Trench less technology is the science

of installing, repairing and renewing

underground pipes, ducts and cables
Trenchless using techniques which minimize or
eliminate the need for excavation.

Technology Trench less technology is basically

making a tunnel below the surface
and staling service lines like water or
gas pipes, electric or
telecommunication cables etc, with out
any disruption to the public.
Pre-Requisites

Surveys and site investigations are essential to the success and efficiency of trench less
installations and repair techniques.
a) The survey results help to determine the most appropriate systems.
b) The investigations methods include geophysical surveys, boring and sampling,
measurement of ground water table, test pits and trenches, penetration tests,
examinations and investigations of existing structures.
Need For Trenchless Technology

• The disadvantages and difficulties encountered in conventional trenching methods

have resulted in thinking of the need for trenchless technology.
• The advantages of the no-dig technology are also responsible for the need of this
technology to be adopted in mainly urban areas
 Trenchless Technology- Pipe Jacking

According to PJA, UK

“Pipe jacking is a technique for installing underground pipelines, ducts and

culverts. Powerful hydraulic jacks are used to push specially designed pipes
through the ground behind a shield at the same time as excavation is taking
place with the shield”

Common Applications:
• Sewerage and potable water construction
• Gas and water utilities
• Industrial pipelines (e.g. oil, chemical etc)
• Electricity and telecom utilities
• Pedestrian subways
Pipe Jacking

• Pipes are pushed through the ground behind the shield using powerful jacks.
• Simultaneously excavation takes place within the shield.
• This process is continued until the pipeline is completed.
• The method provides a flexible, structural, watertight, finished pipeline as the tunnel is
excavated.
• No theoretical limit to the length of individual pipelines.
• Pipes range from 150mm to 3000mm diameter can be installed in straight line or in
curvature.
• Thrust wall is provided for the reaction of the jacks.
• In case of poor soil, the thrust wall may punch inside the soil, then piles or ground
anchoring methods can be used.
Pipe Jacking

• The thrust pit and the reception pit are excavated at the required places.
• Then the thrust wall is set up in the thrust pit according to the requirement.
• In case of mechanized excavations, a very large pit is required.
• But in case of manual excavation, a small pit is enough.
• Thrust ring is provided to ensure the even distribution of stress along the circumference
of the pipe.
• The number of jacks vary upon the frictional resistance of the soil, strength of pipes etc.
• The size of the reception pit is to be big enough to receive the jacking shield.
• To maintain the accuracy of alignment a steer-able shield is used during the pipe
jacking.
• In case of small and short distance excavations, ordinary survey method is sufficient.
• But in case of long excavations, remote sensing and other techniques can be used.
Jacking Loads - Capacity

Ultimate jacking load dependent upon:

• Pipe load capacity

• Jacking wall / restraint capacity
• Diameter, length & weight of pipes
• Ground & groundwater conditions
• Excavation method & control
• Cycle times / working patterns
• Alignment control
• Maintaining annulus
• Lubrication
• Main jacking station capacity
• Intermediate jacking stations (number /capacity)
Jacking Loads - Reduction & Control

Good practice should include:

• Correct choice of excavation method
• Open, EPB, slurry
• Control of groundwater
• Dewatering, ground treatment
• Good alignment control & correction
• 1º = 50 to 90% reduction in pipe capacity
• Maintenance of cut annulus
• Cut diameter, TBM / shield over-cut
• Good lubrication
• Injection points, Bentonite, water & polymers
• Correct choice of intermediate jacking stations
• Number required, capacity & position
Comparison with Open Trench
Technical aspect
• Comparison with Open Trench
1. Minimal surface disruption and
reinstatement
2. Fewer utility diversions
• Comparison with Segmental Tunneling
1. Inherent strength of pipeline
2. Smooth internal finish
3. No secondary lining
4. Less joints
5. Watertight
6. Control of settlement
Environmental Aspect
1. Avoid damage to services
2. Reduced disruption
3. Maintains highway integrity
4. Carbon footprint
5. 90% fewer vehicle movements
• Less spoil
• Less quarried material
 Moling
Moling is a method, which forms the borehole by compressing the earth that immediately
surrounds the compacting device which is an underground piercing (mole) is propelled by a
power source. The tool is streamlined into bullet or shape. The method is restricted to
relatively small diameter lines in compressible soil conditions.
Advantages and Disadvantage

Advantages
• It is a rapid, economic, and effective method of installing small diameter lines.
• Any type of utility line can be installed using the method.
• The stability of the soil around the borehole is increased due to compaction.
• The investment in equipment is minimum.

