( the module name : underground construction) - Essay Example

Underground Construction a Geotechnical relevant parameters need to be collected during an underground construction of tunnels. The required parameters should be defined to safeguard safety, serviceability and other environmental issues. According to the analysis, hock-brown criterion was used to determine the failure at the tunnel side-line. The parameter provides a good analysis for the design of the tunnel since it is on a hard rock. A dilation parameter was also included among the strength factors.

Dilation is described as the measure of the specific volume increase in any material during shearing. The choice of the dilation angle does significantly affect the area of yielded elements. In this case due to the rock type, which has tight interlocks at large depths, there is a certain possibility of dilation. A dilation angle of 8 is therefore assumed (Harris, 1996, pg. 303).b. )One of the most suitable tunnel construction techniques is the Mechanized Tunneling- the TBM. This makes use of hard rock excavating machines and have circular rotating heads equipped with disc cutters.

This technique is good since it makes a more rapid progress than the conventional tunneling techniques and thus, faster completion is assured. This technique is also safer since the popping rocks are confined by the shield face and the erected lining under the tail shield cover. The technique does not make use of explosives. Conventional tunneling is also a good technique. It entails the construction of underground openings of all shapes with the use of standard equipments like the drilling jumbo for holes and rock bolting.

The advantage over using this technique is that it allows workers to reach every part of the tunnel face. This technique is less depending on the strength characteristics of the rock (Harris, 1996, pg. 310). BibliographyHARRIS, C. S. (1996). Engineering geology of the channel tunnel. London, Telford.