WORKSHOP IN SAFETY IN TUNNELS &
UNDERGROUND STRUCTURES
• DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF
TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA
REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
• G. Anello, R. Benigni
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Synopsis
- Projects description
- Design
- Construction
- Conclusion
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Location map
• Al Baha
• Shaar
• Al Jawwah
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
General data
Descent Length ∆H Average Average
gradient Gradient in
(Overall) (%) steeper areas
(km) (m)
(%)
Shaar 57 1,700 3.0 6.5
Al Baha 42 1,800 4.3 5.8
Al Juwwah 24 1,400 5.6 8.2
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Design
• Tunnels
– 4 typical cross sections
• Cut and cover
• Galleries
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Tunnels Design
Rock Temporary Support Final Support
type
Shot- Rock bolts Steel arches (I beam) Lining Inverted
crete arch
(cm) n/m2 Length Type Spaced (cm) (cm)
(m) (m)
T1 10 1/4 2.5 – 3.5 - - 30 -
T2 20 1/2.25 2.5 – 3.5 - - 40 -
T3 25 1/2.25 2.5 – 3.5 NP 14-18 0.8 – 1.5 50 -
T4 25 1/2.25 2.5 – 3.5 NP 14-18 0.8 – 1.5 70 60
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Rock type T1 – sound rock
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Rock Type T2 – Slightly fractured rock
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Rock Type T3 – Weathered rock
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Rock Type 4 – Highly weathered and fractured rocks
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Rock Type 4 – Highly weathered and fractured rocks
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Cut and cover
• Final Support: 80 cm lining
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Cut and cover
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Gallery
• Final support:110 cm lining
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Gallery
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Construction
• NATM (New Austrian Tunnelling Method)
• Convergence of the profile
• Support installed accordingly
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Case 1 – Tunnel No. 2 Shaar Descent
• Design adapted to the actual conditions encountered on
site.
– Convergence of the cavity profile shown the unstable conditions of
the crown
– Steel arches installed after evaluating the conditions of the rock
and orientation of the discontinuity sets
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Case 1 – Tunnel No. 2 Shaar Descent
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Case 2 – Construction of the galleries
• Phase 1 - Cut of slope
• Phase 2 – Cast of foundations
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Case 2 – Construction of the galleries
• Phase 3 – Cast of side walls and crown
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Case 2 – Construction of the galleries
Phase 4 – Backfilling of the structure
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Case No. 3 – Collapse of the crown
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Case No. 3 – Collapse of the crown
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS IN ASIR AND IN AL BAHA REGIONS
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
G. Anello, R. Benigni
Conclusions
•Design of the supporting structure of tunnels needed to be adapted to
the actual conditions encountered on site.
•For a successful construction of the tunnel, it is therefore essential
flexibility of the design coupled to good engineering practice and
judgement. Although this may lead to increase the costs for the
completion of the structures, it is to be bear in mind that unforeseeable
geological conditions can always be encountered.
•This was described on the remedial measures implemented on the
tunnels of the “Tihama descents” projects: the direct inspection of the
cave allowed to take immediate action to cope with the relevant
problems.
