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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/R08506/01
Title: Soil Conditioning In Tunnelling, Pipejacking & Microtunnelling
Principal Investigator: Mair, Professor L
Other Investigators:
Bolton, Professor MD Lynch, Dr R
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Geotechnical Consulting Pipe Jacking Research Group
Department: Engineering
Organisation: University of Cambridge
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 18 April 2001 Ends: 17 October 2004 Value (£): 205,568
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Ground Engineering
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Construction No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
GR/R08513/01
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The first two objectives will be met by a carefully-controlled series of laboratory tests. Samples of granular and clay soils mixed with conditioning/lubrication agents will be prepared. Lubrication properties will be measured in a ring shear apparatus and specifically adapted shear box for soil-on-metal tests. The fundamental properties (strength, compressibility and permeability) of the mixtures will be assess using shear box and Rowe cell testing. The third objective will be met through a series of chemical and microscopic examinations of clay/conditioner mixes. Special tests will be carried out in which the screw conveyor systems of an Earth-Pressure-Balance tunnelling machine is simulated at a small scale, and the effects of injecting conditioning agents at different points is investigated. Finally the applicability of the laboratory work will be tested by monitoring pipejacking and tunnelling operations in the field to determine at full scale the effectiveness of conditioning agents. The proposed work is a joint programme, with Oxford University carrying out work on granular soils and Cambridge University, carrying our complementary work on clayey soils.
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Organisation Website: http://www.cam.ac.uk