Technology Innovation in Underground Construction

Short professional biographies of all contributors are included in the back of the volume.The editor, Gernot Beer (Graz University of Technology, Austria), is currently the head of the Institute for Structural Analysis at the University Technology, Graz Austria. His main expertise is numerical simulation and he heads a group of researchers that is developing the next generation software for the simulation of underground excavations. He has conducted research and has consulted on this topic for three decades and authored and co-authored four textbooks on this subject. Prior to coordinating the project TUNCONSTRUCT he was the coordinator of a national research initiative Simulation in Tunneling (SiTu) and of another European project (Virtual fire emergency simulation, VITRUALFIRES). The project SiTu resulted in a book “Numerical Simulation in Tunneling” published by Springer for which he was the editor. As part of his consulting activities he served, together with Prof. E.T. Brown, on a panel of experts for the investigation of the Masjed-e-Soleiman underground Hydroelectric Power Plant in Iran.

"[…] The large spectrum and depth of topics covered, and their impact on the tunnel design and construction, makes this book of particular interest for practicing engineers and for applied researchers." Prof. Giancarlo Gioda, Politecnico di Milano, Italy"[...] the project will certainly result in a breakthrough in activities ranging from planning to maintenance. Contributions cover the whole spectrum of underground construction activities with an integrated approach." Tarcisio B. Celestino, University of Sao Paulo"[...] the publication [...] is a major contribution to knowledge on advanced tunnelling techniques, and should also be noted by those in positions of power that still think that tunnelling is a nasty, dirty, low-tech pursuit." Maurice Jones, Tunnels & Tunnelling International August 2010

• 1. Introduction 2. UCIS – Underground Construction Information System 3. Computer-support for the Design of Underground Structures 4. A Virtual Reality Visualization System for Underground Construction 5. From Laboratory, Geological and TBM Data to Input Parameters for Simulation Models 6. Process-oriented Numerical Simulation of Mechanized Tunneling 7. Computer Simulation of Conventional Construction 8. Optical Fibre Sensing Cable for Underground Settlement Monitoring During Tunneling 9. Tunnel Seismic Exploration and Its Validation Based on Data From TBM Control and Observed Geology 10. Advances in the Steering of Tunnel Boring Machines 11. Real-time Geological Mapping of the Front Face 12. Reducing the Environmental Impact of Tunnel Boring (OSCAR) 13. Safety Assessment During Construction of Shotcrete Tunnel Shells Using Micromechanical Material Models 14. Observed Segment Behaviour During Tunnel Advances 15. Optimizing Rock Cutting Through Computer Simulation 16. Innovative Roadheader Technology for Safe and Economic Tunnelling 17. Tube-à-manchette Installation Using Horizontal Directional Drilling for Soil Grouting 18. TBM Technology for Large to Very Large Tunnel Profiles 19. Real-time Monitoring of the Shotcreting Process 20. Environmentally Friendly, Customised Sprayed Concrete 21. Innovations in Shotcrete Mixes 22. High Performance and Ultra High Performance Concrete Segments – Development and Testing 23. Robotic Tunnel Inspection and Repair 24. An Innovative Geotechnical Characterization Method for Deep Exploration.