331a344BRESCIA_Mise en page 1 02/09/11 09:05 Page331

CHANTIERS/WORKSITES

Le mtro de Brescia (Italie)

Etudes de projet et analyse rtroactive

The Brescia underground (Italy)

Project studies and back-analysis
Paolo MERCANTI
Stone Spa

Andrea BELLOCHIO
Stone Spa

La future ligne de mtro de Brescia stend sur environ 13 km

et traverse toute la zone urbaine de lagglomration, dans la
direction Nord-Sud sur les 8 premiers kilomtres puis Est-Ouest
sur la longueur restante.

Rosanna SICILIA
Stone Spa

The future Brescia underground line extends along a route

of about 13 km, crossing the metropolitan area of the city
completely. It has a N-S direction for the first 8 km and then runs
E-W for the remaining part.

Le trac, la gologie etle tunnelier-

Figure 1 - Extrait de la carte montrant le trac du mtro de Brescia / Map extract of the route of the Brescia underground.

existantes pour lesquelles toute autre

solution tait impossible. Au total il est
prvu 18 stations dont certaines,
situes dans le centre historique, trs
profondes.

Route, geology andthe machineRoute

Two types of work were planned -

parts of the line underground in tunnels and parts overhead on a viaduct,

in consideration of the limitations
imposed by the pre-existing surface
elements.

TUNNELS ET ESPACE SOUTERRAIN - n226 - Juillet/Aot 2011

En fonction des limitations imposes

par les constructions existantes en surface, il a t prvu deux types douvrages : en souterrain (tunnels) et en
arien (viaducs). Concernant les
ouvrages souterrains, il sagit soit de
vritables tunnels raliss avec un tunnelier pression de terre (EPB-Shield)
soit de faux tunnels excuts en
tranche couverte labri de parois
moules.
La solution ciel ouvert a t applique aux zones de banlieue o lurbanisation plus lgre et lexistence de
grandes artres permettent de
construire des viaducs.
La mthode de construction en tunnel profond correspond la traverse
du centre historique de Brescia et au
passage sous certaines infrastructures

Astaldi S.p.A.

Trac

331

331a344BRESCIA_Mise en page 1 02/09/11 09:05 Page332

CHANTIERS/WORKSITES M

Gologie
La zone urbaine de Brescia se situe au
pied de la partie terminale du Val
Trompia et concide avec le cne alluvial de la rivire Mella son dbouch
sur la plaine de Lombardie ; morphologiquement, elle se prsente en gros
comme une plaine. Les collines qui
entourent la plaine de Brescia sont des
formations sdimentaires du Msozoque, essentiellement de nature
marno-calcaire. Ces formations rsultent de dplacements dus des chevauchements caractre rgional et,
localement, des failles transversales.
La zone concerne correspond une
formation msozoque fortement marque par un processus drosion du
Cnozoque et remplie de dpts alluvionnaires disposition variable de
subhorizontale localement incline.
Les processus morphogntiques qui
ont profondment modifi cette zone
peuvent dans lensemble tre schmatiss comme une expansion de glaciers
qui, dans les formations msozoques,
provoque des phnomnes intenses
et gigantesques de broyage et de
transports solides ; le travail des cours
deau, en contribuant la destruction
des formations msozoques et
miocniques, a remodel les dpts
glaciaires, leur donnant ainsi des caractristiques granulomtriques complexes.
Au plan lithologique, ces dpts sont
composs de sables, graviers et galets
dans une matrice argilo-limoneuse
plus ou moins importante, parfois plus
abondante. Cest sur ce type de terrain
quest situ le cur de la ville de Brescia.
Lanalyse dtaille des dpts situs
au-dessus de la base carbonifre qui
forment le cne alluvial de la Mella
conduit distinguer trois horizons sdimentaires, avec des dpts subhorizontaux et de frquentes htrognits
parmi les lithotypes en prsence dues
des variations lors des processus
rosion-dpt. Ces trois horizons, du
plus superficiel sur lequel reposent
les structures urbaines au plus pro-

332

2G

2GS

2GSL

Figure 2 - Rpartition en pourcentage des sous-groupes du groupe 2 /

Distribution by percentage of the sub-groups of unit 2.

fond, prsentent les caractristiques

granulomtriques suivantes :
sables et graviers (Groupe R Plistocne suprieur Olocne) ;
conglomrats avec intercalations
limono-argileuse (Groupe 1 Plistocne) ;
zone argilo-limoneuse avec des lentilles sablo-graveleuses (Groupe 2
Villefranchien).
En gnral, 85 % des sols se situent
dans les classes G et S du Systme
Unifi USCS ; suivant la classification
AASHO M 145-49, les classes les plus
reprsentes sont les classes A1 et
A2-4, avec quelques zones sporadiques en A2-6 toutefois peu reprsentatives et localises.
Le long du trac, il nexiste pas de
variations granulomtriques significatives sauf du Nord au Sud o les sols
sont de plus en plus grossiers jusqu
la zone de dpt o la composante
argile-silt est totalement absente et o
les matriaux, bien rpartis sur le plan
granulomtrique, prsentent une
matrice compose de sable fin et dun
squelette grossier trs rigide. La fraction limono-argileuse, quand elle existe
(c'est--dire surtout dans les couches
superficielles remanies successivement), varie de peu plastique pas du
tout plastique.
Les natures de terrain rencontres sur
le trac sont rsumes ci-aprs :
Groupe R : alluvions de nature erra-

M TUNNELS ET ESPACE SOUTERRAIN - n226 - Juillet/Aot 2011

The first case includes the creation

of natural tunnels produced by mechanical full section excavation with a TBM
machine able to apply back pressure
to the digging face, so an Earth Pressure Balance Shield (EPB-S).
The second production type provides
for artificial tunnels excavated between bulkhead apertures. An open
solution was adopted for the part of
the route outside the city centre, in
areas of lesser impact, in which the
lower degree of urbanisation and the
existence of main roads allow the
creation of viaducts.
The deep tunnel solution is closely
linked to crossing the historic centre
of the city and the interference of
some pre-existing infrastructures,
which would be impossible to surpass otherwise. In total, 18 stations
are planned with those in the city
centre underground.

Geology
The urban area of Brescia is in the
foothills at the end of Val Trompia
coinciding with the alluvial fan of the
River Mella, at its outlet onto the
Lombard plain and, overall, has the
morphology of a plain. The hills
around the Brescia plain consist of
Mesozoic sedimentary formations
mainly of a limestone-marl nature.
These formations are distributed with

thrust of a regional nature and locally

with transverse faults. The area
concerned features a Mesozoic
strongly marked by Cenozoic erosion
processes and filled with alluvial
deposits which have a sub-horizontal
to locally inclined attitudes. The morphogenetic processes that have
profoundly changed the sector in
question can be schematised as
expansion of the glaciers which, in
Mesozoic formations, caused intense
and enormous processes of demolition and transport of solids; the work
of water-courses, contributing to the
dismantling of the Mesozoic-Miocenic formations, remodelled the glacial
depositional layers, giving them a
complex granulometric relationships.
Lithologically, these deposits are
formed by sand with gravel and pebbles of a more or less scarce and, at
times, more abundant silt-clay matrix.
The urban nucleus of Brescia is on
this ground.
Detailed analysis of the alluvial deposit forming the fan of the River Mella,
resting on the carbonate base, three
sedimentary horizons can be recognised with sub-horizontal deposits
and frequent heteropy among the
lithotypes present due to variations
in the erosion-depositional processes.
These three horizons, from the most
superficial on which the urban structure is resting to the deepest, granulometrically feature:
a gravelly-sandy unit (Unit R, Late
Pleistocene-Holocene);
a conglomeratic unit with silt-clay
intercalations (Unit 1 - Pleistocene);
a clay-loam unit containing sandygravel lenses (Unit 2 - Villafranchian).
In general, 85% of the land falls into
classes G and S, according to the
USCS Unified System classification;
following the AASHO M 145-49 classification, the classes most represented fall into A1 and A2-4 with sporadic
episodes of A2-6, however localised
and not very representative.

