Pipe Jacking in Special Geology of Tehran City: Fid-Bau Portal

Pipe Jacking in Special Geology of Tehran City

Pakiman, Keivan / Jenabi, Arash / Sanjari, Payam Soltan / Mohammadi, Babak

In this paper, performance of a slurry microtunneling machine used for Tehran Sewage network project is presented. The total project route is 3,855 m and the polymer concrete pipes with 1,400 mm, 1,600 mm, and 1,800 mm diameters are used in this project of which 56% has been completed up to now. This paper introduces a pipe jacking project during excavations in a specific geological condition that caused many obstacles. Some pipes were broken in different positions during crossing this specific geological condition, and many problems were created for the project when faced with huge stone. In addition, crossing boulder layers led to extensive damage for machines and cutter heads and increased project implementation costs. In continuing crossing through this specific geological context, huge boulders in front of the machines blocked the way completely, and the remaining work was forced to be performed by the hand shield method. Also creating a handmade tunnel was a new obstacle that the project team passed through step by step. In this paper all obstacles are reviewed by considering sustainability parameters. Increasing sustainability of the pipeline is mentioned in all parts of the project to find the best way to resolve impossibilities. This project shows real challenges to find the best way for solvingobstacles of such microtunneling projects until the contractor is successful.