ABSTRACT
Tunnels can be constructed by using a number of different techniques. This
chapter discusses these techniques and highlights the applications and
limitations of the different construction methods. It should not be read in
isolation, but is integrally linked with the support and ground improvement
methods described in Chapter 4. Further, in order to choose the most
appropriate construction technique, aspects such as the ground charac-
teristics, the impact of the tunnel construction on the surroundings, as well
as the economic and health and safety issues need to be considered, i.e. the
construction technique(s) depends on many factors all of which are project
specific. A useful analysis was carried out by Thuro and Plinniger (2003)
to estimate the performance of different tunnel construction techniques
(TBM, roadheader and drill and blast).
