Preliminary Design and Engineering of Pipe Ramming Installations
Publication: Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice
Volume 3, Issue 4
Abstract
Installation of new buried pipes and culverts, and replacement of existing ones utilizing trenchless technologies, is increasing in popularity because these methods mitigate many of the surface disturbances associated with conventional open-cut placement. Pipe ramming is an efficient technique that allows installation of casings in soils that can present difficulties for other trenchless technologies. Despite increasing usage, little technical guidance is available to owners and engineers who plan installations with pipe ramming. This paper provides an overview of the pipe ramming technique, possible design procedures, and governing mechanics associated with pipe ramming, with the goal of providing a baseline for engineered installations and identifying areas for further research. Methods to estimate soil resistance to ramming, analysis of ground deformations, and ground vibrations are discussed and compared with measurements observed in field installations. Soil resistance predictions based on conventional jacking methods are shown to underpredict measured resistances inferred from dynamic load testing. Empirical Gaussian settlement models commonly employed in tunnel engineering were shown to result in somewhat inaccurate predictions for an observed pipe ramming installation in cohesionless soils. Field measurements of the ground vibrations resulting from ramming are presented and compared with commonly used safe vibration standards developed for residential structures; the frequencies of vibration generally range from 20–100 Hz, are considerably high for small source-to-site distances, and attenuate rapidly with radial distance. In general, the study lays a basis for planning pipe installation projects with the intent of providing technical advancement in pipe ramming.
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Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) through Research Contract SPR-710. Experimental work was carried with the strong support of members of the Oregon and Southwest Washington Chapter of the National Utility Contractor’s Association, including Armadillo Underground; Gonzales Boring and Tunneling; J.W. Fowler Construction; Moore Excavation; Emery and Sons, Incorporated; Peterson Machinery Company; Wyo-Ben, Incorporated; and RDO Equipment.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice
Volume 3 • Issue 4 • November 2012
Pages: 125 - 134
Copyright
© 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 2, 2011
Accepted: Mar 30, 2012
Published online: Apr 11, 2012
Published in print: Nov 1, 2012
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