UCD School of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering

Characterisation of stiffness anisotropy during Dublin METRO construction

To avoid damage to adjacent structures and services, ground deformations due to excavations must be carefully monitored and controlled, especially in sensitive areas. Our lack of understanding of horizontal ground movement during construction in Dublin Boulder Clay (DBC) has previously led to conservative designs. To improve the accuracy of ground movement prediction during underground construction the anisotropic stiffness properties of DBC, will be measured for the Dublin METRO project. Anisotropy is characterised using multi-directional shear wave transducers attached to cores retrieved from various locations along the METRO route.

Client: Railway Procurement Agency (RPA)

Contact: shane.donohue@ucd.ie, mike.long@ucd.ie

Predicting Tunnelling Induced Settlement

Recent developments in tunnelling equipment now facilitate the automated collection of unprecedented levels of data related to the performance of tunnel boring machines. This study exploits this newly available capability to create a continuum that facilitates the prediction of above-ground building damage based on below-ground tunnel equipment performance metrics. Major parameters include rate of advance, quantity of muck removed, distribution of head pressure, and depth of overburden.

Fig1. Dublin Port Tunnel

Client: ARUP

Contact: debra.laefer@ucd.ie