Supporting systems of tunnel excavation and using synthetic fibre instead of mesh reinforcement

Tunnels which improve road transport in our country, as in the whole world work out for us in numerous fields. Tunneling method is one of the construction method applied to the present from the past. It has also become an indispensable engineering structure with the developing technology and advanced construction method. In this thesis, firstly a literature study on tunneling has been done and the topics of Tunnel Excavation Trenches, Tunneling Methods, New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM), Shotcrete and Tunnel Types have been explained. Moreover, in this study geological and geotechnical structures were investigated. According to these structures, rock mass classification required to tunnel excavation and support systems are determined. Structural design has been made for using synthetic fiber instead of mesh reinforcement in B1, B2 and B3 soil classification and the application were carried out.As a result of the structural design made, the stresses which may occur in the B1, B2 and B3 soil classes are met by using synthetic fiber. Supporting systems of the tunnel are designed by considering the maximum and minimum forces and moments that will occur in the critical sections. These values are taken from the geological and geotechnical reports. These stresses have been met with steel reinforced shotcrete. In this study, these stresses were met by using synthetic fiber instead of mesh reinforcement and synthetic fiber to be used instead of steel mesh has been investigated. Since there are different forces and moments along the route, critical sections were examined and adequate strength was obtained by applying the optimum amounts of synthetic fibers to B1, B2, B3 soil classes. In case of determining the dosage of synthetic fiber reinforcement which can meet the cross-sectional effects in shotcrete in suitable ground classes, it is concluded that cross-sectional effects which may occur in shotcrete without mesh reinforcement are met by synthetic fiber reinforcement.