331a344BRESCIA_Mise en page 1 02/09/11 09:05 Page333

CHANTIERS/WORKSITES

Hydrologie
Lhydrologie de surface de la zone est
rgule par plusieurs cours deau dont

les plus importants sont la rivire Mella

et le torrent Garza, ce dernier recoupant en plusieurs points le trac du
Metrobus. Des canaux artificiels et des
fosss connects aux principaux cours
deau compltent le rseau hydrologique de surface.
Le sous-sol de Brescia est le sige de
circulations hydrauliques importantes
alimentes par le bassin hydrogologique du Val Trompia qui pntre dans
les dpts alluvionnaires avec un
champ de variation pizomtrique
limit aux couches suprieures. Les
horizons de faible permabilit (limons
argiles) prsents dans les alluvions
sont souvent le sige de nappes perches, ce qui explique certaines anomalies des niveaux pizomtriques. La
pluviomtrie de la zone, relativement
constante depuis 200 ans, est denviron 1000 mm/an, avec quelques rares
pics 1250 mm/an. Considrant le
ruissellement et lvapotranspiration,
ainsi que la collecte anthropique des
eaux de pluie, on peut considrer avec
une assez bonne approximation que le
taux dinfiltration de la zone est de lordre de 15 % de la pluviosit annuelle.

Le tunnelier (Fig. 3 & 4)

Le tunnelier EPB-S utilis pour lexcavation du mtro de Brescia a un diamtre de coupe de 9,15m ;
longitudinalement, le tunnelier prsente une lgre conicit afin de permettre son avancement sans gnrer
de rtrcissement ; ainsi le diamtre
au milieu du tunnelier est de 9,13 m
tandis quil est de 9,12 m en queue,
ce qui donne un vide annulaire radial

There are no significant granulometric variations along the route unless

proceeding from north to south, in
increasingly coarse features up to the
depot area where the silt-clay component is completely absent and the
well-graded materials granulometrically, have a matrix consisting of fine
sand and a very mature coarse skeleton. The silt-clay fraction, where
present, i.e. mainly in the surface strata
and altered by the succession, are
from not very plastic to not plastic.
The units interfering with route are
summarised briefly below:
Unit R: alluvium of a chaotic and
heterometric nature with a prevalence of evolved polygenic gravel
with pebbles in the presence of
abundant brown sandy-loam matrix. It
is unlikely that this layer exceeds 5 m;
Unit 1: sandy silt and silty clay
embedding medium-fine gravel
and occasional pebbles. Isolated
lenses almost never more than 5 m
thick;
Unit 2: certainly the most characteristic, in turn this was sub-divided into sub-units based on the
nature and amount of the sandyloam matrix: heterometric, polygenic gravel with pebbles immersed
in a sandy-loam matrix (Tab. 1);
Unit 3: medium to fine silty sand
with sub-radiused polygenic gravel;
- average relative density RD = 5560%
- physical-mechanical features:
project values
Unit 4: dolomitic limestone:
- Rock Quality Designation (RQD)
between 20 and 50%.
Coefficient de cohsion/Coefficient of cohesion
C(kN/m2)
Cu (kN/m2)
draine/drained
non draine/undrained

Sous-groupe
Sub unit

Poids spcifique
Weight / unit of volume (kN/m3)

Angle de frottement
Friction angle

2G

22,00

38-42

2GS

21,00

37-40

2GSL

20,00

36-38

()

Tableau 1 - Proprits physico-mcaniques : valeurs de projet du groupe 2 /

Physical-mechanical features: the project values of unit 2.

Unit 2 is the one mostly found along

the route and is about 70-75% of the
granulometric composition. The subunit 2G is 64% of the gravel, while
the remaining 34% is equally distributed between 2GS and 2GSL (Fig. 2).

Hydrology
Surface hydrology in the area is regulated by the development of many
water-courses, of which the most
important are the Rivers Mella and
Garza, the latter being intersected in
several points by the Metrobus route.
Artificial canals and ditches connecting to the main water-courses complete the surface water network.
The subsoil of Brescia is the site of
considerable water circulation, fed by
the catchment and hydrogeological
basin of Val Trompia, which permeates the alluvial deposits with a
piezometric oscillation field confined
to the upper deposits. Low permeability horizons (silt-clay) in the alluvial
succession are often the site of local
suspended water-tables which justify
irregular depth to water table values.
The rainfall in the area has been quite
constant in the last 200 years and is
about 1,000 mm/year with rare
peaks of more than 1,250 mm/year.
Considering the run-off and evapotranspiration component, as well as
human channelling of rainwater, an
infiltration rate of 15% of the annual
rainfall can, very approximately, be
considered in the area.

The machine (Fig. 3 & 4)

The EPB-S machine used for the
excavation of the Brescia underground has an excavation diameter,
coinciding with the profile of the
shield at the front, of 9.15 m; the
geometry of the shield provide for a
longitudinal conical shape to allow
forward progress of the machine
without generating creeping. The diameter at the centre of the shield is

TUNNELS ET ESPACE SOUTERRAIN - n226 - Juillet/Aot 2011

tique et htrogne avec prvalence

de graviers polygniques et de galets
dans une matrice abondante de
sables limoneux bruns. La puissance
de cette couche excde rarement 5
mtres ;
Groupe 1 : silts sableux et argile
limoneuse enrobant des graviers
moyens fins et quelques rares
galets ; ce sont des lentilles isoles
ne dpassant presque jamais 5
mtres ;
Groupe 2 : certainement la plus
caractrise, elle-mme divise en
sous-couches selon la nature et la
quantit de matrice sablo-limoneuse :
graviers htromtriques, polygniques, avec galets, entours dune
matrice sablo-limoneuse (Tab. 1) ;
Groupe 3 : sables limoneux, de
moyens fins, avec graviers polygniques arrondis :
- densit relative moyenne DR : 55
60 %
- Caractristiques physico-mcaniques : valeurs de projet
Groupe 4 : calcaires dolomitiques :
- RQD (Rock Quality Designation)
entre 20 et 50 %
Le Groupe 2 est celui qui est le plus
souvent rencontr sur le trac : il reprsente environ 70 75 % en termes de
composition granulomtrique.
Le sous-groupe 2G reprsente 64 %
des graviers, tandis que les 36 % restants sont galement rpartis entre les
groupe 2GS et 2GSL (Fig. 1).

333

331a344BRESCIA_Mise en page 1 02/09/11 09:05 Page334

CHANTIERS/WORKSITES M
Figure 4 - Section longitudinale du
tunnelier / Longitudinal section
of the EPB-S.

Figure 3 - Tte de coupe du tunnelier

EPB-S / Bore head of the EPB-S.

2 - Procdure dtablissementdu projet pour lvaluationde linteraction sol-structureNous dcrivons ci-aprs une synthse
de la procdure adopte par le Mtro
de Brescia pour lvaluation du risque
potentiel de dommages aux structures
existantes, ainsi que la procdure pratique au plan international laquelle

334

ont t apportes quelques prcisions

sur la dfinition des catgories de
dommages.
Phase A - Evaluation prliminaire
Il sagit de lvaluation au niveau de
projet du champ de dformations induit
par le creusement du tunnel. Cette
valuation conduit la dfinition dune
cuvette de tassement probable (en terrain non construit) avec une hypothse
de perte de volume Vp = 0,50 %.
Phase B - Deuxime stade
dvaluation
Cette phase prvoit deux sous-phases
dtudes :
Lanalyse greenfield * (*cest-dire en supposant le terrain non
construit), qui permet de quantifier les
dommages potentiels aux constructions de surface en classifiant ces
dommages (linteraction sol-structure
nest pas prise en compte ce stade) ;
il est noter que, selon la bibliographie sur le classement des risques de
dommages (Burland 1977, Boscardin
& Cording 1989), les constructions
appartenant aux classes 3 et inf-

M TUNNELS ET ESPACE SOUTERRAIN - n226 - Juillet/Aot 2011

Astaldi SpA

moyen, entre le front de taille et la

queue, de lordre de 15 mm. Le diamtre de lextrados de lanneau de
revtement en voussoirs prfabriqus
est de 8,850 m (pour un diamtre dintrados de 8,150 m et une paisseur de
revtement de 0,35 m) ; ainsi, lpaisseur du vide annulaire injecter au
ciment est denviron 150 mm.
La pression maximale dans la chambre
dexcavation est de 3 bars ; la pousse
est fournie par 38 vrins rpartis en 19
paires qui exercent, sous la pression
maximale de 350 bars, une pousse
totale de 81 895 kN ; la pression de
travail de 300 bars correspond une
pousse de 70 196 kN.

