Characterization of soil conditioning for mechanized tunnelling

LAMANNA Luigi Franco
August, 2016
SL_015_GLO
December, 2016

A wide range of materials are used as soil conditioning agents, and many commercial products based on these
are available. The most common conditioning agents are foams, polymers and bentonite slurries, although others
such as water, dispersants and oils also have applications. Each type of conditioning agent has different
properties and effects on soil properties, as discussed below.
POLYMERS (GLOBALCRYL-46)
Polymers are macromolecules consisting of large numbers of repeating smaller molecules (monomers) chemically
bonded into long chains. Polymerisation of a single type of monomer produces a homopolymer, while
polymerisation of two or more different monomers produces a copolymer. The properties of polymers vary widely,
depending on their chemical composition and structure. The size of polymer molecules (characterised by the
molecular weight), branches or groups attached to the polymer chain, cross-linking between chains, and
intermolecular forces all influence the physical properties of polymers .
A range of polymers are used as soil conditioning agents in EPB tunnelling. Natural polymers such as starches and
guars, modified natural polymers including carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and polyanionic cellulose (PAC), and
synthetic polymers, particularly derivatives of polyacrylamides, have been used for various functions during
tunnelling with EPB machines (Milligan, 2000).
FOAMS (GLOBALFOAM-AS or GLOBALFOAM-HG)
Foam is a dispersion of air bubbles in a liquid phase comprising of a water based surfactant solution. The
properties of surfactants and foams, their interactions with soils, and their effects as conditioning agents are
discussed by authors including Maidl et. al. (1996), Langmaack (2000), Milligan (2000) and Leinala et. al. (2002).
Surfactants are surface active agents, which are molecules with chemical structures based on a hydrophobic
chain and a hydrophilic end group which can have anionic, cationic, non-ionic or amphoteric charge
properties. The surfactant chemistry affects the surface tension of the solution, their interactions with soils, and the
properties of the foam. Surfactants can adsorb onto charged soil particles through electrostatic attractions and
chemical bonding mechanisms, and cause steric interactions and repulsive forces to disperse fine-grained soils.
The adsorption of surfactants onto steel surfaces of a tunnelling machine is also thought to reduce the adhesion
of clay soils.

THE NAME PRODUCTS, DESCRIPTION AND CHARACTERISTICS:
SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENTS AND POLYMERS
A) - FOAMS:
“ GLOBALFOAM-AS”
- RANGE OF UNIQUE ANTI-WEAR AND DUST SUPPRESSION TECHNOLOGY FOR HARD ROCK TBM
OPERATING IN ABRASIVE GROUND.
“ GLOBALFOAM-HG”
- FOAMING AGENTS SPECIALLY DEVELOPED FOR LIQUIDIZING AND ENABLING WORKABILITY OF THE
EXCAVATED SURFACE IN TBM (IS USED FOR SANDY AND SILTY SOIL OR WHEN THE SOIL HUMIDITY IS
HIGH)
- REDUCE THE STICKINESS OF SOIL, MINIMISING CLOGGING RISK
B) - POLYMERS:
“GLOBALCRYL-46”
- LIQUID POLYMER FOR SOIL CONDITIONING WITH SHIELDED TBM EXCAVATION
- FOR BENTONITE SLURRY MODIFICATION IN SLURRY SHIELD MACHINES IN CASE OF HIGH SOIL POROSITY
OR SALINE WATER CONDITIONS
- PARTICULARLY RECOMMENDED FOR POORLY GRADED AND LOW FINE GROUND, SATURATED GROUND, AND
HIGH WATER PRESSURE GROUND IN EPB SHIELD MACHINES
C) – ANTI-CLAY POLYMERS
“GLOBALSPERSE-1/45”
- ANTI-CLAY POLYMER AGENT FOR EARTH PRESSURE TBM (EPB) AND HARD ROCK MACHINE
(The consumption rate of liquid anti-clay agent is based on the volume of soil excavated and ranges from 0,1 – 5
kg/m3)

A.1) - “ GLOBALFOAM-AS”
Is a foaming agent especially designed for soil conditioning in shield Tunnel Boring Machines.
”GLOBALFOAM-AS” is used at 2 to 3% in water to make a solution.
“GLOBALCRYL-46” polymers can be jointly used with “GLOBALFOAM-AS” to strengthen the foam or adjust the
properties of the excavated soil.
An aqueous solution of “GLOBALFOAM-AS” expanded with air to produce a stable foam. The foam expansion
and the foam injection rate into the face, into the working chamber or screw conveyor depend on soli conditions
encountered.
A.2) - “ GLOBALFOAM-HG”
Is a polymer reinforced foaming agent especially designed for soil conditioning in shield Tunnel Boring Machines.
“GLOBALFOAM-HG” is used at 2 to 3% in water to make a solution.
“GLOBALCRYL-46” polymers can be jointly used with “GLOBALFOAM-HG” to strengthen the foam or adjust the
properties of the excavated soil.
An aqueous solution of “GLOBALFOAM-HG” expanded with air to produce a stable foam. The foam expansion
and the foam injection rate into the face, into the working chamber or screw conveyor depend on soli conditions
encountered.
FOAMS:

B.1) - “ GLOBALCRYL-46”
Is a lubricating polymer in liquid form for soil conditioning with shielded Tunnel Boring Machines excavation.
”GLOBALCRYL-46” is between 0,2 to 2 kg/m3 on the volume of soil excavated (0,3 to 3% on the foam solution).
Features and benefits:
- When injected directly into the screw conveyor or working chamber, it helps the formation of the “plug”;
- Increasing cohesion of coarser sands and sandy gravels;
- Reducing soil permeability;
- Is recommended for poorly graded and water saturated ground;
- The quantity of polymer in the foam solution, the foam expansion rate, and the foam injection rate will vary
according to the ground conditions.
POLYMERS:
ANTI-CLAY POLYMERS:
C.1) - “ GLOBALSPERSE-1/45”
Is anti-clay polymer for earth pressure (Tunnel Boring Machines). It can be injected at the cutterhead, working
chamber and screw conveyer and creates a stable foam that can be used with standard foam generators installed
on EPB machines
”GLOBALSPERSE-1/45” is used as an aqueous solution with typically 3% concentration.
Injected via a foam generator, the typical FOAM EXPANSION RATIO (FER) varies between 8 and 20, and the FOAM
INJECTION RATIO (FIR) between 30 and 80.
If the consistency of the muck needs to be reduced, ”GLOBALCRYL-46” polymers can be used in combination
with ”GLOBALSPERSE-1/45”.

