Authority gave the go-ahead for the final plan approval resolution for the new Wendlingen-Ulm rail route, section 2.1 a/b “Wendlingen-Kirchheim”. This section is roughly 9 km long and includes the Albvorland Tunnel with a length of 8176 m.
From June 10 to 12, 2015, the Swiss Tunnelling Society (STC) is staging its annual Swiss Tunnel Congress (STC) for the 14th time in Lucerne’s KKL. As a significant platform for clients, designers,...
