Methodology for the use of tunnel excavation materials taking into account the type of material and the excavation method (ASTRA1998/094)
Overview
Background & policy context:
In Switzerland, over the next 10 to 15 years approximately 80 million cubic metres of excavation material will be extracted from the tunnels which remain to complete the construction of the national roadway network, the Rail 2000 project and the new Alp Transit railway lines. According to the environment law and following the principle of sustainable development, only a small portion of this material can be landfilled and its use is virtually obligatory.
Excluding the limited possibility for reuse at the tunnel where it was excavated, this material should be used for other construction projects. Roadway construction could probably account for most of the extracted material not used on the spot. The case of tunnels in rock excavated using a tunnel boring machine, which is becoming more and more frequent, poses specific problems for reutilization because of the unfavourable shape of the rock pieces and the poorly graded grain size of the excavated material.
Objectives:
The aim of this research is to determine a methodology for the research for solutions in view of the use of these materials for civil engineering purposes and, in particular, for roadway construction (surface and foundation layers, fill and other uses); to define necessary methods for the qualification of these materials as a function of their origin and use, any further treatment and their placement method.
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