Design of conventional tunnels in soft ground
Online course |
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50 hours / 6 weeks |
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Dates: October 19th to November 30th |
| Standard | Unemployed Or Student |
| $336 | $267 |
Introduction
Soft ground tunnelling is among the most complex and demanding challenges in underground construction. Controlling ground deformation, managing groundwater, and protecting surface and adjacent structures requires careful integration of geological understanding, geotechnical engineering, structural analysis, and construction methodology.
This introductory course on Design of Conventional Tunnels in Soft Ground provides a foundation in the principles, practices, and tools needed to design tunnels in soft ground conditions. Participants will explore principal construction methods, including cut-and-cover tunnels, tunnel boring machine (TBM) excavation with segmental linings, and with a particular focus on conventional tunnelling methods such as NATM, SCL, and SEM. The course explains how construction choices influence design outcomes and introduces ground improvement and support techniques critical for maintaining excavation stability.
Emphasizing the role of engineering geology, the course covers characterization of ground conditions, monitoring strategies, and observational methods to manage uncertainty. Participants will learn to predict ground movements, assess potential impacts on existing structures, and implement mitigation strategies to protect buildings.
In addition, the course addresses the design and implementation of essential ground treatment techniques for the tunnel face and crown, including methods such as forepoling and face treatment. Participants will learn how these interventions help control deformation, maintain structural integrity, and ensure safe progression of tunnelling operations under challenging soft ground conditions.
Through a combination of theoretical principles, practical guidance, and real-world insights, this course equips engineers and professionals with the foundational knowledge to deliver safe, efficient, and robust Conventional Tunnels in Soft Ground.
Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the fundamentals of soft ground tunnelling and the challenges associated with deformation, groundwater, and structural interaction.
- Identify and select appropriate tunnel construction methods for different soft ground conditions, including cut-and-cover, TBM with segmental lining, and conventional SCL tunnelling.
- Analyze geological and geotechnical data to characterize ground conditions and inform tunnel design decisions.
- Apply ground support and treatment techniques for tunnel face, crown, and surrounding soils to ensure excavation stability.
- Assess the impact of tunnelling on adjacent structures and implement mitigation strategies to minimize risk of damage.
- Implement monitoring and observational methods to manage uncertainty during construction and adapt designs as necessary.
- Understand and apply risk management principles in soft ground tunnelling projects, including geotechnical and construction risks.
- Develop practical design solutions that combine theoretical principles with real-world constraints for safe, efficient, and robust tunnelling.
Limited places.
Disclaimer: the following content is a work in progress and may be subject to change up to the date of the first edition of the course.
Module 1 – Introduction to Soft Ground Tunnelling (week 1)
- – Overview of underground construction in soft ground conditions
- – Key challenges: ground deformation, groundwater, and surface impacts
- – Role of engineering geology and geotechnical characterization
- – Introduction to tunnel design principles
- – Case studies highlighting typical soft ground tunnelling projects
Module 2 – Tunnel Construction Methods (week 2)
- – Cut-and-cover tunnelling: methods, applications, pros/cons
- – Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) excavation with segmental lining
- – Conventional tunnelling (NATM, SCL or SEM)
- – Factors affecting method selection: geology, depth, alignment, urban constraints
- – Comparison of construction choices and their impact on design
Module 3 – Ground Behaviour and Support Techniques (week 3)
- – Ground characterization and geology
- – Ground deformation mechanisms in soft soils
- – Groundwater control and dewatering strategies
- – Tunnel face and crown stabilization techniques
- – Temporary and permanent support systems
- – Ground improvement methods: forepoling and face treatment
Module 4 – Structural Design and Interaction with Surroundings (week 4)
- – Design of tunnel linings: load considerations and material selection
- – Structural analysis of Sprayed Concrete
- – Assessing and mitigating impacts on adjacent buildings and infrastructure
- – Case studies: monitoring and managing ground movements during excavation
- – Integration of structural and geotechnical design principles
Module 5 – Monitoring, Observational Methods, and Risk Management (week 5)
- – Monitoring strategies: instrumentation, observations, and data interpretation
- – Observational method in tunnel design: feedback and adjustment
- – Introduction to risk assessment and management in soft ground tunnelling
- – Identifying geotechnical and construction risks
- – Decision-making under uncertainty
Module 6 – Integrated Design and Practical Applications (week 6)
- – Bringing together geology, geotechnics, structural, and construction considerations
- – Design exercises for conventional tunnels in soft ground
- – Planning and implementing safe, efficient, and robust tunnels
- – Real-world examples of problem-solving and design adaptation
The course includes at least 3 live webinars to answer questions.
Cláudio Cabral Dias
Cláudio is a MSc CEng Civil Engineer specialized in Tunnelling with more than 15 years of experience. After working in Portugal, Brazil and UK, he currently resides in Madrid, where he is the Head of the Ground Engineering and Tunnelling design team at AYESA.
His experience includes reference and detailed designs, along with construction supervision of several international underground nuclear, rail, road, and hydroelectric projects in South and North America, UK, Portugal, Spain, and India. His experience includes projects such as the underground of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Los Angeles, London, Madrid, and Porto Metros. He is a Bentley Qualified Trainer – PLAXIS FE and an expert in numerical modelling of Soil-Structure-Interaction for tunnelling and excavations.
