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La TBM Robbins Rosie es la primera de tipo Crossover en EE. UU.
Una TBM Crossover (XRE) Robbins con un diámetro de 9,26 m se sometió a las pruebas de aceptación en fábrica el 30 de mayo de 2017. La gigantesca tuneladora fue presentada en la sede central de Robbins en Solon (Ohio, EE. UU.) durante la jornada de presentación a la prensa celebrada el 25 de mayo, antes de ser enviada 40 km al sur para la construcción del Ohio Canal Interceptor Tunnel (OCIT) en la ciudad de Akron. Entre los presentes se hallaban el alcalde Daniel Corrigan, el ingeniero jefe de Robbins Dennis Ofiara y David Chastka, ingeniero de proyecto del contratista, el consorcio Kenny-Obayashi.
La TBM, que aúna características de las máquinas de tipo EPB y las de escudo simple para roca dura, es la primera de tipo Crossover que se utiliza en EE. UU. Se pondrá en marcha desde una embocadura a una profundidad de 12 m y construirá los primeros 68 m en terreno blando para pasar más tarde a un tramo de 183 m de lutitas en frente mixto antes de volver a cambiar al modo de roca dura para el resto de la perforación en lutitas a sección completa. Se realizan continuos sondeos mediante dos perforadoras de sondeo para determinar el modo que debe adoptar la TBM. «Estamos convencidos de que el robusto diseño creado por Robbins será capaz de lidiar con todas las dificultades que plantee la perforación del túnel del proyecto OCIT», apuntó Chastka.
Entre los aspectos distintivos de la máquina se incluye una versátil cabeza de corte que se configurará teniendo en cuenta tanto el tramo en terreno blando como el tramo más largo (alrededor del 65% del túnel) en roca dura. Se empleará una combinación de cortadores de disco y se recurrirá a útiles de corte sacrificables en el caso de que un cortador se quede bloqueado. El par de rodadura exigido para los cortadores de disco se ha reducido en un 25% para favorecer una rotación suave en terrenos blandos. Los motores de la máquina XRE se han readaptado a partir de una configuración original de EPB para permitir una mayor velocidad del motor a un par reducido para los tramos de perforación en modo abierto.
La retirada de escombros se llevará a cabo con un transportador de tornillo de larga vida útil, cuya primera sección está recubierta con placas de desgaste soldadas. El eje del tornillo sinfín está revestido con un recubrimiento duro con una trama cruzada, mientras que la carcasa del transportador ha sido revestida de manera similar con placas de desgaste y recubrimiento duro. Se ha elaborado un plan de supervisión del desgaste para toda la perforación con el fin de aumentar al máximo la eficiencia en el tramo de roca más abrasiva. El jefe de proyecto de Robbins Pablo Salazar se muestra orgulloso de haber empleado profesionales locales durante el proceso de construcción y diseño de la TBM: «Hemos construido buena parte de la máquina en la zona nororiental de Ohio. Muchos de los componentes fueron fabricados en la región con subcontratistas, así como en nuestro propio taller».
La máquina recibió el nombre de Rosie en honor a Rosie la remachadora, un icono popular que representa a las mujeres estadounidenses empleadas como mano de obra en factorías y astilleros durante la II Guerra Mundial. Centenares de «Rosies», entre ellas Rose May Jacob, vecina de Akron, trabajaron en las fábricas que producían material bélico y armamento para el bando de los Aliados. La TBM se enviará al lugar de la obra en camiones, con la cabeza de corte separada en cuatro partes. «El proceso de montaje ha permitido al contratista seguir muy de cerca las pruebas realizadas con la tuneladora, por lo que a estas alturas ya están bastante familiarizados con la máquina. En la obra también ofreceremos un apoyo inmediato tanto en materia de repuestos como de personal», explicó Salazar. Los supervisores de obra de Robbins ayudarán en el montaje de la TBM y en la excavación de al menos los primeros 1000 m. El túnel se empezará a perforar en agosto de este año.