GLOBALSPERSE-1/45
- GLOBALFOAM-AS
- GLOBALFOAM-HG
- GLOBALCRYL-46
ADDITIVE 2
ADDITIVE 1
WATER
SOLUTION
AIR
SOIL CONDITIONING EXAMPLES – EPB, FOAM PRODUCTION
CONDITIONING LAYOUT SHOWING INJECTION AT CUTTERFACE, WORKING CHAMBER AND SCREW CONVEYOR
AVERAGE COMPOSITION FOR A NORMALLY USED FOAM:
- GLOBALFOAM –HG AND GLOBLFOAM-AS: 0.5 – 1 %
-- WATER: 5 – 10 %
-- AIR: 90 -95 %
-- GLOBALCRYL-46 (EVENTUAL): < 0.1 %
FOAMING AGENT CAN HAVE INSIDE A SMALL AMOUNT OF POLYMER TO
STABILIZE THE FOAM BUBBLES

Lubrication and soil conditioning are being increasingly used to improve the performance of tunnelling,
pipe jacking, microtunnelling and horizontal directional drilling (HDD).
The lubrication and conditioning may be effected by the addition of suitable agents at various points
throughout the tunnelling process, such as: at the point of cut in the tunnel face; within the cutter head;
in the muck removal system; around the outside of the tunnelling shield and/or the pipes in a tunnel or
pipe line formed by pipe jacking or microtunnelling; in the separation units of a slurry system; or to muck
on its way to tip.
This improvement may come about in a number of ways which are discussed in detail in section 2 and
summarised here:
• reduced wear of machine cutter head face plate and tools, and all wear parts of the muck removal
system;
• improved stability of tunnel face, with consequently better control of ground movements:
• improved flow of excavated material through the cutter head;
• reduced cutter head power requirements;
• reduced friction and heat build up in shield;
• excavated material formed into a suitably plastic mass;
• enhanced properties of soil in the pressure chamber of earth-pressure balance (EPBM) machines,
leadingto:
- more uniform pressures in the working chamber;
- better control of groundwater inflow by reducing permeability;
- reduction in clogging of machine head chamber;
- more controlled flow of soil and water through the screw conveyor;
- easier handling of excavated soil;
LUBRICATION AND SOIL CONDITIONING IN TUNNELLING, PIPE JACKING AND MICROTUNNELLING: A STATE OF THE ART REWIEW
BY DR GEORGE MILLIGAN, DIRECTOR, GEOTECHNICAL CONSULTING GROUP, AUGUST 2000
LUBRICATION AND SOIL CONDITIONING: STATE OF THE ART REVIEW
A) - Reasons for soil conditioning and lubrication

In all types of machine, provision of a lubricating agent which reduces the friction between soil cuttings, and
between the cuttings and the cutters and cutter head, will reduce power requirements for any particular
advance rate and also wear on the machine. Reducing power has many secondary effects apart from the
obvious reduction in energy costs. For instance the build up of heat, which may be difficult to dissipate in
some ground conditions, will be slowed. Lower torque on the machine head will reduce distortion of the
shield and extend the life of seals and bearings, which are some of the most critical and vulnerable
components in the machine.
To be fully effective, the lubricating agent must be added at the point of cut, before remoulding of the cut
soil starts. Injection into the working chamber (see next section) may be too late to provide the full potential
benefit. Early addition is necessary to allow sufficient mixing time with the soil, even if the benefit being
sought is not required until later in the tunnelling process. Lubrication at the cutters nearest to the periphery
of the cutter head, where relative soil/cutter velocities are greatest, is particularly important. Water or slurry
introduced as high pressure jets may assist with cutting the soil.
In a slurry machine, fluid pressure in the head is used to support the tunnel face. In clay soils the slurry may
consist of water with a proportion of suspended clay from the excavated material which is not completely
removed at the separation plant. In more permeable soils a filter cake must first be formed in the soil face to
prevent the slurry from dispersing into the ground; a bentonite slurry is then normally used.
• support of excavated bore in pipe jacking, microtunnelling and HDD;
• reduction of jacking forces in pipe jacking and microtunnelling;
• reduction in the friction losses in the pipes, valves and pumps of a slurry machine system;
• better separation of spoil from slurry in a slurry machine system;
• more acceptable spoil for disposal;
• through a number of the above, improved safety for personnel working in the tunnel, particularly
duringcutter changes and cutter head inspections.
B) – The tunnel face

CONDITIONING LAYOUT SHOWING INJECTION AT CUTTERFACE,
WORKING CHAMBER AND SCREW CONVEYOR
AllphotosillustredarecopiedfromtheWEB–ITA/AITES

Bentonite on its own may work satisfactorily in silty or sandy soils, but in coarser soils additional materials may
be included to increase the slurry density, promote the formation of a filter cake and reduce slurry loss into
the ground, mainly by increasing the amount of material capable of blocking pore spaces.
It is possible that inclusion of foam in the slurry may provide similar benefits to the air cushion in a hydroshield
system. This could be of particular application in microtunnelling machines operating on the slurry system.
Earth pressure balance machines support the face with pressure from the mass of remoulded soil within the
machine head chamber and screw conveyor. Beneath the water table, this can only be done if the soil is
not too permeable, otherwise the water pressure cannot be resisted. It is generally reckoned that a
coefficient of permeability of less than 10-6 to 10-5 m/s is needed for an EPBM to function satisfactorily; in
more permeable soils, it is possible that conditioning agents may permeate the face a short distance ahead
of the machine and reduce the permeability to an acceptable level.
Schematic of EPB TMB

Wide range of using tunnel boring machines during tunnel construction pose some problems for a
safe, economical and effective usage of the machines. Even if the right machine is selected for
the relevant rock/soil condition; there has been faced problems such as;
1) Pressure balancing during excavation
2) Abrasion of discs, cutters, scrapers because of rock formation
3) Clogging of excavation tools, reducing efficiency
4) Cohesion
5) Water retention after segment lining.
To bring a solution to these problems, there has been chemical additives used to maintain an
effective excavation performance and reduce the expenses. The chemical additives used in
tunneling operations can be classified according to areas they have been used such as:
1) Earth conditioners
2) Slurry conditioners
3) Anti-dust and anti-abrasiveness
4) Segment manufacturing additives
5) Tailing Lubricant additives
Earth Conditioners
Especially EPB type of TBM requires the use of chemical additives to increase cut ability, support
and transport properties of soil formation during boring operation. Conditioning of soil can be
achieved by using foam and/or additives.
CLASSIFICATION OF CHEMICAL ADDITIVE USED IN TBM TUNNELING

ROCK CLASSIFICATION DIAGRAM
The type of foam which is going to be selected according to the type of soil based on the
rock classification diagram which is shown in Figure and characteristics of TBM.
The additives also include special anti-clogging agents to disable clogging of machine
gaps and anti-abrasion additives to increase lifetime of cutter head tools and TBM screw.
All photos illustred are copied from the WEB

Foam additives
Foam is the chemical additive used for earth conditioning in TBM. It is mixed with water and
pressured with air to excavation face.
The addition of foam aims:
 Pressure maintenance
 Fluidizing effect for the soil
 Homogenous soil paste creation
 Reduction of permeability
 Lowering of torque
 Soil stickiness reduction
 Reduction of abrasion
There are two main properties of foam characteristics (EFNARC, 2005):
FER: Foam expansion ratio is the ratio of foam volume at working pressure to volume of the
foaming solution.
FER = V foam / V Foam solution
The foam expansion ratio should be between 5-30.
 If the FER is high; the generated tunnel foam will be drier.
 Drier tunnel foam should be used for a wet soil and vice versa.

