Fiatech

Presented by: James Thomson, Chairman, Jacked Structures SA; Chris Howe, Senior Engineer, Jacked Structures SA

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The development of underground space below our cities has been identified as having enormous future benefits. More than half of the world's population now live in urban areas and this percentage is increasing rapidly.

Constructing a whole range of infrastructure and buildings underground can free up valuable space on the surface. To be able to create such space without creating disruption in a congested urban location will be a key issue.

Schemes undertaken to date have been mainly constructed in underlying rock. (Ref: Enhanced Use of Underground Space in Hong Kong).

This presentation will describe innovative technologies that have been developed for installing a wide range of large structures in soft soil.

Structures with a rectangular or arch cross section and internal spans of up to 25m, lengths of 200m and heights of 15m or more are possible. These can be in multiple bays where larger areas are required. At all stages of installation the ground is supported by a full structural lining and can be installed to close accuracy.

Some examples of structures that can be created include metro stations, TBM launch boxes, underground parking and caverns for storm water storage, water, waste water plants, refuse stations and sports facilities.

The concepts will be illustrated by reference to the recent installation of a road underpass 126m long and an internal span of 20m, six metres below an operational rail line without delaying service. (Ref: Large UK Highway Underpass Installed by Horizontal Jacking Civil Engineering July/August 2012).