Earth pressure balance (EPB) tunneling induced settlements in the Tren Urbano Project, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico

Underground construction of the Rio Piedras section of the Tren Urbano project involved the construction of twin tunnels (6.3m diameter) with Earth Pressure Balance machines in weathered alluvial soil. The depth of the cover over the tunnel crown varies from 13m to 10m. The twin tunnels, which connect the Rio Piedras Station and University of Puerto Rico Station, each have a length of 433 meters. Precast concrete linings offered the final structural support. Ground deformations were monitored throughout the construction of both twin tunnels. Volume loss is defined as the volume of ground loss as a proportion of the final tunnel volume and is measured in the plane perpendicular to the tunnel heading. Volume losses corresponding to the process of tunnel construction are identified in this thesis. Settlement troughs both over single and twin tunnels (when symmetric) are often described by a Gaussian curve. However, previous studies have suggested that the settlement trough due to twin tunnels is not symmetric with respect to the midpoint between the two tunnels.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Abrams, Alejandro J

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Andrew J. Whittle.

• Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/38945

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/38945