FIR: Foam injection ratio is the ratio of foam volume at working pressure to volume of in situ
soil to be excavated.
FIR = 100 x V foam / V soil
Foam injection ratio should be between 10-80%; in most cases between 30-60%.
 For the best value of FIR, laboratory tests should be made.
 Water content of soil and water content of injection is important.
The type of foam is determined by the type of excavation soil. Foams can be classified in
three types; A, B and C (EFNARC, 2005).
FOAM TYPE A:
- Dispersing capacity is high (breaking clay bonds)
- Good coating capacity (reduce swelling effects)
FOAM TYPE B:
- For general purpose
- Medium stability
FOAM TYPE C:
- High stability
- Anti-segregation properties (develop and maintain cohesive impermeable soil)

FOAM TYPES POLYMER ADDITIVES
Soil A B C FIR
Clay ▲ 30-80 Anti-clogging polymer
Sandy Clay-silt ▲ ▲ 40-60 Antic-clogging polymer
Sand-clayey silt ▲ 20-40 Polymer for consistency control
Sand ▲ ▲ 30-40
Polymer for cohesiveness and
consistency control
Clayey gravels ▲ 25-50
consistency control
Sandy gravels ▲ 30-60
consistency control
FOAMCLASSIFICATIONANDAPPLICATIONAREA(EFNARC,2005)
ThetypeoffoamtobeselectedisgiveninTable
accordingtotheformationofrockwithrecommended
polymeradditives.

Anti-clay polymer additives
Clay is a natural rock or soil material which is fine grained. It consist of one or more clay
minerals with metal oxides and organic matter. The property of clay changes due to its water
content. The plasticity of clay increases with higher amount of water; when it is drier, it
becomes hard, brittle and non-plastic.
Excavation in clay formation has many disadvantages both for operation efficiency and tool
wearing such as:
- Clogging and adhesion in cutter head
- Wearing of cutting tools
- Hard transport of excavated material
- Blocking and aggregation
- Reduction in torque efficiency
- Reduction of rate of excavation.
Generally, the creation of an EPB-suitable soil paste is also possible in clay soil. Like in porous
soils, the use of foam only will, in the majority of cases, not be successful. In order to create the
soil paste properly, the use of anti-clay-additives is necessary as seen in Figure.
EarthpressurebalanceTBM
AllphotosillustredarecopiedfromtheWEB

FIG. - SOIL-SOIL WITH FOAM-SOIL WITH FOAM AND ADDITIVE

TEST METHODOS FOR CONDITIONED SOIL

TEST METHODS FOR CONDITIONED
LUBRICATION AND SOIL CONDITIONING: STATE OF THE ART REVIEW
LUBRICATION AND SOIL CONDITIONING IN TUNNELLING, PIPE JACKING AND MICROTUNNELLING: A STATE OF THE ART REWIEW BY
DR GEORGE MILLIGAN, DIRECTOR, GEOTECHNICAL CONSULTING GROUP, AUGUST 2000
The purpose of this test is to determine how far ahead of the cutter head foam injected at the face may
penetrate into the ground. If the penetration is too great the consumption of foam may become
excessive, the foam may not be stiff enough to prevent outflow of groundwater, and the pressure
gradient at the face may be insufficient to maintain an adequate support pressure; if penetration is
too little, the foam may again be unable to prevent flow of groundwater. Foam is forced under
pressure to penetrate the soil sample in the base of the test cylinder against a back-pressure in the
pore water representing the groundwater pressure, and the rate of penetration measured (Quebaud
et al. 1998, Maidl 1995 ). Initial penetration to a depth of about 30 mm is almost instantaneous.
However it is clear that the mechanics of penetration at the face of a tunnelling shield through
localised ports in a moving cutter wheel are very different from those pertaining in this test. Bezuijen et
al. (1999) reported that no penetration of foam was observed from a SAND-WATER-FOAM mixture into
sand, as opposed to the penetration of pure foam into sand.
Various tests have been devised to assess the performance of FOAM-SOIL mixtures, to try to
investigate the mixtures under conditions representantive of those pertaining in the EPBM.
These yests have been of aresearch nature and none has yet been standardised. Hower
some sort of consensus seems to be appering in the range of tests which may be useful,
with similar being explored in Germany, Italy, France and the UK (and probably elsewhere).
Some of the test that have been devised are:
A) – Foam penetration

Tests have been devised using a pan mixer similar to a small concrete mixer, a pug mill or large food
mixer. The soil is stirred around in the pan by a system of blades and the power consumption
measured. Foam (or other conditioning agent) may then be introduced and measurements made of
the time for mixing to take place and of any change in power requirements for different quantities of
additive. Reductions in power consumption of over 50% for a sand/foam mixture have been reported,
(Quebaud et al. 1998). Tests of this kind are obviously intended to model conditions within the EPBM
head chamber; ideally it ought to be possible to apply a confining pressure in these tests to represent
the earth balance pressure in the chamber. Bezuijen et al. (1999) report on tests in which a chamber
is pressurised to 350 kPa and foam then injected into sand through a rotor which steadily penetrates
the sand, representing the cutting wheel of a tunnelling machine. The apparatus is shown. The
removal of the conditioned sand through a screw conveyor is then studied using the apparatus
shown on the right; results of the latter tests have not yet been reported.
B) – Mixing test
The permeability of a conditioned soil may be measured in a constant-head permeameter as normally
used for measurements on soils. It has been suggested that the coefficient of permeability of the soil k
must be below 10-5 m/s for adequate control of water flow through an EPBM to be maintained. As a result
of conditioning, substantial reductions in permeability, by over two orders of magnitude, were reported by
Quebaud et al. (1998). Bezuijen et al. (1999) reported that the final permeability of the SAND-WATER-FOAM
mixture depends critically on the degree to which pore water is replaced by foam. Replacement
increases as the applied pressure gradient increases, but under practical conditions in the field full
replacement is not possible. When 83% replacement was achieved, the permeability of a fine sand
decreased from 5 x 10-4 m/s to 2.5 x 10-6 m/s; at 50 % replacement the permeability dropped to 1.5 x 10-5
m/s, but with no replacement the permeability only dropped to 1.5 x 10- 4 m/s.v.
C) – Permeability test

