EP0034907A1 - Unterwassertunnel und Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung eines Unterwassertunnels - Google Patents

Unterwassertunnel und Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung eines Unterwassertunnels Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0034907A1
EP0034907A1 EP81300640A EP81300640A EP0034907A1 EP 0034907 A1 EP0034907 A1 EP 0034907A1 EP 81300640 A EP81300640 A EP 81300640A EP 81300640 A EP81300640 A EP 81300640A EP 0034907 A1 EP0034907 A1 EP 0034907A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tunnel
chamber
units
unit
sections
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP81300640A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0034907B1 (de
Inventor
Anthony David Blee
Michael Sadler-Forster
Dimitris Foundoukos
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SADLER FORSTER MICHAEL
Original Assignee
SADLER FORSTER MICHAEL
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Publication date
Application filed by SADLER FORSTER MICHAEL filed Critical SADLER FORSTER MICHAEL
Priority to AT81300640T priority Critical patent/ATE7809T1/de
Publication of EP0034907A1 publication Critical patent/EP0034907A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0034907B1 publication Critical patent/EP0034907B1/de
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
    • E02D29/00—Independent underground or underwater structures; Retaining walls
    • E02D29/063—Tunnels submerged into, or built in, open water
    • E02D29/067—Floating tunnels; Submerged bridge-like tunnels, i.e. tunnels supported by piers or the like above the water-bed

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method of, and means for constructing a submerged tunnel and also to a submerged tunnel.
  • Submerged tunnels extending between land bases are usually provided in conditions where a bridge is not possible (for example, if the span is too great, the land bases or sea bed are inadequate foundations or a shipping hazard would result) or where a bridge is undesirable (for example, aesthetically or environmentally).
  • a method of constructing a submerged tunnel in situ which comprises providing a longitudinally extending substantially cantilevered tunnel section with a chamber unit mounted on the free end thereof so that the chamber unit and bore of the tunnel section provide a water sealed working chamber; lengthening the longitudinal extent of the tunnel section within the chamber unit, and displacing the chamber unit longitudinally relative to the tunnel section over the lengthened part thereof to permit further lengthening of the tunnel section within the chamber unit.
  • means for constructing a submerged tunnel in situ comprising a longitudinally extending substantially cantilevered tunnel section; a chamber unit mounted on the free end of the tunnel section so that that unit and the bore of the tunnel section provide a water sealed working chamber within which the longitudinal extent of the tunnel can be lengthened in the chamber unit, and means for displacing the chamber unit longitudinally relative to the tunnel section over the lengthened part thereof to permit further lengthening of the tunnel section within the chamber unit.
  • the present invention therefore envisages the construction of a submerged tunnel in situ by successively lengthening a cantilevered tunnel section which latter will usually be anchored in support foundations of a land base so that the bore of the tube is in direct communication with land throughout the construction of the tunnel.
  • the construction,being effected in a submerged state, is unlikely to be affected to any great extent by adverse weather conditions and may be at such a depth as not to present a shipping hazard.
  • the tunnel section being in the form of a tube will-usually, but not necessarily, be of circular section and its lengthening within the chamber unit will usually be achieved by the addition of pre-formed elements to the end of the tunnel section or by progressively casting or moulding material to the end of the section.
  • the present invention was primarily developed having in mind the construction of tunnels for the passage of vehicles therethrough in which case its dimensions will usually call for a basic tube structure of reinforced concrete although it will be appreciated that other materials for the tube can be utilised, say reinforced plastics sections for smaller tunnels which may be required for conduiting or a fluid flow passage.
  • the chamber unit effectively provides a pressure vessel within which work is carried out to progressively lengthen the tunnel section within that unit; this work may be effected both on the interior and the exterior of the tunnel section and when appropriate the pressure unit is displaced longitudinally over the newly lengthened tube wall to permit further lengthening.
  • two chamber units are mounted on the free end of the tunnel section, one such unit being located wholly within the other unit so that the inner chamber unit provides with the bore of the tunnel section a first working chamber and the outer chamber unit provides with the exterior of the inner unit a second working chamber within which there is access to the exterior of the tunnel section.
  • the outer chamber unit effectively provides a second pressure vessel within the chamber of which further work may be carried out on the exterior of the tube section while the tunnel section is being progressively lengthened within the first working chamber.
  • the inner and outer chamber units are displaced progressively along the tunnel section as the length thereof is increased.
  • each chamber unit is displaceable relative to the tube section independently of the other so that when the outer chamber unit is stationary relative to the tube section the inner unit can be displaced longitudinally as the tube section is progressively lengthened to a maximum extent permitted by the outer unit and thereafter while the inner unit is stationary relative to the tube section the outer unit can be displaced over the inner unit to permit subsequent displacement of the inner unit.
  • the whole construction of the tunnel may be effected by progressively lengthening the tunnel section from one land base to another and in such an event it is preferred that the shape of the tube which is formed is controlled, say by use of appropriate anchorages, so that the tube is an inverted arch to resist the upward buoyancy thrust thereon. It is realised however that on many occasions the construction of the tunnel from a single land base will be impractical or inefficient and it is preferred therefore that the construction is by means of two longitudinally extending substantially cantilevered tunnel sections each having a chamber unit mounted on its free end within which unit the lengthening of the longitudinal extent of the respective tunnel section is effected.
  • a first of these tunnel sections is secured at a location corresponding to one end of the tunnel which is to be constructed while the second tunnel section is secured at a location corresponding to the other end of the tunnel which is to be constructed.
  • the first and second tunnel sections are then progressively lengthened by working within their respective chamber units so that the free ends of the tunnel sections project towards each other and a condition is reached where the chamber units of the respective tunnel sections can be coupled together. With the chamber units coupled together a longitudinally extending water sealed passage can be formed between those units and thereafter one or both of the tunnel sections is lengthened to extend through the sealed passage and connect the two tunnel sections together to provide continuity of the tunnel.
  • the tube is an inverted arch formation as aforementioned and generally the chamber unit of the first and second tunnel sections will be coupled together in the region of the centre of the arch mid-way between the land bases.
  • each tunnel section has inner and outer chamber units mounted on the free end thereof, the two outer units can be coupled together to provide the water sealed passage therethrough while the two inner units can be dismantled or otherwise removed from the sealed passage prior to connecting the tunnel sections together.
  • the two inner chamber units can be retained within the sealed chamber of the outer units provided that their structure is appropriately modified to permit extension of the tunnel sections to form the continuous tunnel.
  • the present invention still further provides a 1 tunnel comprising a submerged tube extending between support foundations, said tube having the form of an inverted arch to resist upward buoyancy thrust thereon and there being mounted on the exterior of the tube a chamber unit providing with the exterior of the tube a water sealed working chamber and wherein said chamber unit is longitudinally displaceable along the tube for servicing the tube.
  • the chamber unit or units will generally be displaced longitudinally without rotation relative to the tunnel section such as by use of appropriate sliding seals although alternative displacement means are available, for example the or a chamber unit may have an internal screw thread which mates with a complementary external screw thread provided on the tunnel section so that the chamber unit is displaced longitudinally by rotating it relative to the tunnel section.
  • the submerged tunnel is to be constructed between opposed land based support foundations 1 and 2.
  • a generally cylindrical walled tunnel section 3 is secured in the foundation 1 so that the tunnel section projects from the foundation below water level 1a as a cantilever and the bore 3a of the tunnel section opens to atmosphere through the foundation.
  • the completed tunnel may be intended for the passage of vehicles and may therefore include a road surface 4 or a railway and may be in the order of 12 metres diameter being constructed from reinforced concrete with internal water-proof membranes and textured external rendering.
  • Mounted on the free end 5 of the tunnel section 3 is a bottle shaped chamber unit 6 having a neck part 7 within which the tunnel section 3 is received.
  • Water seals 8 are provided between the neck part 7 and the tunnel section; the unit 6 is intended to be longitudinally displaceable along the tunnel section 3 and the seals 8 permit relative sliding movement and remain effective between the said two components during their relative longitudinal displacement.
