Investigation into the use of Continuous Strain Monitoring Fiber Optic techniques with a view to optimization of Ground Support Design associated with Tunnelling for Civil Infrastructure

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With the increasing world-wide innovations and technological advancements within the mining and tunnelling industry, Canada will require to remain competitive; not only to exploit its own natural resources and optimize design of civil infrastructure but also to continue to export such expertise globally. Exploiting the underground footprint within urban centers will be crucial to the sustainability of such habitations. Population and economic growth balanced against a decreasing investment in public infrastructure are combining to progressively strain Canada's public infrastructure. As such, engineers will be tasked to do more with less and must be forced to optimize their designs in order to provide safe, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions while minimizing impact on adjacent infrastructure and the environment. Tunnelling through weak rock (or soils) as part of civil infrastructure works (i.e. tunnelling for roads, railways, intakes for power stations, mine access, nuclear storage facilities etc.) presents unique challenges to the engineer, as misjudgments in the design of ground support systems can lead to costly failures, delays and potential human injury if under designed or high tunnelling costs if over designed. Examples of such shortcomings were include underground collapses in the light rail works in Ottawa, and similar urban tunnel collapse events in Arkansas, 2018, Oregon, 2018, Kuala Lampur 2014, Cologne 2009, Sao Paulo 2007, and Sydney 2005. These failures highlight the requirement to ensure that such mechanisms are identified and understood at the design stage and that the combined support configurations take into account all relevant factors associated with the potential tunnel behaviour and stability both during construction and subsequent operation. The proposed research covered by this Discovery Grant (DG) application leverages earlier successes achieved through NSERC funded research, to drive substantial new innovation and progress associated with the optimization of ground support elements. The research will concentrate on developing (and improving upon) a new optimized, data-driven and mechanics-based system design process for tunnel support technologies, replacing current empirical and component-focused design practice. Multiple Highly Qualified People (HQP) (PhD Students, Masters of Applied Science Students, Research Associates and Research Technologists) will be trained during this DG research program and gain significant national and international exposure. The applicant has secured funding (and buy-in from industrial and government partners) in order to provide HQPs with national and international on-site experiences at: multiple tunnelling constructions sites, mining sites, bunkers, deep geological repositories and nuclear storage facilities. The HQP will also be utilizing state-of-the-art fiber optic technologies in the field and also within a high tech and well equipped laboratory facility.