Some compressibility of the foam-soil mixture in an EPBM head chamber is very beneficial; it allows some
differences to occur between the rate of excavation at the face and of muck removal through the screw
conveyor without excessive variations in pressure and hence either possible loss of effective face support
or overloading of the machine. The compressibility may be measured in a transparent cylinder similar to
that used in the foam penetration test (above). It is possible that measurements of both compressibility
and permeability could be conveniently made under different ambient pressure conditions in a Rowe
cell.
D) – Compressibility
The purpose of this test is to measure the adhesion and/or friction between the foamed soil and a metal
surface, to give an indication of the possible reduction in wear and power consumption due to lubrication
of the interface. Quebaud et al. (1998) describe a simple test to measure a friction angle of the mixture on
a sloping stainless steel plate. A more realistic test might be developed using a shear box or ring shear
apparatus whereby continued sliding over an interface under realistic confining pressures could be
achieved. A shear test (without the interface) might also be a simpler test to investigate the same effects
as in the mixing test described above.
E) – Adhesion/Friction test
SOIL PRESSURE +
WATER PRESSURE =
EARTH PRESSURE IN
WORKING CHAMBER

THE GROUND IS MIXED WITH
"FOAM" ( GLOBALFOAM-AS OR
GLOBALFOAM-HG)
AFTER THE CONE IS LIFTED.
DURING LIFTING NOT
OCCURTHE LOWERING. THIS
LOWERING IS CALLED THE
"SLUMP".
IS FILLED THE "ABRAMS CONE"
WITH THE GROUND MIXTURE +
FOAM.
On the basis of numerous experiences developed in the laboratory with the execution of
specific research aimed at defining of a "test protocol" of the "the conditioned medium"
and on the basis of indications of "technical standards", in this study the "indicator, the
drop test” to the Abrams cone (Slump Test) for the purpose of preliminarily characterize
the “conditioned medium”. In tests the following technical aspects were analyzed:
1) - presence of a condition of the soil plasticity (qualitative observation);
2) - falling to the cone of about 15-20cm;
3) - Reduced release of ”Water + Foam" from the mass of "the conditioned medium" after
the test.
F) – Slum test

NOT ACCEPTABLE
CONDITIONING, TOO DRY
NOT ACCEPTABLE
CONDITIONING, TOO FLUID
OPTIMAL CONDITIONING
The described experimental work was conducted under a contract
Research (Resp. Dr. Marco Barla) between the DIPLAB Department of
Engineering Structural, Construction and Geotechnical Engineering of
Politecnico di TORINO (ITALY) and GLOBALCHIMICA Ltd. LOMBARDORE
(TORINO, ITALY).
SL_015_GLO

The experimental programme described herewith focused on slump tests of three soils
characterised by different grain size distribution curves. Tests were conducted by using commercial
foaming agents (GLOBALFOAM-HG) and additives (GLOBALCRYL-46).
Thanks to the different nature of the three soils it was possible to underline the effects of
conditioning both on coarse- or fine-grained soils, extending previous observations of other Authors
(e.g. Vinai et al. 2008, Borio et al., 2011). In particular the work performed so far allowed to
determine that:
– for a higher concentration of fines in the soil, higher water content is needed for good
conditioning;
– reducing the quantity of the surfactants in the foam implies higher water content for good
conditioning;
– the GLOBALCRYL-46 additive is effective in increasing considerably the time for which good
workability condition of fine-grained soil is maintained;
– the presence of gravel reduces the area of good workability conditions, therefore the water
content becomes a key issue, raising concerns for excavations below the water table.
It is to be noted herewith that the experimental conditions and techniques adopted, due to their
intrinsic simplicity, are not able to reproduce satisfactorily what effectively occurs in the TBM EPB
excavation chamber. This is particularly true for that pertaining to the favourable effects on
saturated soil conditioning of the stabilisation pressure acting in the chamber. More realistic
experimental conditions may be achieved by the use of physical models of the screw conveyor as
mentioned above. Despite this, the intrinsic simplicity of the slump test, combined with its low cost,
encourage its use in engineering practice.

They were performed with the aim of determining the consistency and workability of the land that are
tested. Each trial has the following quantitative parameters:
- Foam Expansion Ratio - FER (%): is defined as the ratio between the volume of foam obtained and the
volume of foam solution (plus chemical agent water). The purposes of research it is assumed an interval
of between 14 and 18.
- Foam Injection Ratio - FIR (%): is defined as the ratio between the volume of the foam and the volume of
soil to be conditioned. For the purpose of of the research they were used values between 20 and 80%.
- Water content - wn (%): is defined as the ratio between the weight of water contained in a sample and
the weight of the sample once dried.
- Lowering or Slump (mm): is the height variation undergone by the sample due to the removal of the
mold.
The first phase of the test consists in the preparation of a known volume of soil, appropriately chosen to
obtain the FIR parameter provided, which water is added an extent such as to obtain the required content
of water.
The ground 1 was tested after drying process at ambient temperature.
The soil 2 was instead preventively pestellato and sieved through a sieve ASTM n. 4 to obtain samples in
which the element of greater dimension was adequately small compared to the total volume of the sample
itself.
The ground 3 has been employed as extracted from the site.
Subsequently, a known volume of foam (such as to obtain the required FIR), previously weighed in order to
verify that it meets the criterion on the parameter FER, it is mixed to the soil in order to get a mixture as
homogenous as possible. Finally, the mixture is transferred into the mold according to the commonly used
procedure to determine the consistency in fresh concrete by measuring lowering the cone (UNI EN 12350-2:
2001).

IN ORDER TO SIMULATE IN A MORE EXHAUSTIVE WAY THE WORK OF A MACHINE AND EPBTO OBTAIN A GREATER NUMBER
OF INFORMATION ON THE QUALITY OF THE CONDITIONING AND INPARTICULAR ON THE MATERIAL'S ABILITY TO TRANSMIT
PRESSURE AND TO BE EXTRACTED WITHA CONSTANT FLOW THROUGH A SCREW CONVEYOR IN ALL SIMILAR TO THOSE
INSTALLED ON MACHINESREAL, IS A MACHINERY BEEN BUILT THAT SIMULATES, AS MENTIONED, THE EXTRACTION OF THE
MATERIAL CONDITIONED BY THE PRESSURE CHAMBER (VINAI ET AL., 2007; PEILA ET AL. 2007; BORIO ET AL.,2010).
SENSORS INSTALLED ON THE SCREW
CONVEYOR LABORATORY DEVICE

