Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Best Practices
Quality Assurance / Quality Control
Quality Assurance / Quality Control
Copyright 2005 NASTT
Microtunneling
• Pipejacking method
• Closedface shield using
slurry to remove excavated
soil
• Positive face support in
unstable soils and under
groundwater
• Remotecontrolled; no man
entry
• Can be stopped by large
quantities of cobbles or large
rocks
• Steerable
• Many jacking pipe options
• Diameters: 24” – 90”
Quality Assurance Approach
• Prequalify contractors for difficult projects
• MTBM must be compatible with ground conditions
• Use specialty trenchless construction management
• Specifications (if you don’t specify it, it won’t get done)
(if you don’t specify it, it won’t get done)
• Microtunneling
• Slurry Disposal
Slurry Disposal
• Lubrication
Lubrication
• Intermediate Jacking Stations (IJS)
Intermediate Jacking Stations (IJS)
• Entry/Exit seals
Entry/Exit seals
• Shaft Construction
• Pipe Material
• Settlement Monitoring
• Contact Grouting
• Ground Improvement (where necessary)
Ground Improvement (where necessary)
Pipe Materials
• Reinforced Concrete
• Steel
• Fiberglass
• Polymer Concrete
• Clay
• Ductile Iron
Ductile Iron
Material Quality Control
• Pipe material consistent with soil
conditions, surface and installation loads,
pressure and corrosiveness
• Pipe manufactured according to ASTM,
AWWA standards
• Important dimensional tolerances
• Roundness
Roundness
• Straightness
Straightness
• Consistent diameter
Consistent diameter
• Must have flush joints
• Must evenly transmit jacking loads
• Lubrication/grout ports
• After installation check for line and grade
accuracy and damage to pipe or lining
accuracy and damage to pipe or lining
Microtunneling Process
Jacking Shaft
Reception Shaft
Jacking
26 x 16 feet typical
Shaft
Sheet Piles
Soldier Piles and Lagging
Auger Drilled (≤20’ diameter)
Caissons
Reception Shaft
16 x 14 feet typical
Hydraulic Sheet Piles
Jacks Soldier Piles and Lagging
Trench Box
Auger Drilled
Pipe Material Options
Soil Reinforced Concrete
Removed Hobas
Polymer Concrete
With
Steel casing or carrier
Slurry Clay
Ductile iron
Microtunneling Process
Construction Duration
Jacking Shaft (30’ deep)
2 – 4 weeks
Reception Shaft (30’ deep)
1 – 3 weeks
Reception shafts can be plated until
retrieval of MTBM
Microtunneling (per drive)
Machine is
Setup – 10 days
Removed
Progress – ~30ft/dayclay; 60 ft/day sand
600’ – 20 days
1300’ – 45 days
Retrieval – 5 days
Microtunneling Process
Equipment
Control Container
Generator
Soil Separation Plant
Slurry Tanks
Lubrication Plant
Pipe Storage
Crane
Loader
Dump Truck
Site Preparation
• Locate and visually confirm utilities
• PreConstruction Survey (damage and settlement
baseline)
• Traffic Control
• Spoil Handling and Disposal
• Shaft Construction and Safety
• Perimeter Fencing
• Traffic Plates or Safety Netting
• Tag In/Out for Shaft Entry
• Safety
Safety
Quality Control During
Installation
• Proper shaft
construction
• Thrust block
perpendicular to drive
• Laser mounted
independent from
shaft elements and
jacking frame
jacking frame
Installation Issues
• Good shaft workmanship
• Groundwater controlled, no soil
entering shaft
• Maintain line and grade
tolerance and limit steering rate
to 1:250
• Exit/entry seals
• Match excavation rate to
penetration rate and soil
conditions (no overexcavation
or underexcavation)
or underexcavation)
Microtunneling Inspection
• Prelaunch inspection of
MTBM
• Take measurements
multiple times per pipe
• Machine drive records
• Bag samples of soils from
separation plant
• Problems, unusual
observations
• Settlement monitoring
records
records
Drive Completion
• Control soil and
groundwater during MTBM
retrieval
• Check pipe for proper line
and grade
• Test pipe for joint integrity,
design pressure
• Construct manholes/junction
structures
• Backfill/abandon shafts
• Restore ground surface
• Air test and video inspect
line upon completion
line upon completion
Consequences of Poor Practices!
• Stuck MTBM
• Damaged MTBM
• Line and Grade Errors
• Broken Pipe
• Shaft Failures
• Settlement / Heave
Settlement / Heave
For Further Information on
Microtunneling Equipment &
Operations Please Visit
Booth 623 & 722
Booth 428 & 430
Booth 226 & 228
Schauenburg
MAB GMBH
Booth 212
Booth 327
Booth 615
Booth 208
For Further Information on
Jacking Pipe Please Visit
Booth 626 & 628 Booth 418
Booth 400
Booth 311 Booth 202
Booth 309
Booth 527 Booth 721
Booth 303
Booth 517 Booth 630
For Further Information on
Pumping Equipment &
Operations Please Visit
Booth 410
Booth 500
Booth 101
Booth 316
For Further Information on
Lubricants, Grouting & Sealing
Please Visit
Booth 313 Booth 416
Booth 301