The capability to vary the density of the support medium between bentonite suspension and remoulded earth depending on the currently excavated ground is the essential feature of the Variable Density TBM (VD-TBM) from Herrenknecht. Especially for this type of machine, a support medium with an increased density has been developed, which reliably covers the transition from fluid to pasty – the High Density Support Medium (HDSM). On their first application for the Klang Valley MRT-Project in Kuala Lumpur, the VD-TBMs bored through karstic limestone in mixed face conditions with hard rock and soft ground. With the aid of the HDSM, the face support can be reliably maintained in otherwise problematic geology.
The pumped storage hydropower plant Obervermuntwerk II should be completed in 2018 to become one of the most ambitious power stations in Europe. The construction project in the Austrian state of...
The 34th Geotechnics Conference “Baugrundtagung” of the German society for geotechnics DGGT with accompanying specialist exhibition took place in September 2016 in Bielefeld. About 1200...
The SBB is using the time between the opening of the Gotthard and the Ceneri Base Tunnels to upgrade and renew the access routes to the tunnels. This also includes the Axen route, where the track nearest the lake is to be redeveloped and upgraded. Preliminary operations started there in early October 2016. The renovation process as such for the Axen route will commence in January 2017 in three stages and is due to be completed in December 2019. Within the scope of the project, the SBB will redevelop a total of nine tunnels with an overall length of almost 6 km.
The 11th InnoTrans wound up after four action-crammed days on September 23 with its best ever result. New records were recorded for exhibitor and trade visitor participation. Some 145 000 trade...
The 34th Geotechnics Conference “Baugrundtagung” of the German society for geotechnics DGGT with accompanying specialist exhibition took place in September 2016 in Bielefeld. About 1200...
The SBB is using the time between the opening of the Gotthard and the Ceneri Base Tunnels to upgrade and renew the access routes to the tunnels. This also includes the Axen route, where the track...
Västlänken – the West Link – is a planned railway tunnel under the centre of Gothenburg. As from 2026 three new underground stations are scheduled to provide increased capacity for commuter rail services and improve accessibility to the city. As commuting times are reduced, the labour market is expected to expand and promote regional growth and sustainable development. Several of the areas passed through by the West Link pose major geotechnical, hydrogeological and technical challenges concerning the protection of the environment and existing buildings.
The Olten–Aarau route is one of the busiest Swiss rail arteries; between Däniken and Wöschnau it narrows from four tracks to two. This bottleneck is to be eliminated by 2020 so that train services can be augmented. For comparison: instead of 510 trains per day (according to figures from 2010) 830 trains per day will probably use the route in 2030. It will cost a total of some 855 million Swiss francs (777 million euros) to upgrade the Olten–Aarau line for accommodating four tracks. The 3114 m long Eppenberg Tunnel is to be the core structure of this project.
