ABSTRACT

Modern tunnel design requires the selection of appropriate techniques and technologies in all tunnel projects. One of the main success factors in tunnel construction is the selection of appropriate excavation procedures for large span tunnel projects in soft soil materials. The selection of excavation procedures during tunnel construction greatly affects the time and costs to be incurred. In this study, we focus on selection of excavation methods, excavation sequences and temporary supports used at the excavation stage in tunnels with soft soil materials. Because this tunnel has a large opening diameter with a volume of more than 200 m2 and the material in the tunnel is soft soil, it is not possible to dig the tunnel using the Full face method and the Central Diaphragm (CD) and Side wall Drift (SD) method. Therefore, a Sequential Excavation Method (SEM) is proposed for tunnel construction.

Keywords: Tunnel; Excavation; Sequential Excavation Method.