Technical papers and conference presentations by Geoporte specialists on digital geotechnics and tunnel engineering.
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Presented by Qaiser Hayat, MSc, DIC, CPEng (Aus and NZ), CEng (UK), PE (US)
Presented at the Australian Geomechanics Society Victorian Symposium, “Digital Geotechnics”, held in Melbourne.
In urban areas, an increasingly common and necessary solution for creating new transport infrastructure is through the use of tunnels. This paper looks at the way development has occurred around infrastructure in Melbourne and the different ways that this has been accounted for in the design of the tunnels themselves.
A systematic approach to assessing the risks posed by developments around tunnels and its assets has been developed, working within various legislated or planning frameworks relevant to Melbourne. This paper looks at the approaches taken in the design of historical and recent tunnels and how these affect the assessments. Older Melbourne rail tunnels were typically designed for the existing conditions, while the design of recent tunnels has incorporated allowances for additional loading that could occur from possible future building development. These design approaches affect the way that the assessments can be carried out. In the former case, assessments are essentially made on first principles basis, confirming that the additional loading is within the capacity of the tunnel structures. This often requires obtaining and interpreting the structural design information and conducting structural modelling. For the more recent tunnel designs, a phased assessment process becomes possible with a first pass comparing the effects of development loadings with the design allowances. Only in cases where the development effects exceed allowances, would it become necessary to conduct analyses estimating the current loadings in the tunnel, adding the development effects, and assessing whether these in combination are acceptable.
Finally, the paper considers some of the measures used to monitor the effects of developments when the assessments require additional validation including dilapidation surveys.
The assessment approaches in use, both for older and recent tunnels, have been effective and achievable in allowing for developments around tunnels to proceed without placing tunnel infrastructure at risk.
From the symposium preface · © 2022 Australian Geomechanics SocietyThe Victorian Chapter of the Australian Geomechanics Society (AGS) is pleased to announce the 2022 AGS Victorian Symposium titled “Digital Geotechnics” to be held on 26 October 2022.
This symposium seeks to provide the geo-profession with insight into the world of digital engineering and will bring together practitioners, researchers, contractors and subject matter experts to share and discuss their expertise on the topic of digital engineering and its application to geotechnical engineering and engineer geology. Best practices, case histories and innovative methods adopted in the field of digital engineering will be presented and discussed.
