Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering

Temperature Flows in Railway Tunnels: Field Measurements of Frost Penetration

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• Abstract

   

  Even though extensive pre-grouting is carried out during the construction of tunnels, certain leakages and drips remain. These remaining leakages are remedied by a combination of post-injection and drainage measures with, for example, frost insulated drain mats, whose function is to prevent the cold tunnel air from reaching a leakage spot and causing water to freeze. Despite these measures, some water may still enter the tunnels and cause problems during winter with ice formations and frost shattering. Icicles, ice pillars and ice-covered roads and railway tracks require constant maintenance. If ice occurs in the fracture network close to the tunnel contour or in the interface between the rock and shotcrete, it can cause degradation of the load-bearing capacity of the tunnel and fall-outs of both materials. In tunnel sections with water leakage problems it is common to protect the load-bearing structure from freezing with insulated drainage systems. To determine where along the tunnel efforts must be made to prevent ice formation, the temperature conditions of tunnels must be investigated. This article presents parts of the results from field measurements in two Swedish railway tunnels. The measurements involves monitoring of air and rock temperatures, air pressure and air velocity.

   

  Keywords: Frost penetration, ice formation, frost shattering, temperature measurement, maintenance, railway tunnel.