Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geological–geotechnical risk in the use of EPB-TBM, case study: Tabriz Metro, Iran

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The essential requirements of a successful tunnel boring machine (TBM) tunnelling operation are complete characterization of the ground and thorough identification of geological and geotechnical risks. This paper predicts the geological and geotechnical risks of Tabriz Urban Railway Line 2 (TURL2) in Iran. The railway consists of a 9.5-m-diameter, 22-km-long tunnel and 20 stations. The tunnel passes through a soft alluvial sedimentary combination of clay (CL), silt (ML), sand (SM, SP) and gravel (GP). The tunnel alignment has been divided into three parts subject to the geological and geotechnical conditions that might be encountered during construction. The investigated geological–geotechnical risks of the soft ground along the TURL2 are oversize grains, soil abrasiveness, liquefaction potential, differential permeability and clogging. The results show that all of the investigated geological–geotechnical risks are present in the TURL2 route and that improvement of the tunnel route soils is essential. For example, to reduce the liquefaction potential, it is necessary to decrease the water table level or else improve the soft soils by injecting cement grout. In addition, in order to reduce clogging of the tunnel route soils, the use of foam as a soil conditioner is appropriate.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ball RPA, Young DY, Isaacson J, Champa J, Gause C (2009) Research in soil conditioning for EPB tunneling through difficult soils. In: Almeraris G, Mariucci B (eds) Rapid excavation and tunneling conference, Society for Mining Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc. (SME), Las Vegas, USA, pp 320–333

  • Barzegari G, Uromeihy A, Zhao J (2013) EPB tunneling challenges in bouldery ground: a new experience on the Tabriz metro line 1, Iran. Bull Eng Geol Environ. doi:10.1007/s10064-013-0490-7

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowles JE (1997) Foundation analysis and design, vol 5. International Editions, McGraw-Hill

    Google Scholar 

  • BTS (2005) Closed-face tunneling machines and ground stability. British tunneling society (closed-face working group) in association with the institution of civil engineers. Thomas Telford Publishing, London, p 77

    Google Scholar 

  • Chou HS, Yang CY, Hsieha BJ, Chang SS (2001) A study of liquefaction related damages on shield tunnels. Tunnel Undergr Space Technol 16:185–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DiPonio MA, Chapman D, Bournes C (2007) EPB tunnel boring machine design for boulder conditions. In: Traylor MT, Townsend JW (eds) Rapid excavation and tunneling conference, Society for Mining Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc. (SME), Colorado, USA, pp 215–228

  • Dowden PB, Robinson RA (2001) Coping with boulders in soft ground tunneling. In: Hansmire WH, Gowring IM (eds) Proceedings rapid excavation and tunneling conference, San Diego, USA, pp 961–977

  • Goss C (2002) Predicting boulder cutting in soft ground tunneling. In: Ozdemir L (ed) North American tunneling, Seattle, USA, pp 37–46

  • Guglielmetti V, Grasso P, Mahtab M, Xu S (2007) Mechanized tunneling in urban areas: design methodology and construction control. Taylor and Francis/Balkema, Leiden, p 507

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt SW, Del Nero DE (2010) Two decades of advances investigating baselining and tunneling in bouldery ground. ITA-AITES world tunneling congress, Vancouver, Canada

  • Kieffer DS, Leelasukseree C, Mustoe GGW (2008) Disc cutter performance in boulder laden ground. In: Roach MF, Ofiara D, Townsend BF, Kritzer MR (eds) North American tunneling conference, pp 129–136

  • Marinos PG, Novack M, Benissi M, Stoumpos G, Papouli D, Panteliadou M, Marinos V, Boronkay K, Korkaris K (2009) Assessment of ground conditions with respect to mechanized tunneling for the construction of extension of the Athens Metro to the city of Piraeus. Bull Eng Geol Environ 68–1:17–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martinotto A, Langmaack L (2007) Toulouse metro lot 2: soil conditioning in difficult ground conditions. In: Barták J, Hrdina I, Romancov G, Zlámal J (eds) ITA-AITES world tunnel congress, Prague, Czech Republic, pp 1211–1216

  • Nilsen B, Dahl F, Holzhäuser J, Raleigh P (2006) Abrasivity of soils in TBM tunneling. Tunn Tunn Int 38(3):36–38

  • Nilsen B, Dahl F, Holzhäuser J, Raleigh P (2007) New test methodology for estimating the abrasiveness of soils for TBM tunneling. In: Traylor MT, Townsend JW (eds) Rapid excavation and tunneling conference, Society for Mining Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc. (SME), Colorado, USA, pp 104–116

  • Parker HW (2005) Site investigation. In: Erdem Y, Solak T (eds) ITA-AITES World tunnel congress, training course, Istanbul, Turkey

  • Plinninger RJ, Restner U (2008) Abrasiveness testing, quo vadis?. A commented overview of abrasiveness testing methods. Geomech Tunnel 1–1:61–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Price DG (2009). De Freitas MH (ed) Engineering geology: principles and practice. Springer, Heidelberg, p 450

  • Tarigh Azali S, Moammeri H (2012) EPB-TBM tunneling in abrasive ground, Esfahan metro line 1. In: Phienwej N, Boonyatee T (eds) ITA-AITES world tunnel congress, International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA-AITES) and the Thailand Underground and Tunnelling Group (TUTG), Bangkok, Thailand

  • Thewes M, Burger W (2004) Clogging risks for TBM drives in clay. Tunn Tunn Int 28–31

  • Thewes M, Burger W (2005) Clogging of TBM drives in clay—identification and mitigation of risks. In: Erdem and Solak (eds) Underground space use: analysis of the past and lessons for the future. Proceedings of the international world tunnel congress and 31st ITA general assembly, Istanbul, Turkey. Taylor and Francis Group, London, pp 737–742

  • Thuro K (1997) Drillability prediction-geological influences in hard rock drill and blast tunneling. Geol Rundsch 86:426–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thuro K, Käsling H (2009) Classification of the abrasiveness of soil and rock. Geomech Tunn 2–2:179–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wangryul W, Ha Sang-Gui (2007) Feasible boulder treatment methods for soft ground shielded TBM. Taylor and Francis Group, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson J, Chai J, Biggart A, Young D (2008) Earth pressure balance machines for the Silicon Valley rapid transit project—basis of design. In: Roach MF, Ofiara D, Townsend BF, Kritzer MR (eds) North American tunneling conference, Society for Mining Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc. (SME), San Francisco, USA, pp 168–176

  • Zumsteg R, Plötze M, Puzrin AM (2012) Effect of soil conditioners on the pressure and rate-dependent shear strength of different clays. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 138(9):1138–1146

  • Zumsteg R, Plötze M, Puzrin AM (2013) Reduction of the clogging potential of clays: new chemical applications and novel quantification approaches. Geotechnique 63(4):276–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Pazhoohesh Omran Rahvar Consulting Engineers for their collaboration in preparing the test data.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

    S. D. Mohammadi & M. Firuzi

  2. Department of Geology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

    E. Asghari Kaljahi

Authors
  1. S. D. Mohammadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Firuzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. Asghari Kaljahi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. D. Mohammadi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mohammadi, S.D., Firuzi, M. & Asghari Kaljahi, E. Geological–geotechnical risk in the use of EPB-TBM, case study: Tabriz Metro, Iran. Bull Eng Geol Environ 75, 1571–1583 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-015-0797-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-015-0797-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation