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WTC2014-Key Aspects of Tunneling in Tropical Residual Soil
WTC2014-Key Aspects of Tunneling in Tropical Residual Soil
ABSTRACT: Tropical residual soils present a real challenge regarding conventional tunneling.
These soils are heterogeneous, with ever-changing face conditions, non horizontal stratification and a
high sensibility to water content and transient conditions. At each excavation step the face conditions
change, demanding a careful approach in terms of ground treatments and dewatering systems. The
observational method is fundamental in this type of soil since the right solution has to be developed
and applied specifically for each excavation step. This paper will focus on the practical knowledge
acquired during the excavation of a large tunnel in tropical residual soil in a urban environment.
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Proceedings of the World Tunnel Congress 2014 – Tunnels for a better Life. Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.
2.2 Soil Parameters and Stratiografy they were evaluated from the scarce available
information.
In this project the adopted soil stratiografy was
based on the “age” of the soil formation, the Table 2 shows the parameters adopted in the
weathering level and soil granulometry. design of the tunnel and in all numerical
calculations, where γ is the saturated volumetric
Table 1 show the soil nomenclature and the
weight, c` is the cohesion in drained conditions,
geologic classification of the soils presented in
Φ’ is the friction angle, Es is the elasticity
the tunnel profile.
modulus, and k the permeability coefficient.
Table 1.Geologic Classification
Table 2.Geotechnical Parameters
Layer Geologic Classification Designation γ c’ Φ' Es N-SPT k
Layer
S1 Clayey Sand Sedimentar Soil kN/m3 kPa ° MPa Blows cm/s
C1 Sandy Clay Sedimentar Soil S1 19 40 22 30 5-20 5,00E-06
C2 Clay Sedimentar Soil C1 19 10 31 27 5-18 1,00E-04
R1 Clayey Silt with Sand Mature Residual Soil C2 20 50 24 50 25-50 1,00E-07
R2 Sandy Silt Young Residual Soil R1 18 5 26 30 2-25 1,00E-06
SP Clayey Silt with Sand Saprolite R2 19 7 28 45 10-40 1,00E-06
BR Gneiss Gneiss SP 20 15 31 75 30-R 1,00E-06
BR 26 500 45 2000 R 1,00E-06
For the development of this project the main
geotechnical in situ test used was the SPT. Two factors are clear in the table 2:
Some rotary drilling were additionally made,
collecting samples of gneiss in the tunnel Good geomechanical parameters leading to
section. a “expected” medium stand up time of the
In terms of geomechanical parameters they excavated face,
were estimated based on historical values of the Low permeability of the three types of
São Paulo Region, since no single tri-axial test Residual soil, R1, R2 and SP.
were made.
According with Futai (2012) a striking In Figure 1 is represented the geotechnical
feature of residual soils is their heterogeneity, profile. The upper layer is mostly composed by
noted in test results with significant amount of Paleogenic sandy clay or clayed sand
samples. (S1,C1,C2,), Tunnel excavation was considered
Futai (2012) also states that is strongly almost all in Saprolite (SP), although with some
advised to take a cautious approach when using localized bedrock (BR) and the presence of
the parameters and their correlations, because Young Residual Soil (R2) in the last 60 meters
of the tunnel.
3 PROJECT PRESENTATION
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Proceedings of the World Tunnel Congress 2014 – Tunnels for a better Life. Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.
4 FIELD EVALUATION
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Proceedings of the World Tunnel Congress 2014 – Tunnels for a better Life. Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.
SP R2
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Proceedings of the World Tunnel Congress 2014 – Tunnels for a better Life. Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.
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Proceedings of the World Tunnel Congress 2014 – Tunnels for a better Life. Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.
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Proceedings of the World Tunnel Congress 2014 – Tunnels for a better Life. Fozz do Iguaçu, Brazil.
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