9.130 m while its 9.12 m at the end,

therefore an annular gap on the
radius of 15 mm is provided for between the front and end of the shield.
The extrados of the lining ring in prefabricated segments is 8.850 m (for
an intrados of 8.150 m and a lining
thickness of 0.35 m) so the annular
space to fill with cement mixtures is
about 150 mm.
The maximum pressure in the excavation chamber is about 3 bar; the
thrust is applied by 38 jacks distributed in 19 groups of two with a maximum pressure of 350 bar generating
an overall maximum thrust of 81.895
kN; the working pressure is thought
to be 300 bar corresponding to a
thrust of 70.196 kN.

2 - The project procedurefor the assessment of thesoil-structure interactionA summary of the project procedure
adopted for Brescia underground in
the sphere of the assessment of the
potential risk of damage to buildings
is shown below.
The project procedure used at international level, to which refinements
were applied in the definition of the
class of damage, is also shown
below.
Step A - Preliminary Assessment
This is the project assessment of the
deformation situation induced by the
excavation of the tunnel. This leads

331a344BRESCIA_Mise en page 1 02/09/11 09:05 Page335

CHANTIERS/WORKSITES

Phase C - Evaluation dtaille

Aprs les analyses selon les phases A
et B, sont dfinis dans cette phase les
diffrents types de constructions et
leurs diffrents niveaux de sensibilit
par rapport aux catgories de dommages identifis dans les phases prcdentes qui peuvent ainsi conduire
des critres plus limitatifs dacceptabilit. Considrant des tudes plus
rcentes sur le creusement de tunnels
en zone urbaine, cette phase aborde
aussi lanalyse de paramtres supplmentaires prenant en compte la
sensibilit de diffrents types de
constructions, leur usage, leur finition,
leur amnagement et ltat de rigidit
de ces constructions. Ainsi, pour la
classification du dommage potentiel
induit, il y a lieu de prendre en compte
ces diffrentes sensibilits. Le tableau
2 donne une synthse qui, sur la base

Type de btiment
Type of building

Niveau de dommage admissible

Class of admissible damage

Btiments BA
Buildings in reinforced concrete

Btiments sur murs porteurs

Buildings on load bearing walls

1/2

Btiments historiques sur murs porteurs

Fine and historic buildings on load bearing walls
Eglises, btiments avec fresques, etc.
Churches, buildings with frescoes, etc.

1
0/1

Tableau 2 - Corrlation entre la sensibilit de limmeuble et les dommages

admissibles / Correlation between building sensitivity and admissible damage.

de critres semblables ceux dcrits

dans la bibliographie et de rsultats
fournis par lexprience de projets
similaires, dfinit de manire plus prcise et plus cible les catgories de
dommages admissibles en fonction de
la typologie des ouvrages. Pour les
constructions sensibles , il est
prvu une valuation dtaille en utilisant le modle numrique FDM/FEM
2D2D/3D (Fig. 5).

3 - Traverse du complexe Punto e Virgola :estimations relativesau projetLa traverse du complexe immobilier
Punto e Virgola mrite une attention

Figure 5 - Maillage du modle FDM/FEM 3D des immeubles sensibles /

Mesh modelling of sensitive buildings, FDM/FEM 3D.

to the definition of the probable subsidence basin (greenfield condition)

with the hypothesis of lost volume
Vp = 0.50%.
Step B - Second Stage Assessment
This stage set out two sub-stages
of work:
greenfield analysis in which the
assessment of the potential damage
to surface buildings was made, establishing the classes of damage (the
soil-structure interaction was not
considered at this stage);
it should be noted how buildings in
the class up to 3 and lower classes
are considered not subject to significant damage in the classification of
the risk of damage shown in the
Bibliography (Burland 1997, and Boscardin and Cording 1989);
the simplified Potts and Addenbrooke method (1996), a stage of
analysis in which assessment of the
potential damage to buildings is reached, defining the classes of damage
and taking account of the soil-structure interaction according to reference schedules and tables.
Step C - Detailed Evaluation
After the analyses carried out in
Steps A and B, the different types of
building with different types of sensitivity with respect to the classes of
damage identified in the previous
steps and which may lead to more
limited acceptability criteria, are

assessed in this step. In the sphere

of more recent studies relating to the
tunnel excavation in an urban environment, reference is made to the
analysis of additional parameters
also taking account of the different
sensitivity of different types of
construction, use, fine finishings/furnishings and the condition of the building (status of consistency). As a
result, in the sphere of the classification of potential induced damage,
account should be taken of different
types of sensitivity. Table 2 gives a
summary defining the classes of
admissible damage according to the
type in a more detailed and accurate
manner, on the basis of criteria similar to those shown in the Bibliography
and project experience gained from
similar problems. Detailed assessments through numerical modelling
FDM/FEM 2D2D/3D is planned for
sensitive buildings (Fig. 5).

3 - Crossing the Punto eVirgola complex - projectforecastsThe passage of the Punto e Virgola
complex merits special attention.
Passing under the Punto e Virgola
building was within the scope of the
excavation of the long stretch from
Lamarmora station (pk 8+686.80) to
Brescia 2 station (pk 7+867.78) and
saw the excavation by EPB-S of
about 530 m of tunnel. Consider the
difference in progress between the
start of the south stretch, pk
8+148.73, and the end of the north
part, pk 7+918.50.
Under the project procedure of analysis of the soil-structure interaction
described above, the deformation
behaviour of the soil, i.e. the extent
of the subsidence and the distortions
induced by excavation and also the
effects in terms of risk for the buildings, was examined. The project
analyses made took into account the

TUNNELS ET ESPACE SOUTERRAIN - n226 - Juillet/Aot 2011

rieures 3 ne sont pas considres

comme sujettes des dommages
importants.
La mthode simplifie de Potts &
Addenbrooke (1966), qui est un niveau
danalyse dans lequel on estime les
dommages potentiels aux constructions en dfinissant des catgories de
dsordres et en prenant en compte
linteraction sol-structure selon les
abaques et les tableaux de rfrence.

335

331a344BRESCIA_Mise en page 1 02/09/11 09:05 Page336

CHANTIERS/WORKSITES M
Cuvettes de tassement
Subsidence basins

Niveau rgional
Country level

Couverture [m]
Level cover [m]

i [m]

Largeur de
cuvette [m] Smax
3i [m]
Basin
[cm]
width [m]

8+600

17,02

7,56

22,67

45,35

-1,74

8+540

16,70

7,45

22,34

44,68

-1,76

8+518

16,78

7,47

22,42

44,85

-1,75

8+490

16,51

7,38

22,14

44,28

-1,78

8+479

16,92

7,52

22,57

45,14

-1,74

8+417

16,63

7,42

22,27

44,53

-1,77

8+394

18,40

8,04

24,12

48,25

-1,63

8+370

18,17

7,96

23,88

47,76

-1,65

8+302

20,12

8,64

25,93

51,86

-1,52

8+237

19,65

8,48

25,44

50,87

-1,55

8+200

20,35

8,72

26,17

52,34

-1,50

Progr. [km]

Tableau 3 - Cuvettes de tassement sur la section comprise entre les stations

Lamarmora et Brescia / Subsidence basins on the Lamarmora-Brescia stations section.