  • the chamber unit 6 forms with the bore 3a a working chamber 9 within which the free end of the tunnel section can be extended as indicated at 5a, for example by use of shuttering 10 where material is cast on to the existing free end of the tunnel section or by the addition of pre-cast elements to lengthen the tunnel section.
  • the chamber 9 and bore 3a are substantially at atmospheric pressure and adequate ventilation can be achieved by circulating fresh air-in the direction of arrow A from the land base while exhaust air can pass in the direction of arrow B through ducts 11 located beneath the road surface 4. To promote rapid curing of the material cast in the shuttering 10 the chamber 9 can be heated.
  • the chamber unit 6 is intended to be displaced longitudinally over the part 5a to permit sufficient working area in the chamber 9 for the free end of the tunnel section to be further and progressively lengthened. If required, spacers indicated at 12 can be provided between an enlarged diameter part of the unit 6-and the tunnel section 3 to maintain appropriate alignment between that section and unit.
  • a further bottle-shaped chamber unit 13 within which the chamber unit 6 is wholly received.
  • the unit 13 similarly to the unit 6 has a mouth part 14 with internal
  • the chamber unit 13 is intended to be longitudinally displaceable relative to the tunnel section 3 and this outer unit forms a second working chamber 16 which permits, in part, access to the exterior of the tunnel section 3 over the cylindrical region indicated at 17.
  • the chamber 16 being water sealed permits work to be carried out on the exterior of the tunnel section 3 over the cylindrical region 17 as aforementioned and both chamber units 6 and 13 provide effective pressure vessels which ensure adequate safety for the personnel in the chamber 9 and in the submerged length of the bore 3a.
  • each chamber unit 6 and 13 are intended to be displaced longitudinally progressively and successively over the lengthened parts of the tunnel section 3.
  • each chamber unit has associated therewith a clamping unit indicated at 18 by which the respective units can be selectively secured against longitudinal displacement relative to the tunnel section; the clamping units 18 may be operated by any convenient means such as mechanical, fluid pressure operated or electrical.
  • Relative longitudinal displacement between the units 6 and 13 is effected by rack and pinion units indicated at 19 operating in conjunction with hydraulic rams 20.
  • the driven components of the device 19 are mounted on the inner chamber unit 6 while the longitudinally extending racks with which the pinion components co-operate are mounted on the outer unit 13 and the rams 20 connect between the inner and outer units to provide a stroke which extends longitudinally thereof.
  • spacer means can be provided between the units 6 and 13 to maintdin, or assist in maintaining, alignment between those units.
  • the components in devices 19 can be driven and the rams 20 contracted to slidably displace the inner unit 6 rightwardly in Figure 1 along the newly lengthened tunnel section until the maximum extent of displacement of the inner unit 6 rightwardly in the outer unit 13 is reached.
  • the inner unit 6 can be secured by its associated clamp unit 18 to the tunnel section 3 and the clamp unit 18 associated with the outer unit 13 released; the pinion components of devices 19 can now be driven and the rams 20 extended to displace the outer chamber unit 13 along the tunnel section 3 and rightwardly in Figure 1 to a desired extent whereafter the unit 13 can again be secured to the tunnel section 3 prior to rightward displacement of the inner chamber unit 6 as described above for further lengthening of the tunnel section.
  • Desirably-the chamber 16 is maintained at a greater pressure than that in chamber 9 to relieve pressure on the seals 15 and for this purpose an air compressor 21 is provided.
  • Air locks and de-compression chambers 22 and 23 are provided to permit access between the chamber 9 and the chamber 16 and between the chamber 16 and the water (the latter being convenient for external nspection).
  • a water pump/sump 24 is provided in the outer chamber unit 13.
  • the upward buoyancy thrust on the free end of the tunnel section increases.
  • the outer chamber unit 13 is anchored to the sea bed by a hawser 25 extending from a winch 26(mounted in the unit 13) to an appropriate sea bed anchorage 27.
  • the winch 26 can be operated to vary the length of the hawser 25 to maintain the free end of the tunnel section at a predetermined depth of submergence.
  • several such anchoring devices can be provided.
  • the tunnel section 3 can be lengthened and the chamber units 6 and 13 progressively displaced to extend that tunnel section from the base foundation 1 to the opposing foundation 2 while the. submerged depth of the tunnel section is controlled by appropriate anchorages.
  • the tunnel is constructed by progressively lengthening(in a similar manner to that previously described) two similar tunnel sections extending in cantilevered manner from the base foundations 1 and 2 and at opposite ends of the effective tubular tunnel which is to be formed. * This preference is illustrated in Figure 2 where, for convenience, the same parts or members associated with with the second tunnel section as those associated with the first tunnel section 3 are indicated by dashed references having the same numerals.
  • tunnel sections 3 and 3' are progressively lengthened towards each other their respective depth of submergence and alignment may be controlled by the winches 26 and 26' which, for convenience, are connected with the anchorage 27 (which is common to both winched and may be situated beneath what will be the mid-length position of the tubular tunnel when completed.
  • the tunnel sections 3 and 3' are extended until the outer chamber units 13 and 13' can conveniently be coupled together in alignment.
  • the chamber units are provided with mutually co-operable docking means 28, 28' which move into engagement with each other and can be welded, bolted or otherwise joined together as indicated at 29 in Figure 3 to provide a water seal.
  • the completed tunnel 31 is spaced from the sea bed and may be regarded as a "submerged floating tunnel". Furthermore, the tunnel 31 has the form of an inverted arch which resists the buoyancy thrust thereon and, if required, the anchorages 25, 25' can be removed.
  • the coupled chamber units 13, 13' are preferably retained to provide the water sealed chamber 16, 16' and these units can be longitudinally displaceable over the length of the tunnel to permit servicing and maintenance of the exterior of the tunnel as and when necessary.
  • Any convenient means can be provided for longitudinally displacing the combined units 13, 13' for example the units may be connected by hawsers to winches on the base foundations 1 and 2 which are controlled as necessary to move the units over the tunnel.
  • the tunnel section or sections will extend between opposed land bases so that the tunnel lies in a single vertical plane and in plan view is substantially straight - this permits maximum advantage to be taken of the inverted arch form of the tunnel to withstand the buoyancy thrust. It is to be realised however that the present invention is applicable to the construction of a submerged tunnel which extends other than in a single vertical plane between opposed base foundations, that is to say the tunnel may be curved in plan view and although it may still have a substantially arch-like form in side elevation the curvature in plan view may require anchorages to resist the buoyancy thrust.
  • the winch devices 26 provide self (automatic) levelling and/or that buoyancy tanks are incorporated within the tunnel sections or in the working chambers, such tanks being optionally water filled or air blown to vary the effective buoyancy of the tunnel sections as required.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Paleontology (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Underground Structures, Protecting, Testing And Restoring Foundations (AREA)
EP81300640A 1980-02-22 1981-02-17 Unterwassertunnel und Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung eines Unterwassertunnels Expired EP0034907B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT81300640T ATE7809T1 (de) 1980-02-22 1981-02-17 Unterwassertunnel und verfahren und vorrichtung zur herstellung eines unterwassertunnels.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8006114 1980-02-22
GB8006114A GB2070111B (en) 1980-02-22 1980-02-22 Method of constructing a submerged tunnel

