Assessing the Applicability of Ground-Penetrating Radar to Quality Control in Tunneling Construction
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 142, Issue 5
Abstract
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has proved to be a valuable method for tunneling quality management and evaluation. The research literature includes many successful works addressing the use of this technique with the aim to detect the existence of internal pathologies and anomalies. However, most of them have been carried out on tunnels in operation. In these situations, the identification of inner elements and possible damage has been severely limited due to a shallower rebar mesh that complicates the radar data interpretation process. Therefore, this paper presents the evaluation of an excavated high-speed railway tunnel during the early stages of construction instead of considering a finished one. The purpose of the study was to demonstrate the potential of this method when applied during these first critical phases. The results provided noteworthy information: namely, thickness of the gunite layer, lining voids and delamination, moisture problems, and the presence of reinforcing in the tunnel lining. All this information may be useful for civil engineers when they must make a decision on maintenance and prevention tasks.
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to acknowledge the support provided by the companies Misturas S.A and Extraco S.A., as well as the U.T.E. Porto-Miamán, for all the help that has made this research possible. Additionally, this study is a contribution to the COST Action TU-1208 “Civil Engineering Applications of Ground-Penetrating Radar” project, funded by the European Union.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 142 • Issue 5 • May 2016
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 3, 2015
Accepted: Oct 1, 2015
Published online: Dec 28, 2015
Published in print: May 1, 2016
Discussion open until: May 28, 2016
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