Design, Construction and Monitoring of Hard Rock Tunnels at Great Depth

Abstract

Tunnel stability is one of the main engineering challenges in deep underground construction. This thesis proposes, field-tests and quantitatively assesses the performance of an innovative approach to the design and construction of hard rock tunnels at great depth. The novel methodology was shown to reduce the potential for violent stress-driven failure of deep tunnels, when compared to conventionally designed and constructed excavations in the same rock mass conditions.