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 Finished Projects / Steel Arch Load Test Sedrun
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| The Sedrun portion of the Gotthardt Basis Tunnel passes through the Tavetscher Massif, an area where difficult geologic conditions are anticipated. In this zone, construction is planned with steel support arches known as "Yieldable TH Profiles". These steel arches can contract up to 1.4 meters in diameter (for a 12 meter-diameter tunnel profile) and serve as support arches. In order to test the deformation characteristics and support strength in this large dimension, Solexperts in cooperation with the JV TRANSCO Sedrun, designed and performed load tests on the steel arches to simulate anticipated convergence of the tunnel. The test system allowed arches up to 13 m in diameter to be loaded with up to 300 tons/meter. A second test system tested 1/8 segments of the arches. A comprehensive test program included measuring the effective load and yield-distance of the arch segments using special "Roller Extensometers". In addition, the strain in the arches was measured using strain gages and the positions of the arches were monitored using a motorized total station. |
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Installation of the large scale test |
| Instrumented arches after the test |
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| Deformed arches after completion of the smaller-scale test |
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