Blackpool South Strategy project: analysis of pipe-jacking records

O’Dwyer, K.G., McCabe, B.A., Sheil, B.B. and Hernon, D.P. (2018) Blackpool South Strategy Project: analysis of pipe-jacking records, Proceedings of Civil Engineering Research in Ireland (CERI 2018), pp. 265-270.

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an increased resort to microtunnelling/pipe-jacking as a means of constructing underground conduits (for water, sewage, gas and other utilities) to avoid on-street disruption in urban areas. In this paper, technical details of two 1200 mm internal diameter microtunnels in silty sand totalling 550 m in length are discussed; the microtunnels were constructed by Ward and Burke Construction Ltd. as part of the Blackpool South Strategy project. A general overview of the tunnelling process is provided, including the separation plant, jacking facilities and the bentonite supply process. The results show that the lubrication system was very effective at maintaining low skin friction levels, and that the pipe string was almost fully buoyant for the majority of the drive. Stoppages were shown to have a significant but transient effect on the jacking force; high jacking forces upon resumption of jacking after a stoppage return to ‘baseline’ levels after the length of one pipe diameter. Machine deviations did not appear to play a major role in increasing jacking forces for this particular project.

Funder

Irish Research Council
Royal Academy of Engineering

Publisher

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland CERI

Rights

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Ireland

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Collections

Civil Engineering (Conference Papers)