Cláudio is a member of ITACUS, Portuguese Order of Engineers, certified as EUR ING by FEANI, and CEng MICE by ICE. He has also published more than a dozen papers in conferences and journals, promoting more efficient designs through advanced modelling.
The course is delivered online through our easy-to-use Virtual Campus platform. For this course, a variety of content is provided including:
– eLearning materials
– Videos
– Interactive multimedia content
– Live webinar classes
– Texts and technical articles
– Case studies
– Assignments and evaluation exercises
Students can download the materials and work through the course at their own pace.
We regularly update this course to ensure the latest news and state-of-the-art developments are covered, and your knowledge of the subject is current.
Live webinars form part of our course delivery. These allow students and tutors to go through the course materials, exchange ideas and knowledge, and solve problems together in a virtual classroom setting. Students can also make use of the platform’s forum, a meeting point to interact with tutors and other students.
The tutoring system is managed by email. Students can email the tutor with any questions about the course and the tutor will be happy to help.
The course is particularly interesting for students or professionals from the following areas:
– Civil Engineers; Geotechnical Engineers; Geologists; Geological Engineers and Mining Engineers;
– Tunnel construction professionals;
– Structural Engineering professionals who want to have a more complete understanding of Tunnel Support Design;
– Any other professional who is currently working with tunnels or intends to start a career dedicated to Tunnel Engineering.
Once a student finishes the course and successfully completes the assignments and evaluation tests, they are sent an accreditation certificate. The certificate is issued by Ingeoexpert to verify that the student has passed the course. It is a digital certificate that is unique and tamper-proof – it is protected by Blockchain technology. This means it is possible for anyone to check that it is an authentic, original document.
You will be able to download the certificate in an electronic format from the Virtual Campus platform. The certificate can be forwarded by email, shared on social networks, and embedded on websites. To see an example, click here.
There has never been a better time to become a tunnel engineer. Modern tunnels are becoming more cost-effective, resilient, and versatile, addressing critical challenges in transportation, water supply, sewage, storage, and energy infrastructure. Governments around the world are constructing longer and larger tunnels, driving a growing demand for skilled professionals capable of designing safe and efficient underground structures.
This course provides the essential design skills needed to advance or launch a career in underground and tunnelling projects, with a focus on conventional tunnels in soft ground conditions. By combining theory, practical methods, and real-world insights, you will gain the expertise to tackle the complex soil-structure interactions that define modern soft ground tunnelling projects.
Introduction
Soft ground tunnelling is among the most complex and demanding challenges in underground construction. Controlling ground deformation, managing groundwater, and protecting surface and adjacent structures requires careful integration of geological understanding, geotechnical engineering, structural analysis, and construction methodology.
This introductory course on Design of Conventional Tunnels in Soft Ground provides a foundation in the principles, practices, and tools needed to design tunnels in soft ground conditions. Participants will explore principal construction methods, including cut-and-cover tunnels, tunnel boring machine (TBM) excavation with segmental linings, and with a particular focus on conventional tunnelling methods such as NATM, SCL, and SEM. The course explains how construction choices influence design outcomes and introduces ground improvement and support techniques critical for maintaining excavation stability.
Emphasizing the role of engineering geology, the course covers characterization of ground conditions, monitoring strategies, and observational methods to manage uncertainty. Participants will learn to predict ground movements, assess potential impacts on existing structures, and implement mitigation strategies to protect buildings.
In addition, the course addresses the design and implementation of essential ground treatment techniques for the tunnel face and crown, including methods such as forepoling and face treatment. Participants will learn how these interventions help control deformation, maintain structural integrity, and ensure safe progression of tunnelling operations under challenging soft ground conditions.
Through a combination of theoretical principles, practical guidance, and real-world insights, this course equips engineers and professionals with the foundational knowledge to deliver safe, efficient, and robust Conventional Tunnels in Soft Ground.
Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the fundamentals of soft ground tunnelling and the challenges associated with deformation, groundwater, and structural interaction.
- Identify and select appropriate tunnel construction methods for different soft ground conditions, including cut-and-cover, TBM with segmental lining, and conventional SCL tunnelling.
- Analyze geological and geotechnical data to characterize ground conditions and inform tunnel design decisions.
- Apply ground support and treatment techniques for tunnel face, crown, and surrounding soils to ensure excavation stability.
- Assess the impact of tunnelling on adjacent structures and implement mitigation strategies to minimize risk of damage.
- Implement monitoring and observational methods to manage uncertainty during construction and adapt designs as necessary.
- Understand and apply risk management principles in soft ground tunnelling projects, including geotechnical and construction risks.
- Develop practical design solutions that combine theoretical principles with real-world constraints for safe, efficient, and robust tunnelling.
Limited places.
Disclaimer: the following content is a work in progress and may be subject to change up to the date of the first edition of the course.
