ABSTRACT
Elastomeric compression gaskets, compressed between segments of the tunnel lining, guarantee the watertightness of the tunnel at once and for the whole lifetime. Since the most impressive tunnel project, the Channel tunnel, PHOENIX has developed new gasket designs, which can accept greater gaps by using less rubber volume and which need lower closure forces. Deformable tunnel linings, which are used in tunneling with high overburden and waterpressure, require new developments. These new gasket profiles have to be watertight at high waterpressures and very large gaps between segments. Later they have to follow the gap reduction to 0 mm at the end of tunnel diameter reduction.