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0034907A1 true EP0034907A1 (de) 1981-09-02
EP0034907B1 EP0034907B1 (de) 1984-06-06

Family

ID=10511601

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP81300640A Expired EP0034907B1 (de) 1980-02-22 1981-02-17 Unterwassertunnel und Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung eines Unterwassertunnels

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0034907B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE7809T1 (de)
DE (1) DE3162634D1 (de)
GB (1) GB2070111B (de)
GR (1) GR78276B (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT202200008171A1 (it) 2022-04-26 2023-10-26 Mario Burigo Metodo innovativo per la costruzione di tunnel sommersi

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3607002A1 (de) * 1986-03-04 1987-09-17 Bernhard Furrer Verfahren zur herstellung eines unterwasser-tunnels und ein nach dem verfahren hergestellter unterwasser-tunnel
NO881538L (no) * 1988-04-08 1989-10-09 Moss Rosenberg Verft As Flytende roerbro.

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE306127C (de) *
DE369557C (de) * 1923-02-20 Gustav Peter Helfrich Verfahren zum Herstellen von Unterwassertunnel
DE1784974C2 (de) * 1963-07-19 1972-05-04 Holzmann Philipp Ag Verfahren zum Herstellen eines Unterwassertunnels
DE2423854A1 (de) * 1974-05-16 1975-12-04 Josef Boessner Meerestunnel
US3952524A (en) * 1974-01-04 1976-04-27 Rand Burgess F Pipe laying method and apparatus
GB2016065A (en) * 1978-03-09 1979-09-19 Precontrainte Structures Soc F A method and an installation for launching a submerged tunnel

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE306127C (de) *
DE369557C (de) * 1923-02-20 Gustav Peter Helfrich Verfahren zum Herstellen von Unterwassertunnel
DE1784974C2 (de) * 1963-07-19 1972-05-04 Holzmann Philipp Ag Verfahren zum Herstellen eines Unterwassertunnels
US3952524A (en) * 1974-01-04 1976-04-27 Rand Burgess F Pipe laying method and apparatus
DE2423854A1 (de) * 1974-05-16 1975-12-04 Josef Boessner Meerestunnel
GB2016065A (en) * 1978-03-09 1979-09-19 Precontrainte Structures Soc F A method and an installation for launching a submerged tunnel

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT202200008171A1 (it) 2022-04-26 2023-10-26 Mario Burigo Metodo innovativo per la costruzione di tunnel sommersi
WO2023209744A1 (en) 2022-04-26 2023-11-02 Mario Burigo Submerged tunnels

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2070111A (en) 1981-09-03
GR78276B (de) 1984-09-26
ATE7809T1 (de) 1984-06-15
GB2070111B (en) 1983-12-14
DE3162634D1 (en) 1984-07-12
EP0034907B1 (de) 1984-06-06

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