MNGN404 - Tunneling

Designation :

 none

 

Course Description :

This course covers all aspects of tunnel construction, including site investigations, design, modern construction techniques, ground support design and tunnel utilities.

 

Course Objective :

To familiarize the students with the modern design and construction methods of tunneling, including site investigations, soft ground and hard rock tunneling machines, numerical and empirical tunnel design techniques, tunnel utilities, ground support design and installation, project scheduling and costing, environmental and safety issues associated with tunneling and underground construction.

 

Class/Lab Schedule :

3 hours per week, 3 semester hours

 

Instructor :

Dr. Levent Ozdemir

 

Prerequisites : 

Instructor's permission

 

or

 

MNGN210 - Introductory Mining

MNGN314 - Underground Mine Design

 

Textbook(s) :

Specially prepared course notebook by the instructor

 

Reference  Material:

 

Tunneling-Design Stability and Construction, by B. N. Whittekar and R. C. Frith

Tunnel Engineering Handbook, by J. O. Bickel and T. R. Kuesel

 

Class Topics :

1. SITE INVESTIGATIONS

    Exploration methods and data logging

    Rock/Soil testing and data analysis

    Geological Data Presentation

    Ground Water Evaluations

2. GEOTECHNICAL REPORT PREPARATION

    Type of Geotechnical Data Reports

    Geotechnical Data Report (GDR)

    Geotechnical Interpretive Report (GIR)

    Geotechnical Baseline Report (GBR)

3. DESIGN OF TUNNELS

    General Classification of tunnels

    Steps in a Tunnel Construction Project

    Tasks of Tunnel Designer

4. CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR TUNNELS

     Rock tunnels

               Conventional Methods (Drill and Blast)

               Mechanical Methods (Tunnel Boring Machines)

     Soft Rock/Soils Tunnels

               Conventional Methods

               Mechanical Methods (EPB and Slurry Machines)

     Tunnel Support Design

     Shaft Construction     

     Microtunneling

5. TUNNEL UTILITIES

    Ventilation

    Material Haulage

               Rail Haulage

               Conveyor Haulage

               Truck Haulage

    Dewatering

    Compressed Air

    Power

    Lighting

    Communications

   

Lab Topics :

-

 

Estimated ABET Category Content :

Engineering Design:   2 credit hours

Engineering science:  1 credit hour

 

Contribution of course to meeting the professional component :

This covers all aspects, (i.e. from site investigation, design, construction, environmental assessment to safety) of issues associated with underground construction, with special emphasis on tunneling. The students also have to complete a term project where they develop the design and construction criteria based on a set of   Geotechnical  Baseline documents for an actual tunneling project. They are divided into teams of 4 where they have to evaluate the exiting site investigation reports, design the tunnel and the ground support system, select the most appropriate construction method, design all tunnel utilities, including muck haulage, ventilation, power, de-watering and finally, develop an overall cost and schedule for the project. This effort requires a good understanding of engineering sciences with the realistic safety, environmental, social and political constraints imposed by underground construction in an urban environment.

 

Relationship of course to program objectives:

This course meets the Department program goals by providing:

  • A sound knowledge of basic sciences and engineering fundamentals,

  • Knowledge and experience in construction of earth systems in an engineering systems orientation and setting

  • Capability for team work, decision making

  • Ability to solve complex Earth Systems related problems