STABILITY ANALYSIS OF ACCESS SHAFT

AND TUNNEL PORTALS

Zahid Khan, Phd, PEng (Canada)

Assistant Professor
American University of Sharjah
Sharjah, UAE
 OUTLINE
Background of the project
Geology of shaft 2 area
Site class and support class
Statement of the problem
Shaft and tunnel completion
BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
 BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
3.1 km pressurized tunnel through the right abutment of the 100 m high dam
(rock fill)
1.4 km of rock tunnel (drill and blast)
1.2 km of tunnel in alluvium (Boring and Jacking)
0.5 km of cut and cover
Tunnel Alignment
0.5 km of existing tunnel
80 m of existing shaft
BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

Shaft 1(10 m)
Shaft 2 (30 m)
Shaft constructed with dam
(80 m)
BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

Rock

Alluvium

Shaft constructed with dam

Shaft 1(10 m) Shaft 2 (30 m) (80 m)
GEOLOGY OF SHAFT 2 AREA
Karst Limestone
Lenses of graphitic and carbonaceous schist
Alluvium Overburden
Groundwater
GEOLOGY OF SHAFT 2 AREA
GEOLOGY OF SHAFT 2 AREA

Alluvium
SITE CLASS AND SUPPORT (SHAFT 2 AREA)
RMR < 20
Mixed conditions
Precast segmented liner in alluvium (24 m)
Wire mesh +
200 mm Shotcrete+
25 m
3m Swellex rockbolts in rock Alluvium

Rock
5m
SITE CLASS AND SUPPORT
SITE CLASS AND SUPPORT
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Stability analysis of the shaft (10 m dia in.) without

portals excavated and bottom 5 m in rock unsupported
Stability analysis with bottom 5 m in rock supported and
each portal excavated and supported
Distribution and redistribution of stresses (support
pressures) as the different stages of shaft and portal
construction progresses.
Distribution of final deformations in the shaft, portals
and corners.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Reasonable values of rock and soil can be assumed to

simulate weak rock conditions.
The water is present in the karstic limestone with
channelized flow and the ground water table can be
assumed at the rock/alluvium interface which is dipping
at a slight angle of 10o.
Highly jointed rock mass with high ground water
pressure needs to be taken into account.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
10 m

25 m
Alluvium

Portals

Rock
5m

15 m 15 m

Side View
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Portals

5m

10 m

15 m 15 m
5m
Portals

Plan View
CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE

Shaft excavation for 2 m then supported with precast

segmented liner and grouted. Then next 2 m.
After the rock/aluvium interface the shaft is excvated to
the bottom (5 m unsupported) and then supported with
200m shotcrete with wiremesh and 3 m pattern rock
bolts (swellex).
The first portal is excavated to a length of 15 m and
supported in drives of 3 m.
Similarly other 3 portals are excavated.
SHAFT AND TUNNEL COMPLETION

Permanent lining of the tunnel consisted of concrete

with steel liner.
Howell Bunger valves at the intake shaft (80 m deep)
Butterfly valves at the outlet.
10 MW power house station.
SHAFT AND TUNNEL COMPLETION
Permanent lining of the tunnel
SHAFT AND TUNNEL COMPLETION
Permanent lining of the tunnel
SHAFT AND TUNNEL COMPLETION
Joining of the two portals
SHAFT AND TUNNEL COMPLETION
Backfilling of the shaft
SHAFT AND TUNNEL COMPLETION
QUESTIONS