El proyecto OCIT para la ciudad de Akron consiste en la construcción de un sistema de túneles de transporte y retención para controlar los reboses de alcantarillado unitario (o CSO, por su sigla en inglés) para varios reguladores de la zona centro de Akron. El proyecto, exigido por la agencia de protección medioambiental EPA, incluye el túnel de transporte y almacenamiento de 1,89 km, así como pozos de caída, estructuras de desvío, colectores y otras estructuras complementarias. El decreto de consentimiento especifica que el túnel debe estar operativo para el 31 de diciembre de 2018.
Una megamáquina de lodos para excavar roca dura en Japón
The Robbins Company ha sido escogida recientemente por el consorcio Obayashi-Taisei-Kosei para construir una TBM de lodos para roca dura destinada a excavar en la línea 5 de la red de autopistas de Hiroshima. La máquina tiene un diámetro de 13,67 metros y será la primera tuneladora de lodos de semejante diámetro que se utilice en Japón. El túnel tendrá una longitud de 1,4 kilómetros e irá revestido con dovelas de hormigón armado.
La producción de la máquina ha estado en manos de un consorcio constituido por la firma japonesa JIM Technology Corporation (JIMT) y Robbins. La máquina es un diseño de Robbins para el que JIMT aporta el accionamiento de la cabeza de corte y los sellos articulados. Según las previsiones, la geología incluye granito de una resistencia (UCS) máxima de 190 MPa con elevadas presiones de agua de hasta 13 bares. La tuneladora de lodos está diseñada para excavar en rocas de gran resistencia con unos cortadores de disco especializados de 20 pulgadas que cuentan con un diseño patentado que les permite funcionar eficazmente bajo altas presiones.
Este nuevo túnel de la línea 5 de la autopista conectará directamente la zona urbana de la ciudad de Hiroshima con una red nacional de autopistas de primer orden y se espera que mejorará el acceso al aeropuerto de Hiroshima. En la superficie se halla una zona residencial, por lo cual la perforación se debe llevar a cabo durante periodos de tiempo limitados para respetar las restricciones en materia de ruidos. También existen restricciones a la hora de entregar la TBM: para cumplir con los límites de transporte controlado en el interior de la ciudad, será necesario dividir la máquina en pequeños módulos con pesos y tamaños transportables, y después ensamblarla in situ. Se prevé que la tuneladora entrará en servicio en 2018 y concluirá su túnel en 2020.
La creación de esta megamáquina de lodos (desde sus características antidesgaste y sus robustos componentes hasta los cortadores para altas presiones) es una muestra de la versatilidad que pueden ofrecer las TBM de lodos. Se espera que esta tuneladora ampliará el abanico de aplicaciones de este tipo de máquinas en geologías con roca dura y presiones elevadas.
Robbins celebra la culminación de un exigente proyecto para obtener energía limpia
En abril de 2017, se celebró la puesta en servicio del proyecto de Dariali, en la República de Georgia, el primer proyecto hidroeléctrico neutro en carbono del mundo. A la ceremonia asistieron muchos invitados, entre ellos el primer ministro georgiano Giorgi Kvirikashvili. La central eléctrica es un proyecto energético independiente (IPP, por sus siglas en inglés) desarrollado a través de Dariali Energy Ltd y puesto en marcha por un consorcio del que formaban parte otras tres entidades: las compañías privadas georgianas Peri Ltd y Energy LLC, y la agencia estatal Georgian Energy Development Fund (GEDF). La infraestructura hidroeléctrica de Dariali recoge aguas del río Tergi y las conduce a través del túnel de aducción hacia la central situada junto a la frontera ruso-georgiana. La planta generará cada año 500 GWh de energía neutra en carbono y un 70% de la producción se concentrará durante los meses de verano.
Robbins también tuvo la ocasión de invertir en el proyecto al obtener una participación a través del suministro de equipos y servicios de construcción de túneles en consorcio con el contratista Peri. «Robbins comprendió los riesgos que entrañaba la parte del proyecto correspondiente a la construcción de túneles y nos vimos compensados por haber asumido parte del riesgo. Peri es un antiguo cliente al que ya suministramos una TBM hace 15 años para un pequeño proyecto en Georgia. Estamos muy contentos de haber sido invitados a invertir en este proyecto, compartir el riesgo y volver a trabajar juntos», afirmó el presidente de Robbins Lok Home. El túnel de aducción de 5 km de longitud para la central eléctrica se empezó a excavar en febrero de 2012 utilizando una TBM abierta Robbins de 5,5 m de diámetro.
La obra estaba ubicada en un lugar remoto y montañoso a 160 km de la capital, Tiflis, por lo que hubo que enviar la máquina por piezas al taller del contratista Peri, donde fueron reacondicionadas bajo la supervisión de Robbins para, posteriormente, transportarlas al lugar de la obra y montarlas in situ. Las piezas fueron transportadas con camiones a través de carreteras sinuosas que acababan convirtiéndose en pistas de tierra. El montaje en la obra se complicó debido a que el emplazamiento del proyecto, a 1.700 m de altitud, estaba completamente cubierto de nieve y las piezas llegaron en el mes de diciembre. Las gélidas temperaturas a menudo alcanzaban los 15 grados bajo cero y el viento llegaba a producir una sensación térmica de 40 bajo cero. Una vez que la máquina entró en servicio, se enfrentó a un difícil terreno que, entre otras, incluía pizarras, areniscas y calizas con zonas de fallas.
«Lo más complicado a la hora de excavar el túnel fue acometer la pendiente del 6% y la limitación del acceso para el mantenimiento de la máquina. Además, se produjeron dos importantes corrimientos de tierras que retrasaron el proyecto más de un año», explicó Home. Tras el primer corrimiento, el túnel de acceso, por el que había entrado barro y agua en la central eléctrica, tuvo que ser reubicado en una cota más alta y orientado en dirección opuesta al valle. Cuando la máquina se encontraba cerca de alcanzar su objetivo, el segundo corrimiento bloqueó la boca de salida de la máquina, así como el acceso a la carretera principal. A pesar de estas dificultades, el personal de la tuneladora siguió adelante y la máquina logró concluir el túnel en octubre de 2014.
Durante todo el proceso de construcción, se tomaron todas las precauciones para minimizar la huella de carbono. Aunque la planta no emite carbono para producir energía, no se puede decir lo mismo de su fase de construcción. Para compensar estas emisiones, se están plantando en la zona 7.000 árboles en el marco de un plan de reforestación. En los próximos años, los árboles absorberán el suficiente dióxido de carbono como para compensar las emisiones producidas durante la construcción de la planta hidroeléctrica, lo cual la convertirá en el primer proyecto hidroeléctrico neutro en carbono del mundo.
Globalmente, según afirmó Home, el proyecto ofrece inmensas ventajas: «No solo proporciona energía eléctrica a precios asequibles para el país y prácticamente sin efectos contaminantes, sino que también ha supuesto una fuente de empleo durante la construcción, que se mantendrá para las tareas operativas y de mantenimiento».
Una TBM Robbins acomete su octava perforación para el proyecto de Galerie des Janots
Una TBM Robbins, recientemente bautizada como Augustine, está trabajando en la que será su octava perforación tras ser puesta en marcha por el contratista Eiffage Civil Engineering el día 3 de marzo. La TBM fue modernizada y mejorada durante la reconstrucción a la que fue sometida para el proyecto de la Galerie des Janots en La Ciotat (Francia), tras haber concluido con éxito otros siete proyectos en Europa y Hong Kong. En esta ocasión, perforará una galería para mejorar el acceso al agua en las comunidades situadas al este de la metrópoli de Aix-Marsella-Provenza (Cassis, Roquefort-la-Bédoule, La Ciotat y Ceyreste). «Se trata de una única máquina de 3,5 metros (11,5 ft) de diámetro, 250 toneladas y 135 metros de longitud, que, para esta obra, trabajará 24 horas al día durante casi diez meses», explica Marc Dhiersat, director de proyecto de Eiffage para la Galerie des Janots.
