TUNNEL ENGINEERING
SUBMITTED TO
ENGR. BASHIR AHMAD
CHAPTER NO: 1
Q.No.2
Ans.
Advantages of Tunnels:
Following are the advantages of Tunnels.
1. Tunnels are more economical than open cuts beyond certain depths
2. Tunnels protect the system i.e. railway track ,highway, sewer line, Oil line etc.
for which it is constructed from weather effects such as snow, rain etc. thus the
tunnels reduce the maintenance cost of the system.
3. Tunnels avoid disturbing or interfering with surface life and traffic during
construction.
4. During war time tunnels protect the system from destruction due to
bombarding.
5. In certain place tunnels have proved cheaper for crossing the mountain or river
than open cut or bridges.
6. In most congested urban area under ground railways or highway is the best
alternative to provide means of transportation.
7. In soft-rocked hills, construction of tunnel has proved cheaper than open cut
due to large number of slips etc.
8. In circuitous route to reach the other side of the mountain, tunnel reduces the
length of the railway line etc. considerably.
9. Tunnels avoid the dangerous cut very near the structure.
10. Tunnels have proved cheaper to carry public utilities services as water, gas
sewer etc.
11. Tunnels if provided with easy gradients, the cost of hauling is reduced.
12. The safety of tunnel construction has considerably increased due to improved
modern methods of construction.
Q.No.4
Ans:
Tunneling operations are advisable if the depth of open cut is more than 18
meters. In addition the following conditions are considered favorable for tunnel
construction.
1. Tunneling allows rapid and un obstructed transport facilities in big
congested cities.
2. It avoids acquisition of valuable land for its construction.
3. It avoids long circuitous routs around a mountain or spur.
4. It connects two terminal stations separated by an obstacle with the shortest
route.
5. It diverts water for power generation.
6. It is a desirable to carry public utility services like water, oil ,gas etc. across
a mountain or stream. through a tunnel.
7. It permits easy gradients in mountainous terrain resulting in high speeds of
vehicles
8. Tunnel being hidden in ground is safer in war time.
9. In soft soil open cuts may slide where as tunnel does not.
Q.No.5
Ans.
Classification of Tunnels.
Tunnels can be classified in various ways as follows.
1. According to Alignment. Under this head tunnels are sub divided as.
a. OFF-SPUR Tunnels. These are short tunnels to negotiate minor local obstacles.
b. SADDLE OR BASE Tunnels. These tunnels are constructed in the valley along
with the natural slope till the slope does not exceed the ruling gradient.
c. SLOPE tunnels. These tunnels are constructed in steep hills for economic and safe
operations of roads and route ways.
d. SPIRAL tunnels. These tunnels are constructed in narrow valleys in the form of
loops in the interior of the mountain. These are constructed to avoid steep slopes by
increasing their lengths.
2. According to Purpose. Under this heads, tunnels are further sub divided as
follows.
a. Traffic tunnels : These tunnels are constructed to carry , highway, railway ,
navigation, sub way and pedestrian etc. and are known as highway tunnel, railway
tunnel, navigation tunnels, sub- way tunnel and pedestrian tunnel etc.
b. Conveyance tunnel. These tunnels are constructed to carry sewer, water, oil etc. and
are known as sewer tunnels, water supply tunnels, hydro electric power tunnels etc.
3. According to type of soil met during construction: According to this
classification, tunnels are sub classified as follows:
a. Open cut tunnels.
b. Tunnels in hard rocks.
c. Tunnels in soft rocks.
d. Tunnels underneath river bed.
Q.No.6.
Ans.
CHAPTER NO. 2
Q.No.1
Tunnel:
Tunnel is an under ground artificial passage which is constructed without
communication.
1. It is a confined and single route can jam the system at any misshape.
2. It has no alternative or diversion in case emergency.
3. It event can cause fatal.
4. It needs high standard maintenance, unawareness can cause any hazard.
Q.No. 6.
Q.No.8
The following points should be kept in mind deciding the alignment and
grade of tunnel.
1. Proper ventilation and lightening arrangements should be made if the grade is
in one direction.
2. Minimum possible grade should be provided in tunnel and its approaches. A .
2% grade may be provided for proper drainage.
3. As far as possible straight alignment should be provided, as it will be shortest
and economical.
4. For good drainage, the side drains should be given a minimum grade of 1in
500. In longer tunnels a grade from the center to both sides should be provided
towards the ends for proper and efficient drainage.