Disadvantages
• Compaction methods are limited in their length by reliability because basic systems
are unintelligent, unguided tools that tend to bury themselves, surface in the middle
road or damage existing utility lines.
Directional Drilling

• Directional drilling involves steerable tunneling systems for both small and diameter
lines.
• The first stage consists of drilling a small diameter pilot hole along the desired
centre line of a proposed line and
• In the second stage, the pilot hole is enlarged to the desired diameter to
accommodate the utility line and to pull the utility line through the enlarged hole
Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages
• The major advantage is the speed of installation combined with the minimum
environmental and social impact.
• Long and complicated crossings can be accomplished with a great degree of
accuracy.
• Another advantage is that sufficient depth can be accomplished to avoid other
utilities.
Disadvantages
• Limitation of access and reception pits is another advantage.
Special equipment and very high degree of operation skill is required.
• As the cost of the equipment and the operation are high, bore length should be
sufficient in order for it to be economical.
• Mainly steel pipe is being installed by the method.
Ramming

• In this method, the pipe is rammed through the soil by using a device attached to the
end of the pipe to drive the pipe through the soil.
• In this method, the tool does not create a borehole. It acts as a hammer to drive the
pipe through the soil.
• When ramming pipe, the leading edge cuts a borehole, the spoil enters the pipe and
is compacted as it is being forced to the rear of the pipe.
Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages
• The pipe ramming is an effective method for installing medium size pipes.
• The method is economic since the equipment cost is not very high and the operation is
simple.
• The pipe can be installed in one piece or segments.
• This can be used in almost all types of soils.
• The method does not require any thrust reaction structure.
Disadvantages
• The major disadvantage is that there is no control over the line and grade and in
case of obstructions like boulders, the pipe may be deflected.
• Then work should be stopped immediately.
• For small diameter pipelines, the method is economical, but for large diameter pipes,
the equipment cost is high.
Auger/Thrust Boring Method

• It is a process of simultaneously jacking the pipe through the earth while removing the
earth inside the box by means of a rotating auger.
• Unstable conditions- the end of auger is kept retracted inside the encasement so as
not to cause voids.
• Stable conditions- the auger can be successfully extended beyond the encasement.
• This can be successfully used in any kind of soil conditions.

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN JACKING

• Settlement of the above ground.
• Seepage of ground water.
• Caving in of soil etc.
Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages
• The major advantage is that the casing is installed at the same time as the borehole
excavation takes place.
• This method can be used in a wide variety of soil types.

Disadvantages
• This method requires different sized cutting heads and auger sizes or each casing
diameter, which increases the investment in equipment.
• The investment in bore, pit construction, and the initial setup is also required.
• In case of soils containing large boulders, this method cannot be used
advantageously.
 Further Reading on Trenchless Technology

Nowadays there is so much Underground Construction going on. Everywhere you go Underground
Construction seems to be taking place. To the pedestrian it can cause a lot of inconvenience having to move
around the barriers that are put into place. Underground Construction needs to take place in order to
develop and move things forward. In all big cities you will see Underground Construction as a big part of
city life. It is an understood thing that Underground Construction will always be happening. From a health
and safety point of view Underground Construction, building subways are much needed for pedestrians to
cross roads safely. There is so much work involved in Underground Construction that people are totally not
aware of. It seems that while Underground Construction is taking place, people can move about any city
oblivious to all that is going on underground.
When the Underground Construction is completely finished it is then that people can really become aware of
all the work that has been taking place. Subways can be sometimes abused when people start drinking in
them and causing annoyance to the public after all the Underground Construction work has been carried out.
Hopefully this will not happen and all the hard work that has been done with Underground Construction will
be of immense value to the public. Another aspect of Underground Construction work is the fact that it all
takes place under the ground, the complete work force do not see daylight, whether the sun is shining or
there is heavy rain fall the work force are oblivious to the weather.
 Contd. Further Reading on Trenchless Technology

In some cases Underground Construction might be a good thing in very bad weather conditions and Underground
Construction can have advantages then, however Underground Construction can have disadvantages on beautiful sunny
days, when it must be very difficult indeed for any work force to be working constantly underground. There is a huge
amount of machinery involved in all Underground Construction work, which costs the tax payer a lot of money. It takes a
great amount of time to organise and plan any Underground Construction work. Forward planning is necessary to get a
team of workers organised plus all the necessary machinery that is required. Health and Safety measures are of the
utmost importance as well.
Underground Construction has changed over the last number of years, when you take into consideration all the tube
stations over the country that have been built. Each tube station is different in design. Commuters are finding it less difficult
to get from one destination to another destination. The huge demand for transport underground has made Underground
Construction a very popular business to be in. It is incredible to think that there is so much space that can be made
available from under the ground for the purpose of travelling. How did anyone think of such a thing. Years ago it would
have been unheard of to even think that it would have ever been possible to build under the ground.
Underground Construction has come on in leaps and bounds over the years and has shown us all what it is capable of
achieving. It would be wonderful for anyone who lived years and years ago to come back and see for themselves the huge
difference that Underground Construction has made to life. We are all the better off for Underground Construction.