Actualmente, la máquina está tomando impulso, mientras se instalan los carretones del backup. A fecha de abril de 2017, la máquina ya ha excavado 51 m, principalmente en roca caliza. «La caliza es una roca fácil de excavar, pero podemos toparnos con fenómenos kársticos», explica Loïc Thévenot, director de obras subterráneas de Eiffage. «Por este motivo, la tuneladora viene equipada con una perforadora de sondeos. Si el karst es pequeño, lo rellenaremos de hormigón. Si es grande, construiremos una pequeña galería paralela».
La Galerie des Janots es una de las catorce intervenciones diseñadas para ahorrar agua y proteger los recursos que está llevando a cabo la metrópoli de Aix-Marsella-Provenza, la Agencia del Agua de Ródano-Mediterráneo y Córcega, y el Gobierno del Estado. La futura galería vendrá a sustituir las tuberías existentes, situadas en el túnel ferroviario, que se han visto afectadas por importantes vulnerabilidades y deficiencias en materia de seguridad, con pérdidas de agua estimadas en 500.000 metros cúbicos al año. Según explica Danielle Milon, alcaldesa de Cassis: «Se ha hecho una inversión de 55 millones de euros (59 millones de USD), con 11 millones en ayudas de la Agencia del Agua. Este proyecto requirió 10 años de estudios y trabajo para mejorar el suministro de agua, que constituye un elemento básico para el desarrollo de cada municipio y para el bienestar de los ciudadanos».
Augustine está perforando un túnel de 2,75 km que discurrirá bajo el parque nacional de las Calanques, con coberturas de entre 15 y 180 metros, con el fin de sustituir las tuberías que se utilizan en la actualidad para las redes de suministro de agua. «[Las tuberías actuales] tienen un caudal limitado a 330 litros por segundo, que resulta del todo insuficiente en el periodo estival. El objetivo de la intervención consiste en aumentarla a 440 litros por segundo», comenta Dhiersat. Una vez concluido el proyecto, el mantenimiento de las redes será sencillo en comparación con el de las antiguas tuberías que se extienden actualmente por debajo de la línea ferroviaria.
Robbins Single Shield to repair a Part of World’s Longest Tunnel
Robbins has completed the manufacture and testing of a unique tunnel boring machine that will be used to repair the longest continuous tunnel in the world. The TBM will be used to overhaul a section of New York City’s Delaware Aqueduct, a 137 km (85 mi) long tunnel that delivers about 50 percent of the City’s drinking water each day. Over the span of two days in February, representatives from the owner New York Department of Environmental Protection (NYDEP), consultant McMillen Jacobs (MJ), and JV contractor Kiewit-Shea Constructors (KSC) traveled to the Robbins facility in Solon, Ohio to witness the Factory Acceptance Testing of the custom tunnel boring machine.
The Robbins Single Shield TBM will bore a tunnel to replace a 3.8 km (2.4 mi) stretch of the Delaware Aqueduct. The Delaware Aqueduct currently leaks about 75 million liters (20 million gallons) of water per day into the Hudson River. Investigations of the Delaware Aqueduct dating back more than a decade revealed cracks in the tunnel lining. While several inspections with an automated underwater vehicle showed that these cracks were stable, it was determined they could not be fixed from within the existing tunnel. New York City then decided that a new tunnel would be built under the river to bypass the leakage.