particulire. Ce passage sous limmeuble Punto e Virgola tait prvu dans

le cadre de lexcavation dun long tronon entre les stations Lamarmora (pk
8 + 686,80) et Brescia 2 (pk 7 + 867,78),
avec forage au tunnelier EPD-S sur environ 530 mtres. A remarquer la diffrence de vitesse davancement entre
le dbut du tronon Sud (pk 8 +
148,73) et la fin du tronon Nord (pk
7 + 918,50).
Selon la procdure prvue au projet et
dcrite plus haut pour lanalyse de linteraction sol-structure, on a tudi le
comportement du sol en dformation,
c'est--dire lamplitude des tassements et dformations induits par le
creusement ainsi que les effets en
termes de risques sur les immeubles.
Ces tudes prennent en compte les
rsultats fournis par le plot dessai
effectu sur le trac du creusement
entre les stations Volta (pk 9 + 757,75)
et Lamarmora (pk 8 + 686,80). Ce plot
dessai a permis dtablir la relation
dinteraction sol-machine et, ainsi, de
passer une calibration effective des
modles de prvision et des paramtres gotechniques pour la phase
dtablissement du projet dfinitif.
Les donnes recueillies et analyses
mirent en vidence un comportement
de terrain qui correspond en ligne
gnrale aux hypothses de calcul
adoptes dans la phase de projet dfinive ; en particulier, la valeur de perte

336

de volume fixe Vp = 0,50% pour

tout le parcours (sauf pour les zones
dexprimentation spcifique). Toutefois, la variabilit locale des caractristiques granulomtriques du sol excav
a impos une analyse soigne des
zones dfinies comme dlicates .
Dans un tel contexte, il a t jug
appropri de dfinir les cas dans lesquels la valeur de Vp apparat suprieure celle prvue au projet. Des
analyses furent galement ralises
avec des mthodes de calcul plus
sophistiques, mieux aptes apprhender le comportement des structures soumises aux dformations de
sol dues au creusement. La couverture
de sol c'est--dire la distance entre
le sol et lextrados du toit du tunnel

results which emerged in the test

area carried forward within the long
stretch of excavation between the
Volta (pk 9+757.75) and Lamarmora
(pk 8+686.80) stations. This test area
enabled the machine-soil interaction
relationship to be assessed and so
move onto an effective calibration of
the forecasting models and the geotechnical parameters of the soil crossed arranged during the final design
stage.
The data collected and analysed
highlighted soil behaviour which
generally responded to the project
hypotheses adopted in the final design stage; in particular, the value of
lost volume settled at Vp = 0.50% for
the whole stretch (except for the
areas subject to specific experiments). Nevertheless, the local variability of the granulometric features of
the excavated soil imposed careful
analysis of the contexts defined as
delicate.
In the sphere of these, it was thought
appropriate to assess cases in which
the Vp value was greater than that
forecast in the project. The analyses
were also carried out with more refined methods of calculation, better
able to grasp the behavioural aspects
of the structures which are subject to
deformation of the soil following the
passage of the excavation. The cover

- meaning the distance between the

country level and the extrados of the
tunnel roof - for the length of excavation concerned, stayed constant
between Lamarmora (pk 8+686.80)
station and the progressive 8+417,
around 17 m. Subsequently, the cover
increases to Brescia 2 station (pk
7+867.78) around 20 m. The definition of the deformation situation
induced by the excavation of the tunnel, determined according to the
empirical methods in the literature
(Peck 1969, Attwell and Fermer
1974, Attwell 1977, Attwell and
Woodman 1982, OReilly and New
1982, Rankin 1987, and Shirlaw and
Doran 1988) show how a progressive
increase in the extent of the transverse basin corresponds to this trend
in the cover (from 44 m to 52 m) and
a progressive reduction of the maximum subsidence forecast at soil
level, adopting an average value of k
= 0.35, a value also confirmed by the
experience of the test area and a
value of lost excavation volume of
0.50% (Tab. 3). It should be noted that
the maximum subsidence in the project forecast was in the range Smax
= 1.50-1.78 cm. On the basis of the
subsidence induced by the excavation and in the light of the geometric,
structural and building preservation
features, the damage category was

n immeuble / n Building

Figure 6 - Classification des dommages sur la section entre les stations St.Lamarmora et Brescia 2 /
Classes of damage on the section from Lamarmora station to Brescia 2 station.

M TUNNELS ET ESPACE SOUTERRAIN - n226 - Juillet/Aot 2011

331a344BRESCIA_Mise en page 1 02/09/11 09:05 Page337

CHANTIERS/WORKSITES
est reste constante 17 m environ
sur la longueur dexcavation concerne, entre la station Lamarmora (pk 8
+ 686,80) et le pk 8 + 417. Ensuite,
la couverture augmente jusqu 20 m
environ la station Brescia 2 (pk 7 +
867,78).
Lexamen de ltat de dformation
induit par lexcavation, dtermin selon
les mthodes empiriques de la littrature technique (Peck 1969, Attwell et
Fermer 1974, Attwell et Woodman
1982, OReilly et New 1982, Rankine
1987 et Shirlaw & Doran 1988), montre une augmentation progressive de
lemprise de la cuvette transversale de
tassement en fonction de la variation
de couverture (de 44 52 m) et une
diminution progressive du tassement
prvu au niveau du sol, en adoptant une
valeur moyenne de k=0,35, valeur confirme par le plot dessai, et une valeur de
0,50 % de perte de volume (Tab. 3).
Il est noter que le tassement maximum prvu au stade du projet tait
de Smax = 1,50 - 1,78 cm. Sur la base
de ce tassement induit par le creusement et au vu des caractristiques
gomtriques et structurelles des
immeubles et de leur tat de conservation, la catgorie de dommages fut

Figure 7 - Le complexe immobilier Punto e Virgola /

The Punto e Virgola complex.

dtermine suivant les recommandations de la littrature (Mair, Taylor et

Burland 1996 et Boscardin & Cording
1989).

identified in accordance with the

suggestions of the literature (Mair,
Taylor and Burland 1996, and Boscardin and Cording 1989).
A summary diagram which recapitulates the assessments of the risk
classes deduced for the buildings
interfering with the excavation is
shown. The assessments of the risk
classes of the buildings are, on average, usually on values that fall between damage categories 0 and 1
except for building 573 for which the
e value reaches 0.125, in damage
class 2. This building, known as the
Punto e Virgola complex, should be
considered sensitive for a series of
reasons illustrated below. As a result,
additional in-depth analyses were
carried out.
The building, constructed in 198385, is developed with two underground floors, a basement, mezzanine
and first floor with an almost square
shaped elevation. Two towers - the

Cuvette de tassement pk 8 + 200 / Subsidence basin

Coupe gologique / Geological section

Remblais htrognes et terre vgtale

Heterometric alluvium
Sables et graviers avec nodules dargile limoneuse
Brown silty clay with sand and gravel
Graviers htrognes et galets dans une matrice
sablo-limoneuse / Heterometric polygenic gravel with
pebbles in sandy-silty matrix
Sables limoneux moyens fins avec graviers
polygniques / Medium to fine silty sands with
polygenic gravel
Calcaire gris-blanc avec passages dolomitiss et
fracturs / Grey to white limestone with dolomitised
and fractured places

Figure 8A et 8B - Extrait de la coupe gologique au niveau du complexe Punto e Virgola / Extract of the geological section of the Punto e Virgola complex.

