Edited by Vittorio Guglielmetti, Piergiorgio Grasso, Ashraf Mahtab and Shulin Xu

We have all learnt that the best means of reducing tunnelling risk in the urban environment and avoiding the manifestation of that risk – adverse settlement, lies in the control of full face tunnel boring machines. But what is the best approach to controlling a TBM and what systematic and rigorous engineering controls should be employed? This book might well provide the answer for you.

This book details the state of the art of mechanised tunnelling in urban areas – by mechanised is meant the use of tunnel boring machines and systems of controlling these machines. It is so packed with information in this specialised field it is difficult to review without resorting to just listing its contents and allowing the reader to make his own judgement of the breadth of subjects covered.

The book is split into eight sections and appendices:

Introduction – A short history on urban tunnelling and an introduction to the books underlining theme of the Plan for Advance of Tunnel (PAT), the authors philosophy in establishing a risk management system that can best manage the risks associated with the advance of the tunnel face. The section stresses the iterative nature of tunnel design and the need to be able to refine design as construction proceeds.

Initial risks – An explanation of a formal risk management process based around systematic guidelines published by the International Tunnelling Association. The section, although by necessity generic, provides a good starting point in developing a project specific risk register. As well as listing generic sources of risk in mechanised tunnelling the section also details means of mitigating them. An explanation of the Decision Aids in Tunnelling is provided – a software system being a probability based program for estimating cost and time in constructing a tunnel taking into account uncertainty and risk associated with tunnelling.

Tunnel alignment – A review of the typical parameters that may influence the alignment of a tunnel and the ways of reducing risk by adjusting the alignment within a chosen corridor. Special consideration is given to the selection of an alignment to suit the passage of high velocity trains. The section is concluded by a consideration of space required for the contractors tunnel logistics, his launch sequence, worksite area and machine reception requirements.

A city machine and its essential characteristics – An overview of the principles to be adopted in the selection of an appropriate TBM together with a review of the typical types of machine and their characteristics available on the market.

Spoil conditioning is discussed in some detail and the section is rounded off by a review of the process of selecting either an earth pressure balance machine or slurry machine.

Tunnel design – The body of the book lies in this section – a civil engineers guide to the various issues arising from the detailed design of a tunnel. A review of the different methods of calculating tunnel induced settlement – the classical equations based upon an elastic analysis of the soil. Building condition surveys and Building Risk Assessment are covered together with calculations illustrating building vulnerability to settlement. A methodology for calculating face support pressure is included for the contractors tunnel manager, together with a consideration of grouting techniques behind lining and different grout mixes. This section also includes some fifty pages detailing the design of pre-cast concrete segmental lining and notes on how to cast them. What more could a civil engineering tunnel designer want?

Control of tunnel construction – Detailing the author’s philosophy of the Plan for Advance of Tunnel – an iterative design scheme based upon initial prediction of ground behaviours being optimised by observation of the ground machine interaction. Essentially logging settlement data and machine data and refining machine drive parameters to reduce settlement if required. Means of controlling TBMs are considered in slurry machines as well as earth pressure balance machines.

Health and safety – A refreshingly short section on health and safety, its brevity in no way diminishes the importance the authors place on health and safety in the tunnel environment. The key to the section is an analysis of the special risks that tunnelling places on the health and safety of the workforce and the ways of mitigating those risks. Refreshingly enough there appears to be no reference to the word “Method Statement” in this section – a lesson that could be learnt by the UK construction industry. The emphasis is on establishing the nature of the risks and putting systems in place to mitigate against those risks. The section covers risks commonly encountered and is a good starting point for the tunnel manager in preparing his tunnel drive risk assessment.

Case histories – Six excellent case histories of urban mechanised tunnelling illustrating the development of the author’s philosophy of the Plan for Advance of Tunnel and other interesting features of the drives. Projects include the SMART tunnel in Kuala Lumpur as well as schemes in France, Russia, Italy and Portugal.

Appendices – Highlights include lists of risks associated with urban tunnelling, a typical example of a worked excavation procedure for EPB shields.

Finally the book is wrapped up by an annex on the conditions of contract together with a proposal for the allocation of commercial risks associated with tunnel construction.

The book is an excellent read and would be an valuable addition to anyone’s library of tunnel construction books. Despite the fact that the authors’ mother tongue is not English there is very little to indicate this, although it must be said that some of the English although understandable may bring a smile to the face of a native speaker. The book is handsomely illustrated and builds upon systems developed in other technical publications such as the British Tunnelling Society’s – Closed Face Tunnelling Machines. If any criticism can be levelled at the book, it is, that it is short on explanation of the mechanical and electrical engineering associated with mechanised tunnelling. The reader is left with the question of how do we further refine the process of mechanised tunnelling – what next?

Review by: Ivor Thomas

Price: £89

ISBN: 978-0-415-42010-5

Published by: Taylor &?Francis


Mechanized Tunnelling in Urban Areas Mechanized Tunnelling in Urban Areas