TUNNELING IN SOFT SOILS

Characteristics of Soil ideal for

Tunnel Excavation

Unaffected when exposed to air

Composed of homogeneous material

Should not have water bearing strata

Capable of easily excavated

Choice of Method

Equipment available

Method of sequence of excavation

Size of tunnel

Type of ground

Characteristics of Soft Soils

Use of explosives not required

Progress of work is slow presence of

heavy strutting and supports

No need for heavy and costly mechanical

equipment

Requires timbering to support the section

excavated

METHODS OF TUNNELING IN
SOFT SOILS
Forepoling Method
Needle Beam Method
Army Method
American Method
English method
Belgian Method
German Method
Austrian Method

FOREPOLING METHOD

Old, slow and tedious method

Tunnels of small dimensions for laying

sewers , pipes etc can be laid

Sequence of operations to be adhered to in

correct order

Shaft is sunk from surface and

protected by timber sheeting
A wooden bent is set up covering
the first face of attack
A line of sheeting above the cap
is cut along the top line of holes
and soil from behind the sheeting
is permitted to come out
Small holes at close intervals are
drilled through sheeting
Fore poles or spiles with wedge
ends are entered and driven
through cut into ground with
upward inclination of 170 mm per
metre

After all roof and part of side

spiles are driven to half their
lengths, a timber is laid across the
back ends of spiles and wedging
them down, the front ends of
spiles are cantilevered up
Face sheeting is cut across lower
line of holes and loose soil is run
into tunnel until face assumes a
natural slope
Horse head is set up about 600
mm from sheeting and earth
beneath the forward end is
scooped out for a length of 500
mm and face supported by breast
board is placed underneath the
forward point of the spile

The next cap supported on a bridge is set

and temporarily supported on a single post

Side spiles are driven for their full lengths

A heavy horizontal beam is pushed forward to

support the forward cap

The breast board is extended to grade level

by adding new sheets

AMERICAN METHOD

Suited for large sized railway

or highway tunnels

Top drift is driven and

supported by laggings,
segment and two posts

Sides of drift are widened and

supported on shoulder
segment timbers and struts

AMERICAN METHOD
Wall plates of 5m length are introduced
at springing supporting arch set
Wall plates are underpinned by props
Timber arch segment and roof load are
transferred to wall plate and posts for
support
Sides and benching are fully cleared
and tunnel is lined.

TUNNELING WITH SHIELD

Metal cylinder made of hard steel plates
bent to required curvature and thickness
by riveting two or three plates
Equipment that acts as a bridge with
roof for workers to work on extension of
lining and face of attack
Travelling support for erecting
scaffolding near face of attack

Parts of Shield

Cutting Edge or Leading Edge

Central Part or Trunk Portion

Tail or Rear portion

Steps of Tunneling with Shield

Excavation

Support for face to be attacked

Assembly for primary lining

Shove of shield

Muck removal