To build a bypass tunnel around the aqueduct’s leaking section, Robbins manufactured the 6.8 m (21.6 ft) diameter Single Shield TBM to safely seal against pressures up to 30 bar, and to operate in variable hard rock conditions. The Delaware Aqueduct was completed in 1944. During its original construction, work crews documented groundwater inflows of 7.5 to 15 million liters (2 to 4 million gallons) per day. Because this particular section of the tunnel lies 183 m (600 ft) below the Hudson River, the inflows are under immense head pressure and thus require the unique tunneling technology.
Due to the challenges presented by the Aqueduct Repair, such as difficult geology and considerable water inflows, the TBM had to be designed accordingly. Difficult Ground Solutions (DGS) features, including powerful drilling, grouting, and water inflow control systems have been incorporated into the machine’s design to overcome the expected challenges. “One unique feature of this TBM is the closeable bulkhead, which allows the excavation chamber to be sealed off,” said KSC Tunnel Manager Niels Kofoed. “We expect this to be a key feature in the event that groundwater flows (shunt flows) from the excavated portion of the tunnel cause washout of the annulus grout. Once the bulkhead is closed the groundwater flows are stopped and secondary grouting of the precast liner can be performed, effectively cutting off the flow path of the shunt flows.”
Robbins Project Manager Martino Scialpi further noted that, “the TBM was designed with a 9,500 liter/min (2,500 gallon/min) dewatering capacity. The machine is equipped with two drills in the shields for drilling through the head in 16 different positions and a third drill on the erector to drill through the shields in an additional 14 positions. Drilling and pre-excavation grouting will be a routine job to control and minimize water inflows.” In addition, water-powered, high pressure down-the-hole-hammers will allow for drilling 60 to 100 m (200 to 330 ft) ahead of the machine at pressures up to 20 bar if necessary.
In order to provide access to launch and retrieve tunneling equipment, two deep shafts were constructed in the towns of Newburgh and Wappinger, New York, where the bypass will begin and end. The
project site itself poses challenges to the assembly and launch of the TBM because of the limited space available.
Robbins worked closely with KSC to ensure that TBM components were designed and sized so all could be lifted with the contractor’s hoist system and fit down the narrow, 270 m (885 ft) deep shaft. Once assembled, the machine is expected to begin boring in autumn 2017.
Robbins Double Shield digs the Andes
Chile’s Los Condores HEPP is a high cover, hard rock challenge, with 500 m (1,640 ft) of rock above the tunnel and a high-altitude jobsite 2,500 m (8,200 ft) above sea level. As of January 2017, a 4.56 m (15.0 ft) Robbins Double Shield TBM had completed boring its 900 m (2,950 ft) long access tunnel and was well on the way to boring the first section of headrace tunnel. The machine embarked on its journey on May 27, 2016, and has since excavated over 1,300 m (4,270 ft) of tunnel in total.
The journey to machine launch was an arduous one, requiring shipment of TBM components and vehicle transport on unpaved, mountainous roads. Contractor Ferrovial Agroman is responsible for the intake tunnel at the Los Condores Hydroelectric Project, and was well aware of the challenges associated with machine launch: “The location of the work is a big constraint due to its rugged terrain and geographical location in the Andes. With all this, we are anxious to perform work in an efficient manner,” said Pello Idigoras, Tunnel Production Manager for Ferrovial Agroman.
The jobsite, located 360 km (224 mi) south of Santiago, Chile, is part of a new 150 MW power plant and intake tunnel. The Robbins Double Shield TBM is boring two sections of the intake tunnel, the first measuring 6 km (3.7 mi) and the second measuring 4.4 km (2.7 mi). A section between the two tunnels will be excavated by drill and blast to connect them, making the intake tunnel about 12 km (7.5 mi) in length. “This project brings an increase in energy production in the country, thus contributing to the overall improvement in the welfare of its citizens,” said Idigoras of the effect the completed hydropower project will have on surrounding areas.
The tunnel, located in the mountainous Maule Region of Chile, is being bored in two types of rock: sedimentary and volcanic. The rock has been tested at strengths up to 100 MPa (14,500 psi) UCS, with at least two fault zones””the first of which has already been traversed in rhyolite, andesite, tuff, and breccia. For Idigoras, the conditions are well-suited to Double Shield tunneling: “We have good quality medium to hard rock for Double Shield excavation overall,” he said. Despite that, some areas of challenging ground persist. To cope with the conditions, including steadily increasing water inflows at rates of up to 3,500 l/min (925 gal/min), the contractor is utilizing cementitious grouting and chemical grouting with polyurethane and foam. Such ground conditioning techniques were anticipated and the Robbins Double shield was designed to effectively apply these techniques.
As the TBM excavates, it is lining the tunnel with 250 mm (10 in) thick, 1.2 m (3.9 ft) long concrete segments in a 4+1 arrangement. The machine is currently progressing at a rate of up to 25 rings per 20 hours of boring. Crews are operating in two 10-hour shifts with one 4-hour shift dedicated to maintenance. Idigoras sees the TBM performance and completion of the access tunnel as huge project milestones, though much work remains to be done. “After many months working in engineering, manufacturing, installation, and commissioning, we are proud to see this result. It would be impossible to name all the people who participated in this project thus far but they, as a whole, have managed to get the TBM started digging and boring well.”
Robbins TBM dubbed "Driller Mike" digs Atlanta
After an Onsite First Time Assembly (OFTA) lasting just 2.5 months, Atlanta Georgia, USA’s newest TBM, dubbed “Driller Mike”, made its initial startup on October 13, 2016 and ramped up to full production two weeks later. Atlanta’s Mayor Kasim Reed and city officials gathered with local and national media to celebrate the occasion. The 3.8 m (12.5 ft) diameter Robbins Main Beam TBM is now boring the 8.0 km (5.0 mi) Bellwood Tunnel after being walked forward 100 ft into a starter tunnel. The Bellwood Tunnel path will travel from an inactive quarry and run below a water treatment plant and reservoir before ending next to the Chattahoochee River.
The project was green-lighted by the City of Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management due to the city’s current emergency water supply shortage. The PC/Russell JV, the project’s construction manager at risk, sub-contracted with the Atkinson/Technique JV to operate the TBM and will oversee construction of various intake and pumping shafts as well as final lining operations. The project is of utmost importance for the City of Atlanta, explained Bob Huie, Sr. Project Manager for the PC/Russell JV. “Right now, the downtown area’s emergency water supply is approximately three days. With the tunnel the supply will increase to between 30 and 90 days. To be a part of the city’s emergency water supply solution is huge. This tunnel will protect the city for a very long time.”
With the tunnel on the fast track, swift TBM assembly was key. The OFTA process involved coordination by multiple crews at the large quarry site. “The OFTA went very well. The overall assembly process was well organized and supervised by the Atkinson/Technique JV and Robbins. We had a good team of folks to put it all together,” said Huie. He continued: “This is a unique job where there’s a lot of people with a variety of backgrounds, but everyone came together to make the OFTA happen.”
The Robbins TBM is now excavating in granite, with at least 300 m (1,000 ft) of zones in three separate areas that will require continuous probing. In a section directly below an existing reservoir, monitoring will be particularly crucial to ensure no water inflows occur. The Robbins machine will also be required to negotiate several curves: “We have one curve in the first 300 m (1,000 ft) and the main 370 m (1,200 ft) radius curve is 1,800 m (6,000 ft) in. We plan to do short TBM strokes in this section™bout 20 cm (8 inches) to 30 cm (1 ft) shorter than normal to get through the curves,” said Larry Weslowski, Tunneling Superintendent for the PC/Russell JV.
Excavation is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2018. After final lining, the tunnel will be filled with water and the quarry site will become Atlanta’s largest reservoir and park, totaling hundreds of acres. While the park site is a bonus for residents, the water storage capacity it will provide is critical. Nearly 1.2 million customers, including 200,000 passengers who pass through the world’s busiest airport every day, count on the water supply each time they turn on the tap. “If the city were to lose water supply for a day, the estimated economic impact would be at least USD $100 million per day. If you consider that this is a USD $300 million project, that seems a pretty good investment in comparison to what could happen,” said Huie.
