Summary
This brief review first describes typical swelling phenomena in underground openings and then discusses in detail the underlying swelling mechanisms. Mechanical, osmotic and intracrystalline swelling in argillaceous ground, as well as hydration of anhydrite are described. The fact that many of these mechanisms interact and, particularly, that swelling and squeezing may occur simultaneously is emphasized. The paper concludes with a few comments on implications on analysis, design and construction.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aristorenas, G. (1992): Time dependent behaviour of tunnels excavated in shale. Ph.D. Thesis, MIT, Cambridge, Ma.
Beck, A., Golta, A. (1972): Tunnelsanierungen der Schweiz, Bundesbahnen, Schweiz. Bauz. 90(36).
Bellwald, P. (1991): A contribution to the design of tunnels in argillaceous rocks. Ph.D. Thesis, MIT, Cambridge, Ma.
Bellwald, P., Einstein, H. H. (1987): Elasto-plastic constitutive model. Proc., 6th Int. Congress ISRM, Montreal.
Einstein, H. H. (1979): Tunneling in swelling rocks. Underground Space 4 (1).
Einstein, H. H., Bobet, A., Aristorenas, G. (1995): Feasibility study Opalinuston. NAGRA, Report NIB, 95-61, Volumes A through D.
Grob, H. (1972): Schwelldruck im Belchentunnel. Proc. Int. Symposium on Underground Opening, Lucerne, 99–119.
Grob, H. (1976): Swelling and heave in Swiss tunnels. Bull. Int. Assoc. Engng. Geol. 13, 55–60.
Gysel, M. (ed.) (1995): Proc., Quell-Kolloquium Basel, April 21.
Ingenieurgemeinschaft (IG) Wisenberg Tunnel (1990): Bahn 2000-Wisenbergtunnel, Bauprojekt-Bericht.
ISRM Commission on Swelling Rock (1983): Characterization of swelling rock, Pergamon Press, Oxford.
ISRM Commission on Swelling Rock (1989): Suggested methods for laboratory testing of argillaceous rock. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. Geomech. Abstr. 26, 415–426.
ISRM Commission on Swelling Rock (1994a): Comments and recommendations on design and analysis procedures for structures in argillaceous swelling rock, Pergamon Press, Oxford.
ISRM Commission on Swelling Rock (1994b): Suggested methods for rapid field identification of swelling and slaking rocks, Pergamon Press, Oxford.
Kovari, K., Amstad, C. Anagnostou, G. (1987): Tunnelbau in quellfähigem Gebirge. Mitt. Schweiz. Gesellschaft f. Boden-u. Felsmechanik 115, 1019–1020.
Lambe, T. W., Whitman, R. V. (1969): Soil mechanics, Wiley, New York.
Lombardi, G. (1981): Bau von Tunneln bei grossen Verformungen des Gebirges. Proc., Tunnel 81.
Madsen, F. T., Müller-von Moos, M. (1989): The swelling behavior of clays. Appl. Clay. Sci. 4, 143–156.
Madsen, F. T., Müesch, R. (1991): The swelling behavior of clay-sulfate rocks. Proc., 7th Int. Congress Int. Soc. for Rock Mechanics, Wittke, W. (ed.), 1, Aachen, Germany, 285–288.
Madsen, F. T., Flückiger, A., Hauber, L., Jordan, P., Voegtli, B. (1995): New investigations on swelling rocks in the Belchen Tunnel, Switzerland. Proc., 8th Int. Congress ISRM, Tokyo, Vol. 1, 203–267.
Nüesch, R. (1989): Felsmechanische Resultate aus Untersuchungen im Opalinuston. Sc.D. Thesis No. 9349, ETH, Zürich.
Nüesch, R., Madsen, F. T., Steiner, W. (1995): Long time swelling of anhydritic rocks: mineralogical and microstructural evaluation. Proc., 8th Int. Congress ISRM, Tokyo, Vol. 1, 133–138.
Peck, R. B. (1969): Deep excavations and tunnelling in soft ground. Proc., 7th Int. Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, State-of-the-Art Volume, 225–290.
Rziha, F. (1867, reproduced by Glückauf in 1986): Lehrbuch der gesammten Tunnelbaukunst, Vols. 1, 2, Ernst u. Korn, Berlin.
Schaechterle, N. (1926): Tunnelumbau in quellendem Gebirge, Kappelisbergtunnel bei Gaildorf. Bautechnik 4 (30, 31) 437–439, 452–454.
Steiner, W. (1993): Swelling rock in tunnels: rock characterization, effect of horizontal stress and construction procedures. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 30 (4).
Steiner, W., Metzger, R. (1988): Erfahrung aus Tunneln in quellendem Gestein, Bahn 2000 Wisenberg-Tunnel, Report, IG Wisenbergtunnel.
Sun Jun, Zhang De-xing, Li, Cheng-jiang (1986): The coupled-creep effect of pressure tunnels interacting with its water-osmotic swelling viscous elasto-plastic surrounding rocks. Proc., Peking.
Terzaghi, K., Proctor, R. V., White, T. L. (1946): Rock tunneling with steel supports. Commmercial Shearing and Stamping Company, Youngstown, Ohio.
Wiesmann, E. (1974): Über die Stabilität von Tunnelmauerwerk, Schweiz Bauz. 64 (3) 27–32.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Einstein, H.H. Tunnelling in difficult ground — Swelling behaviour and identification of swelling rocks. Rock Mech Rock Engng 29, 113–124 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01032649
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01032649