Tunnel Engineering

Code:

MMSEG1208

Acronym:

PT

Instance: 2004/2005 - 2T

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Civil and Georesources Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MMSEG	5	Oficial 2000	1	1,5	5	-
PMSEG	12	Oficial2004	1	1,5	5	-

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The objective of the course is to provide the students with the main concepts associated to the design and construction of tunnels. Urban tunnels, excavated in soil or weak rock masses are given particular attention.
In order to reach that goal, the most relevant aspects related to tunnel behaviour are addressed, in particular the importance of each factor that controls this behaviour. The second part of the course presents the methods involved in tunnel design. Particular attention is devoted to soil and rock mass characterization, constructive methods, improvement and reinforcement techniques, the available analysis methods and tunnel instrumentation and observation.

Program

Tunnel construction in Portugal: brief historical summary and potential. Basic phenomena associated to tunnel construction: support-ground interaction; three-dimensional effects close to the front; plane simulation of three dimensional effects; evolution of stress and deformation fields in the surrounding ground; main factors affecting its behavior; influence of groundwater. Design methodology: geological and geotechnical characterization of the subsoil and rock; construction methods; methods of analysis of excavation front stability, of forces on the support and prediction of the induced movements; damage criteria for adjacent structures; observation and monitoring.

Mandatory literature

Almeida e Sousa, J.; Apontamentos de Projecto de Túneis

Complementary Bibliography

Vallejjo, L.I.G., Ferrer M., Ortuño, L., Oteo, C.; Ingenieria Geológica. ISBN: ISBN: 84-205-3104-9
Alvarez, L.C. ; Excavation Mecanica de Tuneles . ISBN: ISBN: 84-7207-050-6
Attewell, P.B., Yeates, J., Selby, A.R. ; Soil Movements Induced by Tunnelling and their Effects on Pipelines and Structures. ISBN: ISBN 0-412-00911-0
Whittaker, B.N., Frith, R.C. ; Tunnelling. Design, Stability and Construction , Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, London

Teaching methods and learning activities

The presentation of the topics is complemented with the solution of practical problems. Real tunnels, constructed in Portugal, are presented and the results of their observation are interpreted based on the concepts discussed in the course.

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam