An essential characteristic of this stretch is that it has been built under the water table by excavating in very heterogeneous soils, composed of granular soils and rocks of considerable resistance which has created numerous problems during the construction ...

Specific correlations developed to predict the Rate of Advance for open TBMs, double-shields and single-shields, using the RME index are presented.

Recording drilling parameters is a useful and economical technique for acquiring geomechanical information of rock mass parameters. Although it is not usually emplyed at geotechnical boreholes it is systematically used in TBM. This paper shows the obtained ...

<p>The paper describes the selected significant developments, with the emphasis on the following findings: Charts are presented for more accurate determination, of the five input parameters of the RME, using graphical representation. New expressions to evaluate ...

The inspection of the waste chips has consisted not only in the weight in the belt but also in the size and shape of the waste. Finally, the drilling parameters controlled were: - rate of advance - time of excavation - weight of material in the belt - thrust ...

Over 500 case histories were analysed in two years to bring the Rock Mass Excavability (RME) index to fruition and demonstrate its effectiveness on five current projects. It should be emphasised that the RME index does not replace the RMR or Q systems as used ...

The 570 m long Tarifa Experimental Gallery has allowed the investigation of three of the five flysch units involved in the future tunnel of Gibraltar. This Tunnel will have a length of 38 km approximately and will cross the Strait. For this reason, the results ...

This paper presents the methodology used to characterise the weaker zones of Le Perthus tunnel. Two phase investigation, one with in situ and laboratory testing and second with pilot tunnel.