TUNNELS ET ESPACE SOUTERRAIN - n226 - Juillet/Aot 2011

337

331a344BRESCIA_Mise en page 1 02/09/11 09:05 Page338

CHANTIERS/WORKSITES M
Variations de pertes de volume / Variations in volume losses
Vp = 0,5 %
Position of building
Couver[m]
ture

pm

Progressive

Building

Vp = 0,7 %

Dplacement
Tasse- Dplacement
vertical
ment
horizontal
max.
max. Vertical movement
Max Max horizontal
subsi- moveL
R
dence... ment

Dommage/
Type
dimmeuble
Damage
/building
category

Dplacement
Tasse- Dplacement
vertical
ment
horizontal
max.
max. Vertical movement
max
Max Max horizontal
subsi- moveL
R
dence... ment

Vp = 1 %
Dommage/
Type
dimmeuble
Damage/
building
category

Dplacement
Tasse- Dplacement
vertical
ment
horizontal
max.
max. Vertical movement
max
Max Max horizontal
subsi- moveL
R
dence... ment

Dommage/
Type
dimmeuble
Damage/
building
category

max

Cover
[m]

8+237 573 l

-45

-7,6

-3,08

0,65

0,00

-1,55

0,119 -4,31

0,91

0,00

-2,16

0,167 -6,16

1,31

0,00

-3,09

0,238

8+237 573 ll

-5

43,5

-7,6

-3,08

0,65

-1,55

0,00

0,033 -4,31

0,91

-2,16

0,00

0,047 -6,16

1,31

-3,09

0,00

0,066

8+200 573 l

-38

12,5

-7,3

-3,16

0,67

0,00

-0,03

0,125 -4,42

0,94

0,00

-0,05

0,175 -6,31

1,34

0,00

-0,07

0,251

8+200 573 ll

12,5

51

-7,3

-3,16

0,67

-0,03

0,00

0,001 -4,42

0,94

-0,05

0,00

0,002 -6,31

1,34

-0,07

0,00

0,002

Tableau 4 : Dfinition des classes de dommages au complexe Punto e Virgola pour Vp = 0,50%, 0,70% et 1% / The definition of the classes of damage by Vp = 0.50%,
0.70% and 1% in the Punto e Virgola complex

Synthse des valeurs maximum de et des classes de dommages / Max values and damage classes

Section

Figure 9A

Le tableau ci-dessus rcapitule les

estimations des classes de risques
pour les immeubles soumis laction
du creusement. En moyenne, ces estimations de classes de risques correspondent gnralement des valeurs
situes entre les catgories 0 et 1 sauf
pour lensemble immobilier 573 pour
lequel la valeur de atteint 0,125 ce
qui le place en classe de risque 2. Cet
ensemble, connu sous le nom de complexe Punto e Virgola , a t considr comme sensible pour plusieurs
raisons illustres ci-aprs, ce qui a
conduit raliser des analyses approfondies.
Lensemble, construit en 1983-1985,
est construit avec deux niveaux en
sous-sol, un niveau semi-enterr, une
terrasse et un premier tage en lvation de forme presque carre. Sur ce
vaste plateau, mergent les deux tours,
la Virgola et le Punto , de 8
tages surmontant un tage technique
de connexion entre la terrasse et les
tours. Dans la zone dinteraction avec
le trac du mtro, le tunnel circulaire
de 9,15 de diamtre prsente une couverture denviron 7,60 m par rapport
au niveau de fondation de ldifice. La
prsence dune couverture aussi rduite

338

de moins dun diamtre dexcavation

et jamais rencontre sur les tracs prcdents a conduit raliser une analyse approfondie au moyen dune srie
de mesures multidisciplinaires. Les
inspections effectues ont mis en vidence la prsence dune srie de phnomnes de fissuration, concentrs
surtout sur les cloisons et les revtements. Concernant la terrasse de ldifice, il sagit en gnral - de fines
fissures visibles qui, dans certains cas
dans les niveaux enterrs, atteignent
une dimension plus importante. Les
manifestations les plus importantes de
ces fissures en termes de nombre et
de grosseur ont t rencontres sur les
revtements le long des joints et/ou
proximit de ceux-ci, avec un niveau de
gravit dcroissant du 3me niveau enterr
au premier tage au-dessus du sol.
Pour la tour circulaire Punto , seules
quelques fissures ont t observes
sur quelques cloisons et le long des
joints verticaux du revtement intrieur
en faade.
Sur la tour Virgola , on a rencontr
une fissuration plus vidente (bien que
peu dveloppe), la fois en nombre
et en tendue, toutefois limite aux
quipements architecturaux, en parti-

M TUNNELS ET ESPACE SOUTERRAIN - n226 - Juillet/Aot 2011

Punto and the Virgola - with another eight floors and a technical
connection floor between the plate
and the towers, emerge above this
vast plate. The circular tunnel 9.15 m
in diameter has a cover of about
7.60 m with respect to the foundation
level of the building in the area of
interaction with the line of the underground. The existence of such little
cover, less than the diameter of excavation and not found in the previously
excavated parts, induced in-depth
analysis through a series of inter-disciplinary activities. The on-site inspections made highlighted a series of
cracks, concentrated mainly on partitions and cladding. As far as the
plate of the building was concerned,
these were generally obvious threads
that, in some cases, had the size of
lesions in the underground floors. The
most important phenomena for
extent and distribution were found on
the cladding along the joints and/or
near to these with a scale of importance that decreases from the third
underground level to the first floor
above ground.
There were only threads on some of
the partitions and along the vertical

joints of the internal faade panelling of the Punto tower, with a circular plan.
A more obvious situation of cracks,
both by amount and spread, was
found on the Virgola tower (although
not by much), limited, however, to the
architectural apparatus, particularly
in the area of the elbow on the plan
corresponding to the projection of the
joint. From the geological point of
view, the soil under the foundation
level of the plinths of the building
consists of a formation with alternating gravel, sand and silt; the tunnel
was concerned with a stratification
of medium to fine silty sand, with
polygenic gravel, for most of the
excavation. An extract of the section
with the geology of the part under
consideration is shown herein.
The maximum subsidence (Fig. 9B, 9C,
9D), referring to the cover between the
foundation level and the keystone of
the roof, is calculated for that building
with the project hypothesis of k = 0.35
and Vp = 0.50% and is then equal to
Smax = 3.16 cm. The complex in
consideration therefore had a series of
critical elements such as:
the low cover value between the

331a344BRESCIA_Mise en page 1 02/09/11 09:06 Page339

CHANTIERS/WORKSITES

Section
Gauche / Left

Droit / Right

Building

Tassement / Settlement

Tassements max. / Max settlements / Vp=0,7%

Section

Tassement / Settlement

Tassements max. / Max settlements / Vp=1%

Section

Figure 9B, 9C et 9D.

programme FLAC 4.0. Sur la section

pk 8+200, on a procd aux analyses
suivantes :
Analyse 1 - sans consolidation : lobjet de cette analyse est de recrer
avec le modle numrique la cuvette
thorique avec les hypothses de
calcul Vp=0,70 % et k=0,35.
Analyse 2 - avec consolidation : lobjet de cette phase danalyse est
dvaluer linfluence du traitement de
consolidation autour de lexcavation.
Un exemple du modle de calcul utilis

level of foundation set out and the

keystone of the roof in correspondence with the Punto e Virgola
building;
the situation of the cracks highlighted in the elbow area of the Virgola tower;
the results of the analysis of the
soil-structure interaction of the
above-mentioned complex.
By associating the possibility of a
local granulation variation and possible resulting alteration in the value

of the lost volume with the relative

increase in terms of effects on the
building, as found during the excavation of the part of the TBM test field,
it was considered appropriate to
arrange for treatment of the soil
through the injection cement and silicate mixtures for the complex in
question so that an arc of consolidated earth at the edge of the tunnel
was formed, thus reducing the deformation effects on the building.
Table 4 shows the analyses conducted on the variation in the volume lost
fir VP = 0.50%, Vp = 0.70% and Vp
= 1%.
For the purposes of assessing the
influence of consolidation on the
transverse subsidence basin, an analysis of the final difference was made
with the FLAC 4.0 calculation code.
Referring to section pk 8+200, the
following analyses were made:
Analysis 1 - without consolidation:
the purpose of this analysis was to
recreate the theoretical basin calculated hypothesising Vp = 0.70%
and k = 0.35%;
Analysis 2 - with consolidation: the
purpose of this stage of analysis
was to assess the influence of the
consolidation operation on the surrounding area of the excavation.
An extract of the calculation model
used and the results of the simulation
are given below (Fig. 10 & 11). In particular, there are the transverse subsidence basins obtained with the FLAC
calculation model with and without
consolidation compared with the
theoretical basin obtained by hypothesising Vp = 0.70% and k = 0.35%.
The results obtained with the numeric model show a substantial reduction of the extent of the deformation
phenomenon (maximum subsidence
is reduced from 4.75 cm to 0.7 cm).
Following these good numerical
results, in terms of response of the
subsidence basin, it was decided to
intervene through a consolidation

