What Is Tunnel In Civil Engineering
A tunnel is a subterranean passageway that is enclosed except for the entry and exit points on either end. It is constructed through soil, earth, or rock and is distinct from a pipeline. Immersed tube construction techniques have been employed in some modern tunnels.
A tunnel is an enclosed underground passage dug through soil or rock, with entrances at each end. It differs from a pipeline, which is not enclosed.
Tunnels and underground excavations are horizontal passageways created through excavation or natural actions. They have various applications, such as mining, transportation, and water management. Vertical openings are referred to as shafts.
What is the purpose of a tunnel?
Tunnels are excavated to serve various objectives, such as mining of ores, transportation, and providing underground passages for moving people or goods.
What are the methods of tunneling?
Tunneling methods vary and depend on the material being excavated. Soft earth typically requires timber supports, while two parallel excavations can be constructed for support. The side walls are often built first in this method.
How are tunnels built with soft earth?
Tunnels built with soft earth are supported by timbering as excavation progresses, and the timbers may be left as a permanent lining. Alternatively, two parallel excavations are created, with side walls constructed first.
There are three main types of tunnel construction: cut-and-cover, bored, and immersed tube. Cut-and-cover involves digging a shallow trench and covering it up. Bored tunnels are constructed in place without removing the ground above, and can be circular or horseshoe-shaped. Immersed tube tunnels are sunk into bodies of water and laid on or buried under the bed. Some underground mining concepts can apply to bored tunnels.
What factors determine the method of tunnel construction?
The method of tunnel construction is influenced by a variety of factors, including ground and groundwater conditions, tunnel length and diameter, depth, logistics, intended use and shape of the tunnel, and risk management.
What is mined tunnel construction?
Mined tunnel construction is a method of excavating tunnels below the surface without significantly disturbing the surface above, utilizing tools such as a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) and Sequential Excavation Method (SEM).
How did canal construction influence the world's earliest tunnels?
Canal construction in Lancashire County and Manchester, England, during the 1700s inspired the creation of some of the world's earliest tunnels, including the Underground Canal. The tunnels were built to house the underground canals, and their construction techniques were used in the development of subsequent tunnels around the world.
A tunnel is a subterranean route that is excavated through the soil, earth or rock, and enclosed except for the entry and exit points located at either end.
How are tunnels built?
Tunnels are built through a variety of methods, including cut-and-cover techniques where the structure is built underground after excavating from the surface, and immersed tube construction where prefabricated tube sections are floated to the construction site.
Tunnel engineering involves the planning, design, and construction of tunnels for transportation systems, including railways, roads, canals, and aqueducts, as well as risk assessment for such projects.
What is a tunnel in civil engineering?
A tunnel in civil engineering is a tube that is excavated through soil or stone, and its construction is considered one of the most complex challenges in this field. Many tunnels are considered technological masterpieces, and the engineers who design and build them are often honored as heroes.
What is the difference between a pipeline and a tunnel?
A tunnel is an enclosed passageway dug through soil or rock underground, typically with entry and exit points at each end. A pipeline is not a tunnel, as it does not involve excavation or enclosed passageways. Immersed tube construction techniques have been used in some recent tunnels.
What is the history of tunneling?
Tunneling technology has its roots in mining and military engineering. The terms "mining", "military engineering", and "civil engineering" are closely connected historically.
Tunnels are primarily used for mining ores, transportation via road buses, trains, subways, and canals, and for driving water and sanitation systems. They can also be used for underground chambers such as hydroelectric power plants, ore processing plants, and oil and water storage, among others.
