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Soft ground

Crossrail Farringdon Station Design

Service Performed
Design of the primary sprayed concrete linings and excavation stability including depressurisation/dewatering. 3D FE modelling of all SCL tunnels including excavation steps.
Commencement - Services
April 01, 2012
Completion - Services
October 01, 2015
Location
39 Cowcross Street
London
London
EC1M 6BY
United Kingdom
Technical data

The BFK joint venture was awarded the constrction contract for Farringdon Crossrail station in 2011. BFK appointed Dr. Sauer & Partners as consultants for all sprayed concrete lining (SCL) tunnelling works prior to ring closure. 

Geology description

From the ground surface to the bedrock the geology comprised made ground, river terrace deposits, followed by London Clay, Lambeth Group formation, Thanet Sands and chalk.

Geology types
Soft ground
Description

Farringdon station is situated at the heart of London's rail network and will be one of its major rail interchange stations, which will link Crossrail, Thameslink services and London Underground trains. The station layout includes two ticket halls, two escalator inclines, two platform tunnels, connecting cross passages, concourse tunnels and ventilation adits. The chosen tunnelling system for Farringdon Station was sprayed concrete lining (SCL). The station comprised a total of 1km of SCL tunnels at depths of up to 35m below ground level and excavation cross-sections varying from 25m2 to 110m2.

Activity
Final cost
$400,000,000
Construction methods
Tunneling under
Max Excavation Area (m2)
25-110m2
Tunnel length
1000m
General view of the Crossrail route with focus on Farringdon Station
Western ticket hall and SCL tunnels
CP1 (left), CP1-CH1 connection adit (centre) and PL2RC (right)
Plan view of the station showing the projection of the Faults at tunnel axis level and the Sand lenses
Probing in CP1
Cycle of risk reduction through the implementation of geotechnical risk management tools
Project number
222D5
Final cost
£400 million GBP

Chinatown Station

Service Performed
Conceptual, preliminary, detailed design of underground caverns, egress tunnels and mined shafts; scheduling and cost estimating; risk management; specifications and tender. Onsite support during construction.
Estimated cost
$1,600,000,000
Commencement - Services
March 01, 2016
Completion - Services
March 31, 2018
Location
425 Market Street Suite 1700
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States
Geology description

The geology ranges from soft clay (Bay Clay) to stiff sands (Colma Sands) and competent to highly fractured rock (Franciscan Formation). The groundwater table is generally above the cavern springline.

Geology types
Mixed face, Soft ground
Description

Chinatown Station is the Northern Terminus of the Third Street Light Rail Project, which is located in a dense urban neighbourhood, underneath a busy street and directly adjacent to numerous old buildings, as well as one high-rise building. The station encompasses a Cut-and-Cover headhouse for passenger entry, three large station caverns and an emergency egress shaft. In order to minimise excavation volume and optimise cost and schedule, the ventilation ducts are located below the platform level, and routed into the headhouse.

Activity
Construction methods
Special Construction techniques
Tunneling under
Groundwater control
Tunnel length
2.7km
Excavation and support sequence of large urban cavern
Large urban cavern under construction
Excavation and support sequence - longitudinal section
Chinatown, San Francisco Dense Urban Neighborhood
Overall Station Layout, Headhouse and Caverns (Rendering by JV)
Station Cavern with Center Platform, Mezzanine and Ventilation Ducts
Proposed Mitigation Measures for adjacent Buildings
Complex 3D Finite Element Analyses
Project number
358E
Final cost
$1.6 billion USD
Completion date
Ongoing

Bank Station Capacity Upgrade - Design

Service Performed
Design of tunnels and shafts (primary lining, waterproofing, secondary lining). SCL, squareworks and connections to existing assets.
Commencement - Services
August 01, 2013
Completion - Services
May 01, 2022
Location
London
London
EC3V 3LA
United Kingdom
Technical data

An important transport hub on the London Underground network, Bank Station forms an interchange between five lines. The Capacity Upgrade project comprises the construction of a new platform tunnel, associated running tunnel and step-free access provision.

Geology description

The geology is expected to comprise London Clay formation overlain by Quaternary superficial deposits comprising river terrace deposits and alluvium which are generally overlain by made ground.

Geology types
Soft ground
Description

Bank Station is a London Underground station located in the City of London financial district. It is a key interchange served by five lines. The Bank Station Capacity Upgrade (BSCU) aims to relieve heavy passenger congestion during peak hours for boarding, alighting and interchange. The capacity upgrade comprises the construction of a new southbound platform tunnel and associated length of running tunnel for the Northern line, connecting passageways to the existing station tunnels, and the provision of step-free access from King William Street. The total length of tunnels is 1,300m with tunnel cross sections that range from 10m2 up to 90m2.