TUNNELS ET ESPACE SOUTERRAIN - n226 - Juillet/Aot 2011

culier dans la zone du coude du

plan correspondant la projection du
joint.
Du point de vue gologique, sous le
plan de fondation de la base de ldifice, le terrain est constitu dune alternance de graviers, sables et silts ; sur
une grande partie de lexcavation, le
tunnel a travers des couches de
sable silteux moyen fin, avec graviers de natures diverses (voir ci-avant
un extrait de la coupe gologique de la
partie concerne).
Le tassement maximum Smax (Fig. 9B,
9C, 9D), correspondant la hauteur de
couverture entre le niveau de fondation
et le toit du tunnel, calcul pour cet
immeuble avec les hypothses de projet k=0,35 et Vp=0,50 %, est gal
3,16 cm. Une srie dlments critiques se prsentait dans cette zone :
La faible paisseur de couverture
entre la cl du tunnel et le niveau de
fondation de lensemble Punto e
Virgola
La prsence dun ensemble de fissures mis en vidence dans la zone
du coude de la tour Virgola
Les rsultats de lanalyse de linteraction sol-structure dans la zone de
ce complexe immobilier
En associant aux lments ci-dessus
la possibilit dune variation locale de
granulomtrie qui pourrait entraner un
accroissement de la perte de volume
et une augmentation relative des effets
sur les immeubles, comme cela a t
observ sur le plot dessai du tunnelier,
il a paru opportun, pour ce complexe
immobilier, de prvoir un traitement par
injection de coulis ciment-silicate afin
de raliser une vote de terrain consolid sur le pourtour du tunnel et de
rduire ainsi les effets de dformation
sur les immeubles. Le tableau 4 montre les rsultats des analyses sur les
variations de pertes de volume pour
Vp=0,50 %, Vp=O,70 % et Vp=1 %.
Afin dvaluer linfluence de cette
consolidation sur la cuvette transversale de tassement, une analyse aux
lments finis a t ralise avec le

Tassement / Settlement

Tassements max. / Max settlements / Vp=0,5%

339

331a344BRESCIA_Mise en page 1 05/09/11 15:45 Page340

CHANTIERS/WORKSITES M

et les rsultats de la simulation sont

donns ci-contre (Fig. 10 & 11).
En particulier, sont prsents les
cuvettes transversales de tassement
obtenues avec le modle de calcul
FLAC en prsence et en labsence de
traitement de consolidation, compars
la cuvette de tassement thorique
obtenue en supposant Vp=0,70 % et
k=0,35. Les rsultats obtenus avec le
modle numrique montre une rduction significative du phnomne de
dformation (le tassement maximum
passe de 4,75 cm 0,70 cm). Suite
ces bons rsultats numriques en
termes de diminution de la cuvette de
tassement, la dcision fut prise de procder la consolidation de la calotte
du tunnel. Une attention particulire fut
porte sur la gomtrie du traitement,
les types de coulis dinjection et le
souci constant dviter tout dommage
aux constructions avant de leur passer
en dessous.

Figure 10 - Analyse numrique FLAC du maillage de calcul du complexe Punto e Virgola /

Numerical analysis of FLAC calculation mesh of the Punto e Virgola complex.

roof. Special attention was paid to

the treatment geometries, types of
mixture and avoiding damage to the
structure before passing underneath it.

Sans traitement /
Without treatment

4 - Technique de protectiondes ouvrages de surfaceTravaux de consolidationNous dcrivons ci-aprs le traitement

de consolidation ralis autour du trac
de lexcavation du tunnel au niveau des
immeubles. Le but de ce traitement
tait de rduire les tassements des
immeubles des valeurs acceptables
afin que ne se produise aucun dsordre d la dcompression du sol lors
du passage du tunnelier pression de
terre. Il a t dcid de procder des
injections de coulis ciment-silicate afin
de constituer une vote de terrain
consolid qui absorberait les efforts
exercs la base des fondations et les
rpartirait sur les cts de lexcavation.
Le projet prvoyait cette consolidation
sur une longueur limite environ 45
mtres o limmeuble Virgola , haut

340

Thorique /
Theoretical

de 45 mtres, est trs proche et

mme, en un point, touche presque le
pidroit droit du tunnel (dans le sens
Zone traite /
Treated area

Trac du tunnel /
tunnel layout

Figure 12 A

M TUNNELS ET ESPACE SOUTERRAIN - n226 - Juillet/Aot 2011

Avec traitement /
With treatment

4 - The technique ofprotectingthe works -the consolidation operation-

Figure 11 - Cuvettes de tassement

transversal et comparaison des
rsultats avec et sans traitement /
Transverse basins of subsidence
and the comparison of results with
and without treatment.

The consolidation treatment performed around the future bore-hole of

the tunnel in correspondence with
the complex is illustrated below. The
purpose of the treatment was to
reduce subsidence to within acceptable limits for the structures concerned so that no disturbance arising
from the decompression of the soil
caused by the transit of the shield
(TBM/EPB) occurred. It was decided
to intervene via cement and silicate
injections to form an arc of consolidated soil, which would absorb the
stress under the foundation plinths
and distribute it at the sides of the
bore-hole. The project provided for
the consolidation of a limited area of
about 45 m, where the Virgola building, 45 m high, is very close and, at
one point, almost touches the right
pier of the tunnel (in the direction the

331a344BRESCIA_Mise en page 1 05/09/11 15:45 Page341

CHANTIERS/WORKSITES
Figure 12A, 12 B et 12 C - Vue en plan et coupes-types du traitement
de consolidation du complexe / Diagram and typical sections of the consolidation
operation of the complex.

Figure 12 C
Figure 12 B

Le sol autour du tunnel et

son injectabilit
Dans la zone concerne, la cl du tunnel circulaire de 9,15 m de diamtre
devrait se situer 7,60 m environ sous
la dalle de fondation de limmeuble. En
dessous de ce niveau, sur une hauteur
denviron 7 mtres, le sol est constitu
de 45-50 % de graviers, 30-35 % de
sable et 15-25 % de silts. Plus bas,
cest--dire sur la majeure partie de la
section du tunnel, on rencontre une
couche de sable fin silteux avec graviers polygniques. Le niveau de rfrence de la nappe phratique tait
situ au niveau de la dalle de fondation
des immeubles alors que le niveau
de projet atteignait presque la cl du
tunnel. Pendant la phase de projet, en
collaboration avec Mr Pettinaroli du
Bureau Malossi de Milan, les chantillons de sol prlevs partir de sondages carotts sur la zone en question,
furent examins avec soin. En principe
le sol tait trs serr, suite la prsence dun pourcentage de silts relativement lev. En comparaison avec
les alluvions de la ville voisine de Milan
o le pourcentage est denviron 1214 %, celui rencontr ici tait denviron

20-22 %. A cause des nombreux

travaux souterrains raliss, le sol de
Milan a fait lobjet de nombreuses
tudes approfondies. Ainsi, sur la base
de ces expriences antrieures dans
des sols similaires, a-t-il t dcid
dutiliser des coulis base de silicate
capables de pntrer les sols grce
leur faible viscosit ainsi que des coulis
base de ciment pour les consolider.
Une attention particulire fut porte
durant les travaux afin dviter les phnomnes dangereux de claquage et les
soulvements quils auraient provoqu
aux structures.
Aprs examen des donnes dinjection, il fut dcid dutiliser un coulis
CF (ciment fin) comme coulis de
base du traitement de consolidation.
Ces injections furent ralises partir
du 3 me niveau de sous-sol de limmeuble la cote 124,25 m NGI. La faible hauteur libre de 3,90 m permettait
juste de raliser les forages et linjection. Le rayon daction des coulis a t
fix 0,90 m. En dfinitive, dans la partie la plus profonde du traitement, un
maillage rectangulaire de 1,80 x 1,50 m
fut adopt. Pour tenir compte de la
coupe en ventail des auroles de
forages, les volumes injects taient
rpartis en groupes de deux ou trois
manchettes selon le volume rel Vt de
sol traiter.

Technique dinjection
Les injections furent ralises au
moyen de tubes plastiques de diamtre

The soil around the tunnel

and whether it can be injected
The circular tunnel 9.15 m in diameter would have passed about 7.60 m,
with the keystone, under the foundation level of the plinths of the building
in the area in question. The soil below
this floor proved to consist of 45-50%
gravel, 30-35% sand and 15-25%
silts for about 7 m. Under this, i.e., for
most of the excavation of the tunnel,
there is a bed of medium to fine silty
sand with polygenic gravel. The level
of the reference water-table was just
above the floor of the centres while
that of the project almost reached the
tunnel keystone.
During planning, in collaboration with
Mr Pettinaroli of Studio Balossi, Milan,
the samples extracted from the core
drills available for the area in question
were carefully examined. In principle,
the soil was quite closed because of a
relatively large silt fraction. Compared
to the alluvia of neighbouring Milan,
this fraction was greater because it
registered a percentage of around 2022% against the Milanese percentage of around 12-14%. Milanese
soil has been carefully studied for

years as it is involved in a considerable

number of underground lines. Therefore, as a result of previous experience
in similar soil, it was decided to use
silicate-based mixtures, given their
low viscosity, able to penetrate by
permeation, and cement mixtures
necessary for supplying the basic
consolidating structure.
Special attention was paid during
work to avoiding the formation of
dangerous phenomena of claquage
(stress) and the relative up-lift
below the plinths. After examining
the data, it was decided to use the
fine cement mixture as the base
structure of integrated consolidation.
The treatment was carried out starting from the third underground level
with a working level at 124.25 m
above mean sea level (A.M.S.L.).
There was very little room for
manoeuvre (3.90 m) but sufficient to
allow the perforations and injections
to be carried out. The radius of diffusion of the mixtures was considered
as 0.90 m. Ultimately, in the deepest
part of the treatment, the mesh of
holes was rectangular with sides of
1.80 x 1.50. As a result of the conical
shape between the perforations, the
number of injections was differentiated for groups of two or three valves
according to the actual volume of soil
they were concerned with (Vt).

Injection technology
Injections were performed using
11/8 plastic tubes fitted with rubber

TUNNELS ET ESPACE SOUTERRAIN - n226 - Juillet/Aot 2011

de lexcavation). Concernant le type de

traitement et sa gomtrie, aprs un
examen minutieux des diverses solutions, il a t dcid deffectuer les
forages dinjection partir du troisime
niveau infrieur de garages et caves de
limmeuble.

excavation progressed). As far as the

type of treatment and its geometry is
concerned, the one requiring rays of
injection holes starting from the third
underground floor (garages and
cellars) of the building was chosen
after careful analysis of additional
alternative solutions.

341

331a344BRESCIA_Mise en page 1 02/09/11 09:06 Page342

CHANTIERS/WORKSITES M
Figure 13 - Extrait de la vue en plan du systme de surveillance du complexe pendant les travaux /
Extract of the monitoring plan of the complex during construction.

11/8 quips de manchettes tous les

33 cm (3 manchettes / mtre). Les
injections sous pression ont toujours
t commences au moins 2 3 jours
aprs ralisation de la gaine de ciment
et selon la technique de volume
contrl. Les quantits de coulis de
ciment taient injectes en deux
phases successives. Parmi les autres
spcifications imposes, notons :
La pression dinjection entre 12 et
18 bars
Le dbit de la pompe dinjection <
400 l/h
En ce qui concerne les coulis dinjection, part le coulis dinjection de gaine,
furent utiliss les coulis suivants :
Le coulis de ciment, compos de
ciment de trs fine mouture, de
bentonite et de divers adjuvants
appropris afin damliorer les
caractristiques de pntrabilit et
de rsistance
Le coulis de silicate, mlange binaire
base de silicate de soude et de
ractifs non organiques, capable de
pntrer des sables trs fins caractriss par un coefficient de permabilit de 10 -3 cm/seconde.
Le coulis de silicate, plus pntrant, est
inject aprs le coulis de ciment, permettant ainsi de traiter les vides plus
petits non remplis par le coulis de
ciment, damliorer les caractristiques de rsistance du terrain et de
rendre le traitement plus homogne.

5 - Surveillance prvueen cours de travauxAu cours des injections de consolidation puis pendant les phases davancement de lexcavation, a t dfini et
intgr le systme de surveillance dj
mis en place sur toute la longueur
excave du tunnel.
En fait, pour le complexe Punto e Virgola , tant donne la particularit des
travaux de consolidation dont il faisait
lobjet, il a fallu mettre en place un systme de surveillance automatis qui a

342

The more penetrating silicate mixture

was injected after the cement mixture, thus treating the smallest passages in the soil not reached by the
cement mixture, thus further improving the features of resistance of the
soil and making the treatment more
homogenous.

5 - Monitoring plannedduring construction-

t galement utilis pendant les

phases de traverse du tunnelier afin
de contrler en permanence les mouvements induits dans les structures de
bton arm sus-jacentes. Ainsi, les
mouvements des structures furent surveills avec un thodolite motoris
avec des lectures toutes les heures en
moyenne. Les points de mesure
taient placs sur les poteaux de la
structure au niveau des garages, c'est-dire environ 7 mtres au dessus du
niveau de travail.
Le systme dacquisition des mesures
a t rgl de manire dclencher un
signal dalarme chaque fois que la
valeur indique en un point de mesure
dpassait le seuil impos. Initialement,
cette valeur avait t fixe 5 mm pour
tous les points de mesure. En cours de
travaux, avec le dveloppement des
soulvements des poteaux situs audessus de la zone dinjection, les valeurs
ont t modifies afin de grer les injections efficacement et en temps rel. La
figure 13 montre un extrait de la vue en
plan du systme de surveillance.

M TUNNELS ET ESPACE SOUTERRAIN - n226 - Juillet/Aot 2011

injection valves every 33 cm (three

valves per metre). The injections
under pressure were always carried
out no less than two-three days after
the sheath was grouted and in accordance with the controlled volume
system. The amount of cement grout
(Vc) was introduced in two successive stages. Other specifications
were set out including:
pressure between 12 and 18 bar;
injector flow rate < 400 l/hr
As far as the injection grout was
concerned, the following were used,
in addition to the sheath mixture:
the cement grout for injection,
consisting of very fine cement and
bentonite with the addition of the
appropriate additives so that the
penetration and resistance features were improved;
the silicate grout, a mixture with
two components based on sodium
silicate and inorganic reagents.
Therefore, it is able to permeate
even very fine sand with permeability coefficients of 10-3 cm/sec.

The monitoring system already prepared along the whole line of the
shielded tunnel was defined and integrated during the consolidation injections and subsequently during the
stages of progress of the excavation.
Given the special nature of the
consolidation work that the building
in question was subjected to, an
automated monitoring system also
used during the stages relating to the
passage of the TBM was arranged for
the complex so that continuous
control could be made of the movements induced in the reinforced
concrete structures above. Therefore,
movements in the structures were
monitored through automated topographic levelling with readings made,
on average, every hour. The measurement points were placed on the pillars of the structure on the garage
floor about 7 m above the level of
work.
The data acquisition system was set
so that an alarm signal was given
every time that the reading of a measurement point exceeded the pre-set
threshold level. Initially, this was set
at 5 mm for all the measurement
points. These values were changed
to allow effective management of
injection operations in real time
during the work, with the development of lifting of the pillars above the
injection area. The extract from the
monitoring plan is shown below.

331a344BRESCIA_Mise en page 1 02/09/11 09:06 Page343

CHANTIERS/WORKSITES

Figure 15 - Tassements provoqus par le passage du tunnelier /

Collapse induced by the passage of the borer.

6 - Rsultats de lartro-analyseLes diffrentes phases de perforation

lies aux injections de consolidation ont
dbut le 18 mars dans le secteur Sud
et se sont poursuivies progressivement
vers le Nord ; cest seulement dans les
dix derniers jours davril que furent commencs les forages du couloir Est. Les
injections furent commences ds que
les premires gaines eurent fait prise.
Vers le 20-22 avril, la dcision fut prise
dinjecter le coulis de ciment en une
seule phase avec une quantit fixe
10 % du volume trait, ceci afin de permettre dacclrer les travaux, tant
donn que, dans lintervalle, lexcavation
du tunnel avait presque atteint la zone
de traverse du complexe Punto e Virgola . Cette dcision fut prise en
sachant quelle pourrait conduire une
possible rduction de lefficacit du traitement et un soulvement plus important. Cependant, cela fut considr
comme un risque acceptable, tant
donn que lexcavation mcanise ne
ncessite pas un traitement aussi
intense et homogne que lexcavation
en mode traditionnel. La fraise traversa
la zone de ldifice entre le 15 et le 20
mai sans aucun problme. Une synthse a t ralise sur les tassements
enregistrs pendant la phase dexcution des injections de consolidation et
pendant le passage du tunnelier. La
figure 14 met en vidence, sous forme

Figure 16 - Synthse des mouvements enregistrs entre le dbut de la phase de

traitement et le passage du tunnelier / Summary of movement recorded between
the start of the consolidation stages and the passage of the TBM.

de lignes de niveau, la progression des

soulvements induits par les seules
injections de ciment. Concernant les
effets induits par le passage du tunnelier, comme lindique la figure 15, les
tassements maxima indiqus sur la partie colore en bleu, qui ont atteint entre
8 et 11mm, se trouvent dans la zone
non influence par les injections. Les
zones colores en rouge, galement non
influences par le traitement, ont enregistr des tassements compris entre 4,5
et 8 mm. En revanche les zones traites
colores en vert ont subi un tassement
de lordre de 4,5 mm.
La figure 16 donne une synthse des
mouvements des points de mesure sur
la priode qui va de la phase de consolidation la fin du passage du tunnelier.
Cela correspond pratiquement la
situation dfinitive, mis part leffet
toutefois mineur mais susceptible de
durer quelques semaines de stabilisation dfinitive.

6 - Back analysis resultsThe stages of perforation relating to

the consolidation operation started
on 18 March in the south sector and
moved progressively northwards;
perforation from the corridor on the
east side only started in the last
10 days of April. The injection stage
started as soon as the first sheathes
had set. The decision to inject the
cement mixture in a single operation
with a volume of 10% of the Vt was
taken around the 20-22 April. This
was to allow the process to be speeded up seeing that, in the meantime,
the excavation had almost reached
the under-passage of the Punto e
Virgola. This decision was made
knowing that it could have led to
a possible reduction of the efficacy
of the treatment and some extra
lifting. Nevertheless, this was considered to be an acceptable risk,

also because mechanised excavation wouldnt have required a particularly intense and homogenous
treatment - as would have been
necessary with traditional excavation. The borer passed under the
building between the 15 and 20 May
without any problems.
A summary report of the subsidence
recorded during both the performance of the consolidation operations and the passage of the borer is
shown. The trend in lift induced by
just the injections of cement, in the
form of contour levels, can be deduced from Figure 14. With reference
to the repercussions induced by the
passage of the borer, Figure 15
shows how the maximum subsidence found in the blue area was
between 8 and 11 mm, and relates
to the area not influenced by the
injections. The red areas, not involved in the treatment, recorded subsidence of between 4.5 and 8 mm
while the green areas, involved in the
operation, suffered settlement in the
order of 4.5 mm.
See Figure 16 for a summary of the
movement occurring to the measurement points over the period of time
from the consolidation stage to after
the passage of the borer. This was a
practically definitive situation except
for the tail effect, of a very modest
amount which, however, worked
itself out within a few weeks.

TUNNELS ET ESPACE SOUTERRAIN - n226 - Juillet/Aot 2011

Figure 14 - Soulvements
induits par linjection de
coulis de ciment. En vert,
la zone dans laquelle ont
t relevs des tassements
jusqu un maximum de
3 mm. En bleu, les valeurs
suprieures jusqu un
maximum de 6,5 mm
sous la file de poteaux E /
Uplift induced by the injection of cement mix. The area in which there was lift of up to 3 mm is in
green; higher values up to a maximum of 6.5 mm under the line of columns E are in blue.

343

331a344BRESCIA_Mise en page 1 02/09/11 09:06 Page344

CHANTIERS/WORKSITES M

7 - Conclusions-

7 - Conclusions-

Il faut souligner ici que les excellents rsultats obtenus pour la traverse
de la zone du complexe Punto e Virgola sont en phase avec les prvisions du projet. Ainsi, lhypothse dune efficacit parfaite de la vote
de consolidation a permis de prvoir une limitation des tassements
effectifs des valeurs proches du centimtre. t

We would like to highlight how the excellent results obtained in passing

under the Punto e Virgola complex are in line with the project forecasts.
A reduction of actual subsidence, with values close to a centimetre, was
forecast in the acceptance of a hypothesis of perfect efficiency and the
creation of a consolidated ring. t

Remerciements

Thanks

Nous remercions pour sa collaboration le Bureau Balossi, de Milan, et en

particulier lIngnieur Andrea Pettinaroli qui a contribu la mise au point
des travaux de consolidation et qui en a suivi personnellement les phases de
ralisation.
Nous remercions galement lentreprise Astaldi SpA, qui a ralis les travaux,
en particulier lIngnieur Massimo Lodico, responsable du projet du Metrobus
de Brescia, lIngnieur Cesare Umiliaco, responsable du tunnelier, lIngnieur
Paolo Carmona, directeur du chantier ainsi que tous leurs collaborateurs avec
lesquels a pu tre ralise une gestion intgre efficace des travaux.

We would like to thank Studio Balossi, Milan, particularly Mr Andrea Pettinaroli,

who collaborated in the perfection of the consolidation operation and who
personally followed the stages of its fulfilment.
We would also like to thank Astaldi S.p.A., which carried out the operation, with
particular reference to Mr Massimo Lodico, head of the Brescia Metrobus
OO.CC Project, TBM Director Mr Cesare Umiliaco, and Site Director Mr Paolo
Carmona, and all their staff with whom effective integrated management of the
work was developed.

Tunnels et Espace Souterrain remercie la revue Strade & Autostrade qui a publi
cet article en italien dans son numro 1-2009 ainsi que Enrico Arini, prsident
de la SIG, et Piergiorgio Grasso, prsident de Geodata, pour leur assistance
auprs du matre douvrage qui nous a autoriss le traduire et le publier.

Tunnels et Espace Souterrain wishes to thank the Strade & Autostrade Editors
who published this paper in Italian (issue 1-2009) as well as Enrico Arini,
president of SIG and Piergiorgio Grasso, president of Geodata, for their help in
getting the agreement of the Owner for translating and publishing this paper.

MMM-Bibliographie [1] P.B. Attewell, J.P. Woodman - Predicting the dynamics of ground settlement and its derivatives caused by tunnelling in soil, Ground Engineering, Vol. 18,
n8, pp. 13-22, 36, 1982.
[2] P.B. Attewell, J. Yeates, A.R. Selby - Soil movements induced by tunnelling and their effects on pipelines and structures, Blackie, 1986.
[3] M.D. Boscardin, E.G. Cording - Building response to excavation-induced settlement, Jnl. Geo Engrg, ASCE 115, 1-21, 1989.
[4] J.B. Burland - Assessment of risk of damage to buildings due to tunnelling and excavations. Invited Special Lecture, Tokyo 95, 1st Int. Conf. on Earthquake
Geotechnical Engineering, 1995.
[5] J.B. Burland, C.P. Worth - Settlement of building and associated damage, SOA Review, Conf. Settlement of structures, Cambridge, Pentech Press. London,
pp. 611-654, 1974.
[6] R.J. Mair, R.N. Taylor, J.B. Burland - Prediction of ground movements and assessment of risk of building damage due to bored tunnelling, Geotechnical
Aspects of Underground Construction in Soft Ground, Balkeman, Rotterdam, 1996.
[7] D.M. Potts, T.I. Addenbrooke - The influence of an existing surface structure on ground movements due to tunnelling, 1996.
[8] H.J. Burd, G.T. Houlsby, C.E. Augarde - Modelling tunnelling-induced settlement of masonry building, Geotech. Engng., 143, 17-29, Jan. 2000.
[9] M. Melis, L. Medina, J.M. Rodriguez - Prediction and analysis of subsidence induced by shield tunnelling in the Madrid Metro extension, Geotech. J.39, 2000.

344

M TUNNELS ET ESPACE SOUTERRAIN - n226 - Juillet/Aot 2011