Module 1 – Introduction to Soft Ground Tunnelling (week 1)
- – Overview of underground construction in soft ground conditions
- – Key challenges: ground deformation, groundwater, and surface impacts
- – Role of engineering geology and geotechnical characterization
- – Introduction to tunnel design principles
- – Case studies highlighting typical soft ground tunnelling projects
Module 2 – Tunnel Construction Methods (week 2)
- – Cut-and-cover tunnelling: methods, applications, pros/cons
- – Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) excavation with segmental lining
- – Conventional tunnelling (NATM, SCL or SEM)
- – Factors affecting method selection: geology, depth, alignment, urban constraints
- – Comparison of construction choices and their impact on design
Module 3 – Ground Behaviour and Support Techniques (week 3)
- – Ground characterization and geology
- – Ground deformation mechanisms in soft soils
- – Groundwater control and dewatering strategies
- – Tunnel face and crown stabilization techniques
- – Temporary and permanent support systems
- – Ground improvement methods: forepoling and face treatment
Module 4 – Structural Design and Interaction with Surroundings (week 4)
- – Design of tunnel linings: load considerations and material selection
- – Structural analysis of Sprayed Concrete
- – Assessing and mitigating impacts on adjacent buildings and infrastructure
- – Case studies: monitoring and managing ground movements during excavation
- – Integration of structural and geotechnical design principles
Module 5 – Monitoring, Observational Methods, and Risk Management (week 5)
- – Monitoring strategies: instrumentation, observations, and data interpretation
- – Observational method in tunnel design: feedback and adjustment
- – Introduction to risk assessment and management in soft ground tunnelling
- – Identifying geotechnical and construction risks
- – Decision-making under uncertainty
Module 6 – Integrated Design and Practical Applications (week 6)
- – Bringing together geology, geotechnics, structural, and construction considerations
- – Design exercises for conventional tunnels in soft ground
- – Planning and implementing safe, efficient, and robust tunnels
- – Real-world examples of problem-solving and design adaptation
The course includes at least 3 live webinars to answer questions.
Cláudio Cabral Dias
Cláudio is a MSc CEng Civil Engineer specialized in Tunnelling with more than 15 years of experience. After working in Portugal, Brazil and UK, he currently resides in Madrid, where he is the Head of the Ground Engineering and Tunnelling design team at AYESA.
His experience includes reference and detailed designs, along with construction supervision of several international underground nuclear, rail, road, and hydroelectric projects in South and North America, UK, Portugal, Spain, and India. His experience includes projects such as the underground of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Los Angeles, London, Madrid, and Porto Metros. He is a Bentley Qualified Trainer – PLAXIS FE and an expert in numerical modelling of Soil-Structure-Interaction for tunnelling and excavations.
Cláudio is a member of ITACUS, Portuguese Order of Engineers, certified as EUR ING by FEANI, and CEng MICE by ICE. He has also published more than a dozen papers in conferences and journals, promoting more efficient designs through advanced modelling.
The course is delivered online through our easy-to-use Virtual Campus platform. For this course, a variety of content is provided including:
– eLearning materials
– Videos
– Interactive multimedia content
– Live webinar classes
– Texts and technical articles
– Case studies
– Assignments and evaluation exercises
Students can download the materials and work through the course at their own pace.
We regularly update this course to ensure the latest news and state-of-the-art developments are covered, and your knowledge of the subject is current.
Live webinars form part of our course delivery. These allow students and tutors to go through the course materials, exchange ideas and knowledge, and solve problems together in a virtual classroom setting. Students can also make use of the platform’s forum, a meeting point to interact with tutors and other students.
The tutoring system is managed by email. Students can email the tutor with any questions about the course and the tutor will be happy to help.
The course is particularly interesting for students or professionals from the following areas:
– Civil Engineers; Geotechnical Engineers; Geologists; Geological Engineers and Mining Engineers;
– Tunnel construction professionals;
– Structural Engineering professionals who want to have a more complete understanding of Tunnel Support Design;
– Any other professional who is currently working with tunnels or intends to start a career dedicated to Tunnel Engineering.
Once a student finishes the course and successfully completes the assignments and evaluation tests, they are sent an accreditation certificate. The certificate is issued by Ingeoexpert to verify that the student has passed the course. It is a digital certificate that is unique and tamper-proof – it is protected by Blockchain technology. This means it is possible for anyone to check that it is an authentic, original document.
You will be able to download the certificate in an electronic format from the Virtual Campus platform. The certificate can be forwarded by email, shared on social networks, and embedded on websites. To see an example, click here.
There has never been a better time to become a tunnel engineer. Modern tunnels are becoming more cost-effective, resilient, and versatile, addressing critical challenges in transportation, water supply, sewage, storage, and energy infrastructure. Governments around the world are constructing longer and larger tunnels, driving a growing demand for skilled professionals capable of designing safe and efficient underground structures.
This course provides the essential design skills needed to advance or launch a career in underground and tunnelling projects, with a focus on conventional tunnels in soft ground conditions. By combining theory, practical methods, and real-world insights, you will gain the expertise to tackle the complex soil-structure interactions that define modern soft ground tunnelling projects.
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Design of conventional tunnels in soft ground
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Design of conventional tunnels in soft ground
| $336 | $267 | |
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