Observations on groundwater leakage through cracks and segment joints in a concrete segmental tunnel lining

摘要

Facing with the combined challenge of aging sewer infrastructure and rapid population growth,rnthe Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC) embarked on a bold approach to build an enhancedrnsewer infrastructure with a deep gravity sewer tunnel at the center. The primary lining of the new 41 km-longrndeep sewer tunnel has been completed by tunnel boring machines (TBM). The concrete segmental lining has anrninternal diameter varying from 4m to 5.5m internal diameter, and is located at depths of 20m to 80m below thernground surface. This paper attempts to quantify the results of observations made on groundwater infiltrationsrnand response to repair works experienced at different stages in construction of concrete segmental lining forrndeep sewer tunnels. The observations presented below have been based on the actual data obtained from a totalrnof 10,872 rings installed in three TBM drives in Contract T-02 of Abu Dhabi’s Strategic Tunnel EnhancementrnProgramme (STEP).