hiDCon®
hiDCon® is a cement-bound building material that can absorb deformations of up to 50% of its component height under defined loads. It is used in construction to optimise the structure with controlled allowance of deformations or to absorb energy in dynamic applications.
Examples of applications:
- Tunnel construction with compressive or swelling rock.
- Limiting anchor tensile forces
- Infrastructure constructions in creep slopes
- Deformation absorption under thermal effects (icing)
- Deformation absorption under dynamic load
Convergent shotcrete lining with high load-bearing capacity
In 2004, the first tunnel section was equipped with the highly deformable hiDCon® concrete elements. The beam elements were installed in the shotcrete lining to support the rock while allowing controlled convergence of the tunnel. The hiDCon® elements have been continuously developed and a number of applications, mostly in compressive or swelling conditions, could be realised.
Modular squeeze system
The most important properties of hiDCon® elements
- High deformation capacity with almost constant load resistance
- Increasing load resistance at the end of the deformation capacity
- Variability of shape and dimensions of the crush elements
- Control of load-bearing and deformation properties
- Use of approved base materials
- Insignificant creep with constant long-term loading
High ductility - high stress level
are generated by
- the high-strength concrete matrix with porous aggregates
- specially formed reinforcement with fibres
- and controlled closing of the pores with prevented lateral expansion until material consolidation (e*)
Element types
hiDCon
hiDCon
hiDCon® – Publications
- Tunneling in Squeezing Rock
- The use of highly deformable concrete elements tunneling in compressive and swelling rock conditions rock conditions
- Modular tunnel crumpling system for tunnels in highly swelling rock masses
- Deformable steel Support for major tunnel cross-sections tested in the Gotthard Base Tunnel
- Tunneling in swelling rock
- Saint Martin Squeeze, Barla
- DESIGN METHODS WITH YIELDING SUPPORT IN SQUEEZING AND SWELLING ROCKS, Kovari 2009
- Tunnelling in Squeezing RockYielding Elements and Face Control
- Design and analysis of yielding support in squeezing ground, Anagnostou 2007
- Lessons learned during the excavation of the Saint Martin, Barla
- Modular yielding support for tunnels in heavily swelling rock, Kovari 2007
- Design and realisation of the PRACLAY experimental gallery
- Large deformations in squeezing ground in the Saint-Martin La Porte gallery along the Lyon-Turin Base Tunne
- CERN HL-LHC POINT 1, The ‘flexible’ US/UW17 cavern temporary lining, an innovative solution
- Difficulties associated with high convergences during excavation of the Saint Martin La Porte access adit
- FLEXIBLE SUPPORTING FOR EXCAVATION IN CMHM “ARGILITE”
- ANDRA AFTES 2015
- SOUTÈNEMENT SOUPLE POUR LE CREUSEMENT DE GALERIES DANS LES ARGILITES DU CMHM
- Interpretation of Core Extrusion Measurements When Tunnelling Through Squeezing Ground