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Design and construction of the Furka base tunnel

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Summary

The Furka railway tunnel, with a length of 15.4 km, a maximum overburden of 1520 m and the portals lying at 1500 m above sea level, presented some special problems both in the design and construction stages, which required novel solutions. The cross section of this single track tunnel varied from 26 to 42 m2. It is remarkable that the permanent support only consists of rock anchors and a shotcrete lining. In sections with high rock pressures it was necessary to excavate an elliptical or circular profile using steel ribs in addition to anchors and the shotcrete. All support measures were closely adapted to the geotechnical conditions encountered. As a basis for decisions, besides geological and rock mechanics investigations and construction experience, the results of systematic deformation measurements were used.

To make the rock in the vicinity of the opening impermeable a newly developed two component polyurethene grout was applied, to the author's knowledge the first time in a traffic tunnel. The grouting also improved substantially the strength of the jointed rock.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Consulting Engineers, Amberg AG, Zurich, Switzerland

    R. Amberg

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  1. R. Amberg
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Amberg, R. Design and construction of the Furka base tunnel. Rock Mech Rock Engng 16, 215–231 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01042358

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01042358

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