Course detail

Underground Structures

FAST-BFA007Acad. year: 2025/2026

History, nomenclature and terminology in the underground structures. The basic design elements of underground structures. Geotechnical survey for underground structures,influence of technology to their layout. Classification of surroundings for uderground structures. Theory of rock pressures. Tunnel systems and schemes for major profiles, classic systems, ring method. The New Austrian Tunnel Method (NATM), Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM), shield tunnelling by open and closed shields. PERFOREX method, immersed tunnel. Improvement of environmental at driving, silting, rawing-out. Explosive works. Drilling, loading and transport of muck. Excavation of shafts. Driving of galleries. Ventilation and protection of underground structures against water. Excavaten underground structures. Microtunnelling.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Ing. Vladislav Horák, CSc.

Department

Institute of Geotechnics (GTN)

Entry knowledge

Student must for success in the discipline know: Basic principles of geology, soil and rock mechanics, foundation engineering, geodesy, building materials, structural mechanics, elasticity and plasticity theory, basic principles of railway, road and water structures.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Extent and forms are specified by guarantor’s regulation updated for every academic year.

Aims

Student has a knowledge of basic design elements of underground structures and principle methods of design and checking of primary lining of underground structures. Student will be acquainted with geotechnical investigation, with influence of geology into the underground structures layout and with classification of rocks for underground structures. Further on with introduction into the theory of rocky pressures, with tunel systems for different profiles, explosive works, excavation of shafts. Student will be able to check deformations of suface. Excavated underground structures and microtunelling.
Student has a knowledge of basic design elements of underground structures and principle methods of design and checking of primary lining of underground structures. Student will be acquainted with geotechnical investigation, with influence of geology into the underground structures layout and with classification of rocks for underground structures. Further on with introduction into the theory of rocky pressures, with tunel systems for different profiles, explosive works, excavation of shafts. Student will be able to check deformations of suface, excavated underground structures and microtunelling.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

BICKEL, John O., KUESEL, Thomas R., a KING, Elwyn H. Tunnel Engineering Handbook. Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004. ISBN-13: 978-1-4613-8053-5 (EN)
KLEPSATEL, František, KUSÝ, Pavol, MAŘÍK, Libor. Výstavba tunelů ve skalních horninách. Jaga group Bratislava, 2003. ISBN 80-88905-43-5. (CS)
KLEPSATEL, František, MAŘÍK, Libor a FRANKOVSKÝ, Miloslav. Městské podzemní stavby. Jaga Group, s.r.o. Bratislava, 2005. ISBN 80-8076-021-7. (CS)
KOLYMBAS, Dimitrios. Tunnelling and Tunnel Mechanics. Springer, 2008. ISBN 978-3-540-25196-5. (EN)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPC-SI Bachelor's

    specialization K , 4 year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Vladislav Horák, CSc.

Syllabus

  • 1. History and evolution of underground structures. Nomenclature of underground structures by various criterions. Terminology.
  • 2. The main construction elements of underground structures. The basic design elements for separate types of underground structures.
  • 3. Geotechnical survey for underground structures, pilot galleries, influence of geotechnical proportions into the underground structures layout.
  • 4. State of stress of rocky massive round of tunnel excavation, arch theory, load of lining by the part of primary stress. Tunnel systems for major profiles.
  • 5. Classic and modern tunnel systems. Ring method, press concrete, Bernold system.
  • 6. The New Austrian Tunneling Method.
  • 7. Tunnel Sequential Machines(TSM) and Tunnel Boring Machines(TBM)
  • 8. Shield tunnelling by open and closed shields, special shields.
  • 9. Improvement of environmental during driving. Silting, drawing - out.
  • 10. Explosive works, drilling, loading and transport of muck. Excavation of shafts.
  • 11. Protection of underground structures against water. Ventilation of underground structures. Excavated underground structures. Microtunnelling.

Exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Vladislav Horák, CSc.

Syllabus

  • 1. Introduction, conditions for credit, introduction to the issues – video.
  • 2. Classification of surroundings for underground structures, classification systems, classification according to Tesař.
  • 3. Primary and secondary state of stress mass.
  • 4. Rock arch theories.
  • 5. Statical calculations of tunnel linings.
  • 6. Rigid tunnel lining – 1st part.
  • 7. Rigid tunnel lining – complete.
  • 8. Circular elastic lining water pressure tunnels.
  • 9. Settlement trough of the tunnel.
  • 10. Mikrotunnelling – pipe jacking.
  • 11. Control of a work and credit.