CHAPTER NO.3
Q.No.2.
equipments?
Ans.
There are many factors which affect the selection of the equipment.
1. Nature of the terrain. Rough surfaces dictate the choice of jack hammers,
regardless of other factors.
2. Purpose of holes, such as blasting, grouting, exploration etc.
3. Required depth of holes.
4. Hardness of the rock.
5. Extent to which the formation is to be broken or fractured.
6. Size of the project.
7. Extent to which the rock is to be broken for handling.
8. Availability of water for drilling purposes. Lack of water
Q.No. 5: What do you understand by the drilling pattern? What factors govern
the drilling pattern?
Ans:
Kind of rock.
Q.No.8.
a. Bottom cut.
b. Buster cut.
c. Pyramid cut.
d. Horizontal wedge cut.
e. Vertical wedge cut.
CHAPTER NO. 4.
Q.No.2
Ans.
Types of Explosives:
The different types of explosives are the following.
1. Powder explosives
2. Liquid air explosives
3. Disruptive explosives
water resistant and their fumes are also not as bed as that of straight dynamite. so
suitable for tunneling in soft rocks.
3. Gelatin dynamite. They are of two types (a) Straight Gelatin dynamite (b) Special or
Extra gelatin dynamite. Both of them consist of jelly of nitroglycerin and nitro cotton.
In case of special gelatin dynamite a part of nitroglycerin is replaced by nitrate of
ammonia. The strength of
respectively. Both of them are highly water resistant and their fumes are also not
objectionable. In fact they're least objectionable in regard to their fumes. They are
quick in action if confined.
Semi gelatin : This type of explosive is of recent development Primarily. It is
consists of nitrate of ammonia with some gelatinized nitroglycerin and nitro cotton It
is heavier and bulkier than straight and special dynamite. They are available in two
strengths of 45% and 60% only. Their fumes and water resistance qualities are better
than other gelatins. They have lower density and are cheaper than other gelatins. They
are useful for tunneling in soft rocks.
Blasting Gelatin: They are also of recent origin .They are just like rubber and fully
water proof. They are very fast and strong explosives but the smell of their gases are
very bad. Their strength is 100% hence they are suitable for tunneling under water.
Special high explosives: There are several special types of explosives in the market
developed for special conditions but they rarely used for tunneling.
Q.No.6. Explain how a bore hole is loaded with explosives?
Ans.
Loading of bore holes: (a) After drilling the hole, first of all it is cleaned of
all lose cuttings etc. Any cuttings and water etc. are removed by sending air under
pressure from compressor.
(b)
The cartridge of explosive is place at the bottom of the hole and tamped well
The primer with detonator is inserted in the hole and embedded into the
cartridge. The primer should be prepared correctly. There are basic rules which govern
the making up of a primer.
(i) Placing the detonator well within cartridges and parallel to the axis so that full
force of the exploder is directed against the mass of the powder and not against the
stemming or walls of the hole.
(ii) Protection of exploder from accidental firing and the wire from injury.
(d) To prevent jarring of the detonator , the primer and second cartridge if place d and
tamped slightly. During tamping detonator wires should be damaged.
(e) If required more cartridges may be placed at the desired depth and tamped as
above.
(f) Now the electric blasting caps are inserted.
(g) The remaining empty space is filled with stemming.
Stemming consists of rock cutting or other suitable inert material. It confines
the energy and increases the efficiency of explosion.
Q.No.7
Ans.
on Bhakra project and proved very useful. In normal open cut blasting operations, the
holes drilled by jack hammer or wagon drills and loaded with special gelatin up to 50
to 66% of its depth. The balance depth is stemmed with rock cuttings or other inert
material. The force of blasting in such cases is not concentrated at the bottom of the
hole, but spread from the bottom up to height of the explosive charge.
In springing method of blasting, the force of the blast is concentrated at the
bottom or back of a hole by making an enlarged chamber to to hold the explosive
charge. This is done by exploding a small quantity of special gelatin say 1 or 2
cartridge, in the bottom of the hole. The hole may be stemmed with dry sand or water.
The explosive of the charge will make a cavity by crushing the surrounding rock and
blowing it out the hole. Two or three blasts of increasing size will make the chamber
large enough to hold the requisite quantity of explosive.
Springing is thus accomplished by firing a series of charges of special gelatin,
one after another at the bottom or back of the bore hole. The explosion of each charge
fired in this manner increases the size of the cavity of the chamber. The amount of
enlargement depends upon the hardness of the rock and the size of the charge