Closing Lecture: World Tunnel Congress 2014, Iguassu Falls, Brazil Quo Vadis Tunnel Engineering?Predicting the Unpredictable by Z T Richard Bieniawski v. Preinl

1. Quo Vadis
Tunnel Engineering?
Predicting the
Unpredictable
Z T Richard Bieniawski v. Preinl
Closing Lecture: World Tunnel Congress 2014, Iguassu Falls, Brazil

3. "With so many congresses and symposia taking place every
year, I demand of the people that I send to attend:
bring me back just one and only one good idea
which I can use and I will pay ALL of your travelling expenses
plus throw in a bottle of wine'!"

4. Quo Vadis Tunnel Engineering?
Predicting
the Unpredictable
“Quo Vadis” - from Latin - “Where are you going?”
After the book by Polish Nobel winner Henryk
Sienkiewicz

5. “The Illiterate of the 21st century will not
be those who cannot read and write, but
those who cannot
learn, unlearn and relearn”
Futurist Alvin Toffler

6. 1. Tunnel design methodologies
2. Education for new cadres
of tunnel engineers and
planners
3. Site investigation
expenditures needed for
effective tunnel design
and construction

7. Publications about predictions

8. Emerging Methodologies and Principles
of Tunnel Design
“It is not the things we don’t know that cause us
problems
but the things we think we know for sure”
General Dwight Eisehower

9. Books about Tunnel Design Methodologies
(1)

10. Books about Tunnel Design Methodologies
(2)

11. From X.Feng and J. Hudson: Rock Engineering Design (2011)
The subject of Design Methodology is now
experiencing and will continue to experience
major developments in the future because of new
capabilities provided by the use of computer
programs that can model the rock behavior in
new and more insightful ways.
11

12. The concept
of
D E A:
Diseño
Estructural
Activo
Celada et al,
2010
Eurocode 7:
Geotechnical Design

14. In the spirit of Alan Muir Wood: Best idea #1
Be specific when describing the
chosen tunnel design methodology
and use it as a check-list
(similar to what a pilot does prior to take off)
to ensure that all aspects of the
undertaking are incorporated.
14

15. Training Tunnel Engineers and
Educating Planners/Owners
"Each modern profession worthy of its name
requires three elements: Theory, Education
and Practice.
The reason: they are needed to guarantee its
capacity for renewal and development."
Philosopher Herbert Simon (1969)

16. Education of new tunnel engineers and
engineering geologists
”Among the approximately 200 civil engineering
departments studied, less than 10% have
substantial graduate programs in rock mechanics;
those with geotechnical programs are mainly
focused on soil mechanics.
Most universities with mining departments do have
rock mechanics, those are few in number and
departments tend to be small."
16

17. Challenges before us:
•Challenge to educate new tunnel engineers
and engineering geologists, both men and
women;
•Challenge to educate non-technical persons
involved in planning tunneling projects or
administering underground projects. 17

18. In the spirit of Alan Muir Wood: Best idea #2
• If you are a professor or a teacher, take initiative at your institution of higher
learning;
*If you are in the tunneling business, help secure funds for a new industrial
course;
*If you are neither: write articles to the press and the media suggesting action
for the benefit of the society.
*For all of us at this Congress: let us support the concept of "continuing
education" for tunnel engineers and "short courses" for the non-technical
tunnel planners and administrators.
18

20. When is Enough sufficiently enough
for Tunnel Site Investigations?
"Not all experience is necessarily good.
We must learn only the best practices –
those used most widely
in the most successfully competitive firms"
John Dixon (1991)

21. In Tunnel Design Practice
note this current shortcoming:
Sophistication of numerical
methods of analysis far exceeds
the levels of reliability of the input
data on rock mass properties
from limited field testing 21

22. U.S. National Committee on Tunneling
Technology, 1984:
Geotechnical Site Investigations for
Underground Projects:
Overview of Practice and Recommendations:
Expenditures for geotechnical site
exploration should be 3%of estimated project
cost; today typical levels of less than
1% are incompatible with over 10% costs
paid out for legal disputes.

23. 23

24. Large
Flat
Jack
(LFJ) test
24

25. Tri-axial block test Mine pillar test
25

26. In the spirit of Alan Muir Wood: Best idea #3
We must ensure that
sophistication of analytical
modeling matches the reliability
of the input data on rock mass
properties – best determined
from reliable in situ tests! 26

27. Quo
Vadis
Tunnel
Engineering?

28. Tunnels for a Better Life

29. Predictions
“The Illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who
cannot read and write, but those who cannot
learn, unlearn and relearn”
Futurist Alvin Toffler

30. Predictions
•Something Expected
•Something New
30

31. Potential Challenges - TBMs:
High pressure due to pre-existing stress and
their changes during excavation;
The phenomenon of rock bursts
High water pressures
Need for better modeling configurations

32. CONCLUSION -1
We need:
(1) better implemented
tunnel design
methodologies,
(2) better educated tunnel
engineers, planners and
administrators,
(3) better executed site
characterization programs

33. In Conclusion - 2
Sharing with you a Secret (!)
for a successful
and
enjoyable tunnelling career
The secret is simply….

35. In Conclusion - 3
In the spirit of Alan Muir Wood:
What is that ONE best idea
that you have acquired
at this Congress?

36. “Enthusiasm is the greatest asset
in the world;
it beats money,
and power, and influence!”
Henri Chester

37. Muitíssimo obrigado pela boa atenção !