In the course of this study, the consistency tests were carried out with 6 of terrain combinations and foam. In
particular, foaming of the following solutions were prepared:
- Foam A: water + 2 % GLOBALFOAM-HG,
- Foam B: water + 1 % GLOBALFOAM-HG,
- Foam C: water + 2 % GLOBALFOAM-HG + 3 ‰ GLOBALCRYL-46,
and have been tested in the following combinations:
- Terrain 1 - Foam A (combination 1A),
- Terrain 2 - Foam B (combination 2B),
- Terrain 3 - Foam C (combination 3C).
GRANULOMETRIC CURVES OF THE SOILS THAT ARE TESTED

FIG. 1 - RESULTS OF THE TESTS PERFORMED FOR
THE COMBINATION OF SLUMP 2A
FIG. 2 - RESULTS OF THE TESTS PERFORMED ON
THE SLUMP 2A AND 2B COMBINATIONS
OPTIMAL AREA

Summary results "Slump Test”
(SL_015_GLO)
Equipment: Abrams cone
Ground: Sand
Natural water content: 11.4%
Foam: water solution + 2% GLOBALFOAM-HG
FIR: 50,00 % FER: 14,10 %
Lowering: 157 mm
Outcome: acceptable
Description: plastic
TEST PROCEDURE: FILLING AND LIFTING

RESULTS
When interpreting the results of consistency tests, the "FIR" parameters and "Wn" of each test
are reported on a chart like the one shown in Figure 1 for the combination 2A.
Each test is indicated by a symbol. Based on the judgment on the goodness of the mixture
behavior, you have used a symbol that combines a green circle for testing characterized by
optimal behavior, a red square for what proved or excessively dry or too liquid and a yellow
triangle in for intermediate situations, do not clearly assignable to one of the two previous
categories.
The area is the optimal of conditioning conditions for each soil-foam combination was
determined by including all of the evidence considered optimal, excluding those that not
suitable and utilizing the limits tests to to define its contours.
The use of the foam B, with a percentage of 50% lower surfactant, was tested with the ground
2 and, as is clear from Figure 2, involves an increase of the water content (average of 5%)
compared to the case previous, to achieve optimum consistency.
The range of optimal water content, the "FIR for similar percentages", moves between 10 and
25%.
The very different nature of the three that are tested soils has demonstrated different effects of
conditioning on a mainly sandy matrix soils and predominantly silt matrix, confirming and
extending the conclusions of other authors (eg Vinai et al. 2008, Borio et al., 2011 ).

The conditioning "transforms" the starting ground in a "new" material meets the following
requirements:
- Good plasticity
- Low permeability
- Consistenza pasty.
The injection of conditioning agents can take place in different points of the machine,
infunction of the amount and the type of conditioning agent which is to be injected.
thesepoints are:
- front of the cutterhead;
- in the excavation chamber ;
- along the screw.
CONDITIONED SOIL BEFORE (A) AND AFTER (B)
EXTRACTION FROM THE TANK
(A) (B)

The disgregration tests were carried out with the intention to verify the capacity dispersing
agent “GLOBALSPERSE-1/45”.
They were identified 2 test procedures:
1) - Addition of dispersant solution;
2) - Immersion in the dispersant solution.
The procedure of Example 1 was applied to the second ground which has been prepared
beforehand for means of sieving through the sieve ASTM n. 4 so as to completely eliminate
the passer. Subsequently have been collected 5 weight soil samples well known (1 kg)
where has been added a different amount of dispersant solution (increase ingeometric
progression). The solution was prepared at the rate of 1% of the volume of soil subjected to
testing (35 ml Globalsperse 1/45 for a total volume of soil estimated equal to 3500 ml). After
the addition of the solution, we proceeded to determine the weight of material passing
through a sieve ASTM # 4, by correcting the value to take account of the addition of the
solution itself.
The procedure of Example 2 was applied to the soils 2a) and 3) and provides for the
immersion of 4 soil samples of known weight (about 75 g and 100 g for the second and 3
respectively) land in a constant volume of solution (500 ml) prepared with variable
percentages (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%) of “GLOBALSPERSE-1/45” compared to the estimated
volume of the samples (about 50 ml and 60 ml for the soils 2a and 3 respectively).
G) – Using the “DISGREGATION TEST” to determine best soil conditioning for EPB
tunnelling

The procedure of Example 2 was applied to the soils 2a) and 3) and provides for the immersion
of 4) soil samples of known weight (about 75 g and 100 g for the second and 3) respectively)
land in a constant volume of solution (500 ml) prepared with variable percentages (0.5, 1.0
and 1.5%) of “GLOBALSPERSE-1/45” compared to the estimated volume of the samples (about
50 ml and 60 ml for the soils 2a) and 3) respectively).
For the soil 2a) samples were obtained for simple separation of soil blocks collected from
buckets up to the achievement of the desired weight, while for the soil 3) were packed
manually pseudo-spherical samples .
The evaluation of the dispersant was made qualitatively through photographic
documentation.
DISGREGATION TEST: GROUND 2A), 18
MINUTES AND 2 DAYS AFTER THE START
OF THE TEST.
SOLUTION: % BY VOLUME OF THE SOIL –
0.0 - 0.5 - 1.0 - 1.5
DISGREGATION TEST: GROUNDS 3) - JUST
IMMERSED IN THE SOLUTION AND 12 MINUTES
AFTER THE BEGINNING OF THE TEST.
SOLUTION: % BY VOLUME OF THE SOIL – 0.0 - 0.5 -
1.0 - 1.5

Summary results ”Disgregation Test”
(1211_GLO)
Equipment: Burette
Ground: Sand, Soil 3
Sand (D_001-004_GLO, 1/1):
Solution: water + 0,5% GLOBALSPERSE-1/45
Solution: water + 1,0 % GLOBALSPERSE-1/45
Soil 3 (D_005-008_GLO, 1/2):
Soil 3 (D_005-008_GLO, 2/2):

SPECIFICATION FOR THE USE OF SPECIALIST
PRODUCTS FOR SOFT GROUND TUNNELLING

PREMISE
Depending on site, the following problems may be encountered:
Lubrication and soil conditioning are being increasingly used to improve the performance of tunnelling, pipe
jacking, microtunnelling and horizontal directional drilling (HDD). The lubrication and conditioning may be
effected by the addition of suitable agents at various points throughout the tunnelling process, such as: at the
point of cut in the tunnel face; within the cutter head; in the muck removal system; around the outside of the
tunnelling shield and/or the pipes in a tunnel or pipe line formed by pipe jacking or microtunnelling; in the
separation units of a slurry system; or to muck on its way to tip. This improvement may come about in a number
of ways which are :
· reduced wear of machine cutter head face plate and tools, and all wear parts of the muck removal system;
· improved stability of tunnel face, with consequently better control of ground movements;
· improved flow of excavated material through the cutter head;
· reduced cutter head power requirements;
· reduced friction and heat build up in shield;
· excavated material formed into a suitably plastic mass;
· enhanced properties of soil in the pressure chamber of earth-pressure balance (EPBM) machines, leading to:
 more uniform pressures in the working chamber;
 better control of groundwater inflow by reducing permeability;
 reduction in clogging of machine head chamber;
 more controlled flow of soil and water through the screw conveyor;
 easier handling of excavated soil.
REASONS FOR SOIL CONDITIONING AND LUBRIFICATION

· support of excavated bore in pipe jacking, microtunnelling and HDD;
· reduction of jacking forces in pipe jacking and microtunnelling;
· reduction in the friction losses in the pipes, valves and pumps of a slurry machine system;
· better separation of spoil from slurry in a slurry machine system;
· more acceptable spoil for disposal;
· through a number of the above, improved safety for personnel working in the tunnel, particularly during cutter
changes and cutter head inspections.
FOAMS (GLOBALFOAM-HG)
The principal use of foam in tunnelling is as a soil conditioning agent in EPB machines: it may also have
applications in both slurry-type and auger-type microtunnelling systems.
Foam is produced in a tunnelling machine by a compressed air system. Foam solution and compressed air are
fed at the same pressure (typically around 8 bar) to a junction piece or mixing chamber, and then out through a
diffuser unit, conditioner or lance which converts the fairly coarse foam produced in the mixing chamber to a
micro-cellular foam. Ideally most of Lubrication and soil conditioning: state of the art review 18 the foam air pores
should be less than 1mm in diameter.
The delivery system should be mounted as close as possible to the outlet position as foam is rapidly degraded if
pumped a long distance through narrow pipes. For multiple injection ports, each port should have its own
delivery system, and these should be able to operate at up to 16 bar as an aid to clearing blockages.
POLYMERS (GLOBALCRYL-46)
Polymers are essentially large, long-chain molecules formed by the linking together of large numbers of small
chemical “building blocks” or monomers. Homopolymers are achieved by polymerisation of a single basic
monomer unit, copolymers by two or more different monomers. A polymer material may exist in many different
forms, depending on the lengths of the polymer chains (measured by the molecular weight), the presence and
nature of any linking between polymer chains, and the existence or not of structured (crystalline) groups of
molecules.

SCHEMATIC RAPRESENTATION OF “EARTH PRESSURE BALANCE MACHINE” TBM-EPBM
A MODERN EPBM DRIVE COMBINES A KNOWLEDGE OF THREE MAIN SUBJECTS:
•SOIL MECHANICS (PRESSURE SUPPORT AND SOIL CHARACTERISTICS)
•TBM TECHNOLOGY (CUTTERHEAD DESIGN, INSTALLED FORCE, ...)
•SOIL CONDITIONING ADDITIVES.
ONLY A GOOD COMPREHENSION AND INTERACTION BETWEEN THESE ASPECTS WILL RESULT IN A SUCCESSFUL TBM DRIVE AND
COMMERCIAL SUCCESS.
THE CONTROL OF FACE SUPPORT IS A MAJOR ISSUE IN EPBM TUNNELLING. CONTINUOUS SUPPORT OF THE TUNNELLING FACE
MUST BE PROVIDED BY THE EXCAVATED SOIL ITSELF, WHICH SHOULD COMPLETELY FILL THE WORKING CHAMBER. THE
REQUIRED SUPPORT PRESSURE AT THE TUNNELLING FACE WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH:
•THRUSTING THE SHIELD FORWARD - BY MEANS OF HYDRAULIC JACKS - AGAINST THE SOIL MASS (FORCE EQUILIBRIUM)
•REGULATION OF THE SCREW CONVEYOR-ROTATION (VOLUME EQUILIBRIUM).
THE SUPPORT PRESSURE HAS TO BALANCE THE EARTH PRESSURE AND THE WATER PRESSURE. DEPENDING ON SOIL CHARAC-
TERISTICS AND THE COVER TO DIAMETER RATIO (T/D) DIFFERENT TYPES OF EARTH PRESSURES ARE TO BE DETERMINED.
POLYMERS
WATER
FOAMS
ANTI CLOGGING
ADDITIVES
TBM-EPB
(EFNARC)

SOIL CONDITIONING NEEDS OF “EPB” IN DIFFERENT GROUND TYPES
(SPECIFICATION AND GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF SPECIALIST PRODUCTS FOR MECHANISED IN SOFT GROUND AND HARD ROCK – EFNARC, 2005)

APPLICATION RANGE: EPB SHIELD

RANGEOFAPPLICATIONFOREPBM–
TECHNOLOGY(Herrenknecht,2013)
EARTH PRESSURE BALANCE TECHNOLOGY HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THE PAST 10 YEARS.
ESPECIALLY REGARDING THE EXPANSION OF ITS APPLICATION TOWARDS LOW COHESIVE TO GRAINY
GROUND CONDITIONS (SEE FIG.)
SOIL CAN BE CONDITIONED WITH:
- WATER
- BENTONITE, CLAY OR POLYMER SUSPENSION
- FOAM (SURFACTANT FOAM)
- FOAM – POLYMER MIXTURE (SURFACTANT – POLYMER – FOAM)
- POLYMER (POLYMER FOAM)
WHERE THE APPLICATION OF THE CLASSIC TUNNELLING PROCEDURE, EPB AND SLURRY SUPPORT,
ARE OVERLAPPING. THIS IS REFLECTED IN SPECIFIC DENSITIES OF THE EXCAVATED MATERIAL IN THE
EXCAVATION CHAMBER.
EPBEARTH
PRESSURE
BALANCEMETHOD
–CLOSEDSHIELD
METHODWITH
ACTIVEFACE
SUPPORTBYTHE
PRESSURISED
SOIL
SLURRYSHIELD–CLOSED
SHIELDTBMWITHACTIVE
FACESUPPORTBYTHE
PRESSURISEDSLURRY

FOAM TYPES POLYMER ADDITIVES
Soil A B C FIR
Clay 30-80 - Anti clogging polymer
Sandy clay – silt 40-60 - Anti clogging polymer
Sand – clayey silt 20-40 - Polymer for consistency control
Sand 30-40 - Polymer for cohesiveness and
consistency control
Clayey gravels 25-50 - Polymer for cohesiveness and
consistency control
Sandy gravels 30-60 - Polymer for cohesiveness and
consistency control
Product types for EPB relative to different soils (FIR values are indicative only)
The Foam type chosen should match the properties of the soil to be excavated.
Foam type A: high dispersing capacity (breaking clay bonds) and / or good coating capacity
(reduce swelling effects);
Foam type B: general purpose, with medium stability;
Foam type C: high stability and anti segregation properties to develop and maintain a cohesive
soil as impermeable as possible.
SOIL CONDITIONING: CHOICE OF FOAM TYPES

PERMEABILITY
m/s
10-1 10-2 10-3 10-4 10-5 10-6 10-7 10-8 10-9
TYPICAL
GROUND
CONDITIONS
COARSE GRAVELS
MIXED GROUND
COARSE TO FINE SANDS
SILTY SANDS TO SILTY
CLAYS
INTACT
CLAYS
SUGGERED SOIL
CONDITIONING
FOAM
CONDITIONS PROBABLY
MORE SUITED TO SLURRY
MACHINES
"GLOBALFOAM-AS” OR “GLOBALFOAM-HG” + POLYMER
“GLOBALFOAM-HG”
“GLOBALSPERSE-1/45”
COMPLEMENTARY
POLYMER
MODIFY SLURRY WITH
“GLOBALCRYL-46”
“GLOBALCRYL-46”
SELECTION CHART FOR APPLICATION OF SOIL CONDITIONING AGENTS
EPBTBMSCREWCONTROLPANEL
THE EXCAVATED MATERIAL CAN BE
TRANSFERRED BY USING BELT
CONVEYORS, WAGONS, TRUCKS OR BY
SOLID TRANSFERRING PIPES. IF MATERIAL
CONSISTENCY IS NOT SUITABLE FOR
BALANCING THE PRESSURE (FIGURE) OR
TO BE TRANSFERRED BY THE SCREW, THEN
CHEMICAL ADDITIVES CAN BE
INTRODUCED. THESE ADDITIVES CAN BE
INTRODUCED DIRECTLY TO EXCAVATION
FACE OR INJECTED IN TO WORKING
CHAMBER BUT IT IS MORE EFFICIENT TO
ADD TO EXCAVATION FACE. THESE
ADDITIVES ARE INTRODUCED FOR THREE
MAIN PURPOSES.

PRODUCT PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
The following product types are intended to achieve one or more effects:
• FOAM:
maintenance of pressure, fluidising effect for the soil, creation of an homogeneous soil paste, permeability
reduction, lowering of torque, reduction of soil stickiness, reduction of abrasion;
• ANTI-CLOGGING AGENTS:
mainly used for heavy clay soil;
• OTHER ADDITIVES:
structuring effect on non-cohesive soils, stabilising of foam or soil, water retention, viscosity effects;
• ANTI-ABRASION AGENTS:
to add to very abrasive soils or rock formation, to reduce wear of the cutting head and its tools, extraction
screw.
These product should be environmentally acceptable and safe to handle with normal site precautions.

GUIDELINES ON USE OF FOAM
FOAM DESIGN PARAMETERS

FOAM AND POLYMER SYSTEM SETUP SCREEN ON EPBM OPERATOR’S HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE

• FOAMING SOLUTION
THE CONCENTRATION OF FOAMING SOLUTION CF IS TYPICALLY IN THE RANGE 0,5 - 5,0%, BUT SHOULD
FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THIS CONCENTRATION STRONGLY DEPENDS ON
THE AMOUNT OF WATER WHICH IS INJECTED OR WHICH IS ALREADY PRESENT IN THE SOIL AND ALSO
AFFECTS THE ACTIVITY AND STABILITY OF THE USED TUNNEL FOAM.
CF - CONCENTRATION OF SURFACTANT AGENT IN WATER (..FOAMING SOLUTION)
CF = 100 X M SURFACTANT / M FOAM SOLUTION
M SURFACTANT MASS OF SURFACTANT IN FOAMING SOLUTION
M FOAM SOLUTION MASS OF FOAMING SOLUTION
• FOAM EXPANSION RATIO “FER”
THE FER SHOULD BE AT 5 – 30. THE HIGHER THE FER, THE DRIER A GENERATED TUNNEL FOAM WILL BE.
THE WETTER A SOIL, THE DRIER A TUNNEL FOAM SHOULD BE AND VICE VERSA.
FER - FOAM EXPANSION RATIO
FER = V FOAM / V FOAM SOLUTION
V FOAM VOLUME OF FOAM AT WORKING PRESSURE
V FOAM SOLUTION VOLUME OF FOAMING SOLUTION
• FOAM INJECTION RATIO “FIR”
THE FIR CAN BE AT 10 – 80%, IN MOST CASES AROUND 30 – 60%. TO DETERMINE THE BEST FIR VALUE,
LABORATORY TESTS HAVE TO BE CARRIED OUT. THE WATER CONTENT OF THE SOIL OR THE AMOUNT
OF INJECTED WATER PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE.
FIR = 100 X V FOAM / V SOIL
V FOAM VOLUME OF FOAM AT WORKING PRESSURE
V SOIL VOLUME OF IN SITU SOIL TO BE EXCAVATED
(EFNARC)

APPLICATION RANGE: FLUID SUPPORTED SHIELD

WATER SPRAY
WATER SPRAYS ARE ALSO USED TO HELP REDUCE DUST. WATER SPRAY WETS THE SURFACE OF BROKEN ROCK,
PREVENTING DUST FORMATION, AS WETTED FINE PARTICLES NORMALLY ADHERE TO THE ROCK SURFACES. THIS REQUIRES
ADEQUATE DISTRIBUTION OF WATER SPRAY NOZZLES ON THE CUTTERHEAD, AND A SUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF WATER.
IN ORDER TO MINIMISE DUST FORMATION, IT IS IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT THE WATER SPRAY CONTINUOUSLY WETS OUT
ALL THE ROCK SURFACES IN THE BREAKING PROCESS. THE TIMELY WETTING OF ROCK CHIPS DURING THE BREAKING
PROCESS IS NECESSARY, AS ONCE THE DUST IS AIRBORNE, WATER IS RELATIVELY INEFFECTIVE AT CAPTURING IT. DAMP
AIRBORNE DUST MAY GIVE PROBLEMS IN THE EXTRACTION VENTILATION AND DUST FILTRATION EQUIPMENT.
ONE OF THE OTHER DISADVANTAGES OF WATER SPRAY IS THAT THE HIGH WATER JET VELOCITIES WILL CREATE
ADDITIONAL AIR TURBULENCE THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE CREATION OF MORE AIRBORNE DUST.
DUST CONTROL TECHNIQUES (EFNARC)
FOAM SPRAY (GLOBALFOAM-AS + GLOBALCRYL-46 )
FOAM IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO REDUCE DUST IN HARD ROCK TBM EXCAVATION BUT SHOULD ALWAYS BE
USED IN COMBINATION WITH EXTRACTION VENTILATION. THE FOAM IS INJECTED THROUGH SPECIAL PORTS LOCATED ON
THE CUTTER HEAD, AND SPREADS OUT RAPIDLY TO COVER WHOLE ROCK FACE. THE THIN FILMS OF THE FOAM BUBBLES
WET OUT BROKEN ROCK (LIKE WATER SPRAY), SO REDUCE AIR BORN DUST FORMATION. UNLIKE WATER, FOAM ATTRACTS
DUST PARTICLES AND ALSO HAS STRONG STAYING POWER, FORMING A CONTINUOUS MATRIX IN THE VOIDS OF THE
EXCAVATED ROCK. THIS FORMS A VIRTUAL SEAL WHICH CAPTURES AND BLOCKS OUT THE DUST THAT WOULD OTHERWISE
HAVE BECOME AIR BORN ON THE ROCK FACE SIDE.
FOAM APPLICATION EQUIPMENT
THE CUTTER HEAD WILL NORMALLY BE FITTED WITH A COMBINED SYSTEM THAT CAN PROVIDE WATER OR FOAM. IT IS
NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT FOAM AND WATER ARE NOT INJECTED THROUGH THE SAME PIPES, AS THIS MAY LEAD TO
PREMATURE FOAM BREAKDOWN. ALSO NOTE THAT THE PIPE SIZE IS DIFFERENT FOR THE TWO SYSTEMS.
TAILOR MADE FOAMING PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET, WHICH OFFER OPTIMUM FOAMING CAPACITY AND
FOAM STABILITY, AND IN THIS REGARD, THE REQUIREMENT ON THE FOAMING PRODUCTS ARE OFTEN SOMEWHAT
DIFFERENT FROM THOSE USED FOR SOIL CONDITIONING IN EPBM. THEY SHOULD ALSO BE BIO-DEGRADABLE, AND SHOULD
NOT POSE A POLLUTION RISK TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

GLOBALCHIMICA SRL is an Italian limited liability company, etablished in 1949 and
situated in Lombardore, in the North of Italy, at 20 Km from Turin and 180 Km from
Genoa, one of the bigger port of Italy. Manufacturer of chemical products for the
building, mould making and mining/tunnelling sector, Globlachimica’s factory size is of
4.500 covered square meters on a total surface of 9.700 m2.
LAMANNALUIGIFRANCO
TechnicalSalesManagerofGLOBALCHIMICADPTTunnelandMining

GLOBALCHIMICA SRL has consolidated experience on the mains markets, exporting since
1980 in Eastern Europe, North and South America, Mid East and Southeast Asia, with an export
percentage of 80 - 90 % on the total annual sales.
Internal structure of the Company is essencial but efficent. With 10 specialized employees on
the production line, team of R&D, Commercial - Export department, and Administration.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D) : GLOBALCHIMICA SRL has a modern research
and development laboratory, for controlling raw materials and finished products. This allows, to
carry out elaborate organic syntheses independently in the preparation of special raw materials
and complex formulae.
QUALITY CONTROL: Company’s main purpose is customer satisfaction. To realize this aim,
helped from equipments endowed with very high technology, products are subjected to a
process to verify that all the mains features are satisfied (Density, Viscosity, Consistency,
Dynamometer tests, FTIR and other spectral controls, Chemical analysis, etc.).
TECHNICAL COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT: E.P.C. CONSULTING SRL (Exclusive world) –
Manager: Lamanna Luigi Franco Beside internal commercial-export department, profitable is a
cooperation for Tunnelling and Mining sector with engineers and commercial assistants located
in ROME (ITALY).
CERTIFICATION : since the end of 2007, GLOBALCHIMICA SRL is working to develop ISO
9001 certification, obtained at the beginning of 2010.

Company is shared in 4 divisions :
•Tunneling and mining : Resins for stabilising ground/rock before and after conventional
digging or with TBM through injections.
•Building : GLOBALCHIMICA SRL produces a comprehensive range of paints, protective
coatings and special formulae for building and various purposes, including waterproofing road
planking, terrace roofs, car parks, tanks, aqueducts, protective coating of bridges, viaducts,
facings, forced ducts, corrosion-proofing of chemical and industrial plants; low, medium and
high thickness coating of industrial and domestic floors, structural consolidation of major
construction works (tunnels, bridges, viaducts, railways), monumental and civil restoration.
•Mould making : Production and marketing of Room Temperature Vulcanizing RTV2 silicone
rubbers and polyurethane rubbers for moulds and matrices. Epoxy formulae for moulds and
matrices.
•Defense : Production of special paints suited for protection and camouflage of military
equipments.

INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT TUNNELING , MINING AND OIL
SPECIALIZED IN MECHANIZED TUNNELING WITH HARD ROCK
TBM AND SOFT SOIL EPB SHIELDS
EXPERT AND CONSULTANT IN STRUCTURAL REINFORCEMENT
LAMANNA Luigi Franco, performs for 40 years professional consulting and technical
direction in the various sectors of civil, industrial, military, hydraulics, railway,
highway and recent years in the sector of “tunneling” and “mining” on the correct
use of special “resin” and related technologies for consolidation, repair and
maintenance of masonry, concrete, iron and wood.
Is the author of numerous scientific publications and is always engaged in the study
and development of “innovative materials” and related techniques and technologies
used.

- MAINTENANCE OF AIRPORT PAVEMENTS, ROAD TRANSPORT AND CONDUCTIVE/DISSIPATIVE
PAVEMENTS
- INJECTION RESINS SYSTEM IN TUNNELLING, MINING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
- DAMS and BRIDGS - REPAIR, PROTECTION AND REINFORCEMENT OF STRUCTURAL
CONCRETE
- SOLUTIONS FOR PRE-EXCAVATION GROUTING IN ROCK TUNNELING AND MINING

Provide strong engineering solutions for our clients by
planning, designing and supervising construction of
infrastructure projects in the fields of energy, transportation,
resources, urban and public sector development.
- Hydropower - Tunnels
- Railways - Mining
- Roads - Bridgs
LAMANNALUIGIFRANCO
IndependentTechnicalConsultant

EXPOSURE OF OUR PRODUCTS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIRS

GLOBALCHIMICA srl
16-18, via del Boschetto
10040 LOMBARDORE (TORINO) – ITALY - U.E.
e-mail: info @ globalchimica.com
TECHNICAL AND COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT:
DIVISIONS:
- TUNNELLING
- MINING
- OIL
- CIVIL ENGINEERING UNDERGROUND ENG.
- TBM-EPB (GREASE-SEALANTS, SOIL CONDITIONING FOAMS AND POLIMERS)
Mr. LAMANNA LUIGI FRANCO
132, via dei Serpenti – 00184 ROME – ITALY - U.E.
e-mail: lamannaluigifranco1 @ gmail.com

Luigi Franco, Mr. LAMANNA
132, via dei Serpenti – 00184 ROME, ITALY, U.E.
INDEPENDENT TECHNICAL CONSULTANT
Tunnelling Consultant Specialized in Mechanized Tunnelling with
Hard Rock TBM and Soft Soil EPB Shields
Expert and Consultant in structural reinforcement
e-mail: lamannaluigifranco1 @ gmail.com

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Characterization of soil conditioning for mechanized tunnelling