Activity
Construction methods
Tunneling under
BSCU project overview
3D render of existing and new structures
2D Phase 2 analysis for a situation where new tunnels are above the existing assets
King William Street station entrance
Location/Footprint of the proposed 3D FE models.
3D pdf cut for escalator 4, including new and existing assets upon completion
Project number
451D
Final cost
£563.8 million GBP
Completion date
Ongoing

Velenje-Shaft

Service Performed
NATM Design, In-Situ Measurement, Site Supervision
Commencement - Services
February 29, 1988
Completion - Services
September 30, 1989
Location
Ljubljana
Slovenia
Technical data

Inclined shaft, diameter 4.3 m, L = 40 m. NATM Test tunnel, heavy support.

Geology description

Schist, clay, sand and coal.

Geology Type: Soft Ground

Geology types
Soft ground
Description

NATM test tunnel, heavy support Aligning pole (d= 5 cm) should make deformations possible.

Categories

Jubilee Line Extension: Contract 102 - Waterloo and Westminster Station

Service Performed
Value engineering: NATM alternative design at tender stage
Commencement - Services
October 29, 1993
Completion - Services
May 29, 1996
Location
London
United Kingdom
Technical data

New Underground Station: NATM works comprising platform tunnels, central concourse, cross passages, ventilation tunnels etc.

Geology description

Made Ground, Alluvium / Terrace Gravels, London Clay.

Geology types
Soft ground
Final cost
$150,000,000
Lattice Girder, Botom - Detail
Excavation - Crown with Excavator
Excavation with Excavator
Excavation Top Heading Finished
Exavation of Heading (left part) finished
Finsihed Initial Lining
Face support (Bench)
Excavation Bench
Excavation Bench-Invert& Crown
Excavation
Excavation Full Face
General Layout of the NATM Works
Optimized Cross Section with typical Waterproofing and Drainage Details
Overview and Cross Section
Invert Excavation
Shotcrete Application
Sidewall Drift
Reinforcement of the Final Lining
View of Tunnel Junction before Final Lining
Finished Tunnel

Jubilee Line Extension: Contract 101, Green Park

Service Performed
Settlement Monitoring and Documentation
Commencement - Services
January 07, 1995
Completion - Services
December 26, 1997
Location
London
Green Park, London
W1J 9DZ
United Kingdom
Technical data

Settlement and building sensitivity analysis of 13 buildings including listed structures, e.g. The Ritz Hotel, Brooks Club.

Geology description

Made Ground, Terrace Gravels, London Clay

Geology types
Soft ground
Description

London Underground Limited have extended the Jubilee line from Green Park to Stratford in East London. The Jubilee line Extension is 15.4km long and located predominately underground with several new stations along its route. London Bridge Station (Contract 104) is one of the major stations and includes comnnections to, and an up-grade of the existing Northern line Platforms. The main contractor, a Costain-Taylor Woodrow Joint Venture, commissioned Dr. Sauer & Partners to design the NATM works which comprised running tunnels, station tunnels, ventilation tunnels, and concourse tunnels as well as temporary access headings with internal spans of between 4.8m and 11.3m. The tunnels were excvavated predominately in London Clay with NATM works starting in the spring of 1994 and being completed in 1996.

The Ritz Hotel
Settlement Analysis
Settlement Contours

WMATA Section F6b, Branch Route

Service Performed
NATM Design
Commencement - Services
January 10, 1996
Completion - Services
December 30, 1997
Location
Washington, DC
United States
Technical data

Subway running tunnels 2 x 1,400 ft (427m) long, 20' wide x 21' high with a section of 342 sqft (32m²). Tunnels included a section with chemical grouted arch pre-support in P2 sands installed using directional drilling methods. "Closed Bag" PVC waterproofing using sectioning system. Unreinforced concrete final lining.

Geology description

Tunneling through compact to very compact fine to medium sand of the P2 stratum (below the ground-water table) and stiff to hard plastic to silty clay of the P1 stratum.

Geology types
Soft ground
Final cost
$21,000,000
Special Construction techniques
Shotcrete Application in Top Heading
Portals of the NATM Running Tunnels
Top Heading Excavation
Initial Lining of NATM Type Cross Section
Initial Lining of circular Cross Section
Waterproofing at Cut & Cover Section
Waterproofing at Escalators
Waterproofing Installation at Portals
Installation of Waterproofing Membrane
Welding of PVC Membrane
Finished Waterproofing Membrane
Installation of Reinforcement
Completed Concrete Final Lining
Finished Tunnel
Waterproofing installed
Shotcreting the top heading

Russel Square Escalator Redevelopment

Service Performed
Preliminary design and settlement analysis for various options and layouts.
Commencement - Services
January 31, 1996
Completion - Services
May 31, 1996
Location
Russel Square, London
United Kingdom
Technical data

Preliminary design studies for the construction of a 4-way escalator shaft using NATM. Escalator shaft 11.5 m span, approx. 60 m long by 32 m deep, initial lining 300 mm thick reinforced sprayed concrete.

