1/what does the name robbins mean to you ?

? tunnel boring machine(robbins)=tunnelier A tunnel boring machine (TBM) also known as a "mole", is a machine used to excavate tunnels with a circular cross section through a variety of soil and rock strata. They can bore through anything from hard rock to sand. Tunnel diameters can range from a metre (done with micro-TBMs) to almost 16 metres to date. Tunnels of less than a metre or so in diameter are typically done using trenchless construction methods or horizontal directional drilling rather than TBMs. 2/explain this tunnel pathology-lining fracture-and the methods and repair materials,you would choose if you had to inspect and repair a long undersea tunnel ? 3/explain some of the construction problems of the seikan tunnel,in japan ? 4/explain the evolution of remedial maintenance with the example of the 2 fires in the channel tunnel ? 5/what hapened in the big dig accident ( boston tunnels ) in th U.S.A in 2006 ?what sort of infrastructure pathologies were detected ?chat sort of repaires were decided ? 6/Explain the risk of collapse during the construction of a tunnel and speak about some accidents in th chinese tunnels we studied ? 7/What is ground freezing ? give exemples of application in tunnel engineering ? Ground freezing using brine or nitrogen is used as a temporary ground improvement. It is based on a very simple physical principle. By artificially lowering the ground temperature, all water in soil pores or fissures is frozen, thus increasing the strength and impermeability of the surrounding ground. Exemple dans tunnel engineering :its used in excavation Ground freezing supports tunnel excavations and crossings in groundwater. With temporary gap-freezing, 'water-tight' excavation pits can once again become water-permeable after completion. 8/Discribe the tunnel construction method called immersed tunnel and give one exemple of tunnel built with this method ? Immersed tunnels consist of very large pre-cast concrete or concrete-filled steel tunnel elements fabricated in the dry and installed under water. More than a hundred immersed tunnels have been built to provide road or rail connections. The construction of an immersed tunnel consists of excavating an open trench in the bed of the body of water being crossed. Tunnel elements are fabricated off site, usually at a shipyard or in dry docks. Elements constructed on launching ways are launched similar to ships by sliding them into the water. Elements constructed in dry docks, are floated by flooding the dry dock. The ends of each element are closed by bulkheads to make the element watertight. The bulkheads are set back a nominal distance from the end of the element, resulting in a small space at the ends of the adjoining sections that is filled with water and will require dewatering after the connections with the previous element is made. After fabrication and launching, the elements are towed into position over the excavated trench, once positioned and attached to a lowering device (lay barge, pontoons, crane, etc), ballast is placed in or on the element so that it can be lowered to its final position. Sometimes ballasting of the element is achieved by water ballast in temporary internal tanks or by adding concrete. After placing the element in its position, connection is made between the newly placed element and the end face of the previously placed element or structure to which it is to be joined. Once the element is in its final position butted up against the adjacent element, the water within the joint between two elements is pumped out. After any remaining foundation work has been completed and locking fill is in place, the joint can completed and the area made watertight. Once locking fill is in position, another element can be placed. The bulkheads can then be removed, making the tunnel opening continuous. For safety reasons, the bulkheads at the joint to the most recently placed tunnel element are left in position. The tunnel is then backfilled and a protective layer of stone is placed over the top of the tunnel if required. Examples -longest immersed tunnel for road traffic between Hong Kong and mainland in China . 9/What is Drill and Blast in tunnilling ? Drill and Blast is one of Excavation techniques it's used In hard rock where the ground is fairly stable, for non-circular profilest, Every few metres explosives are mounted in small boreholes at the tunnel face and ignited to loosen and remove rockand already separated blocks to collide

10/What the most critical pathology tunnel inspectors may obseve ? 11/explain the job of a tunnel inspection team and the rating system ? the job is completed standardized reporting forms. Tunnel shape, size, and type of construction were noted during each segment of the inspection work. Type of track and related items like track drains, manholes and catenary wire were also inventoried and reported. Systems such as standpipes, hydrants, and communication were checked and inventoried. A tunnel inspection detail sheet was also completed for each inspection to detail exact location of possible future problem spots. 12/would you like to become a tunnel engineer ? Yes of cours (for me what about you amine ?) 13/How can concrete be made more resistant ? 14/write a paragraph around 300 words to expain the importance of soil analysis and the geotechnical aspect of tunnel construction ? 15/what do you know about the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel ?