Innovation and the Rise of the Tunnelling Industry

by Graham West

Overview

This book studies the historical development of the tunnelling industry, with emphasis on the technical innovations on which advances in that industry have depended. The main part of the book comprises a detailed examination of the major technical advances in both hard rock and soft ground tunnelling, discussing established methods such as tunnelling machines, compressed air tunnelling and prefabricated tunnel linings, as well as more recent topics such as pressurised face shields, extruded linings, hydraulic rock drills, and small-diameter tunnelling systems. In addition, the emergence of a highly innovative tunnelling industry in Japan is discussed; a parallel being drawn between this development and that in nineteenth century Britain. From these considerations, the conditions that have allowed technical innovation to flourish in the tunnelling industry are identified, leading to a more general discussion of the nature of technical innovation in this industry and beyond.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521673358
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	06/30/2005
Pages:	372
Product dimensions:	6.22(w) x 9.17(h) x 0.83(d)

Table of Contents

List of figures; List of tables; Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Compressed air rock drilling machines; 3. Nitroglycerine explosive; 5. Hydraulic rock drilling machines; 6. Tunnelling shields; 7. Compressed air tunnelling; 8. Prefabricated tunnel linings; 9. Pressurised face tunnelling shields; 10. Immersed tube tunnels; 11. Hard rock tunnelling machines; 12. Soft ground tunnelling machines; 13. Other developments; 14. Conclusion; Glossary.