Geology description

Made Ground, Alluvium, London Clay.

Geology types
Soft ground

MBTA, Russia Wharf Segment, Section CC03A

Service Performed
NATM detailed design and site supervision during construction.
Commencement - Services
December 28, 1996
Completion - Services
December 19, 2004
Location
Boston
Boston, MD 02101
United States
Technical data

Road tunnel with 2 lanes and a lenght of 400 ft. Study into the construction of either a single tunnel or a binocular tunnel with central pier using the shotcrete support method with ground freezing pre-support to protect overlying historic building.

Geology description

Made ground, peat, glacial till (cohesive, plastic). The peat horizon undulates along the route, in places it is expected to be exposed in the top half of the proposed tunnel face.

Geology types
Soft ground
Description

The Russia Wharf segment is the last, but most challenging section of the Silverline Phase II construction for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). The line is designed to provide a dualmode bus rapid transit connection between the central business district in South Boston to the new Convention Center. The tunnel passes diagonally under the 100 year old Russia Wharf complex, which comprises three seven-story buildings with steel frames and brick facades listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The chosen construction method was NATM in conjunction with ground freezing, for the first time in the US. Steel fibre reinforced concrete was used for temporary and permanent lining.

 

Final cost
$18,000,000
Construction methods
Special Construction techniques
Tunneling under
Groundwater control
 Overview of West Cofferdam
Sheet Pile Wall
Excavation of T.H. first round
Reflectors for the monitoring
4 Bar L.G.
Short tunneling
Steel pile for underpinning
Close up of L.G.
Convergence Bolt before schotcreting
4 Bar longitudinal L.G.
Shotcrete at the face of T.H. & Bench
Installation of spiles
Spiles installed
Spiles installed
Wood piles
Installation of Spiles
Excavation of Invert
 Pile Shoe Reinforcement in T.H.
L.G & Wire Mesh installed
Butt plate connection
Butt plate connection
L.G & Wire mesh, Wood piles,Pile for underpinning
Wood files
Shotcreting, Pile for Underpinning
Overview of west Cofferdam
Overview of "Russia Wharf Building"
Overview of "Russia Wharf Building"
L.G & Wire Mesh, Pile for underpinning
L.G. installation
Pile Shoe reinforcement in T.H
View of tunnel and Graphic Arts Building
L.G. & Wire Mesh at Portal Area
Wood Piles, Pile for Underpinning
Compressible Pad onto wood piles
Wood piles, piles for underpinning
Profiling in T.H using Roadheader
View of "Russia Wharf Buildings"
Wood piles, Piles for underpinning
Shotcreting
Waterproofing at Invert, Water Barriers
Installed Waterproofing, Formwork for Center Wall
Installation of Rebar Spile
Installation of Rebar Spile
L.G & Wire Mesh installed, Shotcrete Invert in T.H.
Overview Tunnel Inside
L.G. & Wire Mesh, Piles for Undpinning
L.G. & Wire Mesh, Halfenbox
Shotcrete Tunnel completed
Grouting of Spiles completed
Waterproofing installed at Invert, Halfenbox
Reinforcement of center wall
Reinforcement of a Blockout in the center wall
Pouring concrete of Invert
Invert
Welding operation
Control & Grouting Pipe, Reinjectable Hose
Control & Grouting Pipe, Fuco Hose
Top of Centerwall
Reinforcement of Shotcrete
Installation of L.G. 1st round
Excavation of 2nd half of Binocular T.
Excavation of 2nd half of Binocular T.
Shotcrete F.L., Center wall
Binocular Tunnel
Installation of spiles
Freezing Pipes
Freezing Pipes
1st half of binocular T.
1st half of binocular T.
Pile shoe reinforcement in T.H.
Plan View of the Binocular Tunnel
Tower Crane View
Tower Crane View of Russia Wharf Complex
Tower Crane View of Russia Wharf Complex
Longitudinal Section for the Binocular Tunnel
Binocular Tunnel Section
Ground Freezing Tubes and Settlement Compensation under Russia Wharf
Top Heading Excavation cutting old wooden support piles
Reinforcing and Encasing cutted wooden Piles
Reinforcement of Middlewall of Binocular Tunnel
Excavation of the second Tube of the Binocular Tunnel
Waterproofing of the Binocular Tunnel
Freezing Pipes at surface
Shoe reinforcementon timber piles
Project number
263D
Final cost
$18 million USD

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