Conceptual Development of an Underground Excavation Technique

• DOI: 10.22533/at.ed.95419150316

• Palavras-chave: Atena

• Keywords: Underground Infrastructure, Soil Excavation, Tunnel Engineering

• Abstract:

  Population growth has generated

  increasing demands for infrastructure and the

  need to explore underground space allowing

  the development of modern society. However, in

  developing countries, underground infrastructure

  is still relatively precarious and the method

  commonly used to perform microtunnels in soils

  relies on manual excavations. Nevertheless, if

  not properly executed, these works can present

  several problems and even cause collapses

  during its execution. On the other hand the

  mechanized equipment is extremely costly. This

  scenario presents a favorable environment for

  innovation in which can take place through the

  introduction of a degree of mechanization into

  the manual excavation technique, providing

  safety and reduction in execution time in a

  simplified way and with low costs, presenting

  to society an appropriate technique to the

  developing countries reality. The present work

  adopted a product development method known

  as PRODIP to achieve a new technique for

  microtunnelling in soil. This new technique

  employs traction cables attached to a shield

  and a slab, enabling a rational solution for its

  advancement and eliminating the need of

  high-strength lining. Therefore, as a result, the

  paper presents an innovative approach to the

  executive process of microtunnels through a

  semi-mechanized excavation equipment, with

  advantageous characteristics regarding to the

  tunnel shape, the advance system, the safety

  and the overall quality of the work.

• Número de páginas: 15