Bangalore Fanfare Marks Final Breakthrough for Robbins EPB
On September 23, 2016, Bangalore’s last TBM for the city’s metro rail project broke through, marking the end of TBM tunneling on the Namma Metro phase 1. The Robbins-operated machine, known as “Krishna”, bored a 750 m (2,460 ft) drive through challenging conditions between Chickpet and Majestic stations. Cleanup and final commissioning of the tunnel will be completed in 2017, and is the last obstacle before owner Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) can open the Malleswaram-Majestic link. The TBM’s sister machine, “Kaveri”, completed a parallel tunnel in June 2016.
The success follows a gauntlet of challenges on the two tunnel sites. Due to severe delays on the original tunnel drives, Robbins was approached and asked to take over the operations of the remaining two competitor-manufactured TBMs in February 2015. After obtaining agreement from the project owner and the contractor, Robbins took over the responsibility for all aspects of the underground operations. “We provided a team of over 60 staff including TBM operators, TBM technicians, ring builders, a grouting team, and more. We were also responsible for running surface installations and equipment such as the grout batching plant, gantry cranes and power supply. Contractor Coastal Projects Ltd. (CPL) provided a team of people including surveyors, QC engineers, and loco operators who reported directly to our site management team,” explained Jim Clark, Projects Manager for Robbins India.
The Robbins crew carried out tunneling operations while the Chickpet station was being constructed around them to mitigate delays incurred before they took over project operations. The project’s most difficult challenges included a low overburden and unconsolidated ground along the alignment, and the discovery of several uncharted wells directly on the alignment. Difficult ground frequently prevented proper pressurization during cutting tool replacement, requiring a grout solution to be pumped in to fill voids and left to cure. Initially the curing process took up to 36 hours, but with improved application methods this was reduced to a 12-hour curing time.
Another challenge involved the sensitive building structures along the tunnel path. Issues with surface vibration, explained Clark, required that cutterhead speed be limited to 1.8 RPM during the day shift and 1.2 RPM during the night shift. Despite the obstacles, the TBMs advanced at rates of up to 50mm (2 in)/min in highly weathered rock.
“This is an industry first, wherein a TBM manufacturer has utilized their in-house expertise and knowledge to take on this level of responsibility for a project,” said Clark, addressing the magnitude of the successful breakthroughs. “The fact that it was “˜a first’ and we were successful in bringing this high-profile project back on track is a great achievement for The Robbins Company.”
Now that tunneling is complete, the North and South runs of the Namma metro will be connected–a line that, once in service, will carry an estimated 40,000 passengers daily. It is anticipated that Phase One of the metro will be opened in its entirety in 2017.
Hard-working Robbins TBM boring 28 km of tunnels below Indianapolis
On Tuesday, September 6, 2016, one of the longest-running Robbins TBMs embarked on its most extensive project yet. The 6.2 m (20.2 ft) Main Beam machine, owned by the Shea-Kiewit (S-K) JV, is boring the 8.5 km (5.3 mi) long White River Tunnel as the first in the next phase of the DigIndy wastewater tunnels below Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. In addition to that work, the machine will bore the Lower Pogues Run, Fall Creek, and Pleasant Run Tunnels™ scope of work totaling about 28 km (17 mi) through limestone and dolomite rock.
The rebuilt Robbins hard rock TBM was first used in Indianapolis on the 12.5 km (7.8 mi) long main tunnel, called the Deep Rock Tunnel Connector (DRTC). On that tunnel, the speedy machine achieved world records in its size class of 6 to 7 m (20 to 23 ft), including “Most Feet Mined in One Day” (124.9 m/409.8 ft); “Most Feet Mined in One Week” (515.1 m/1,690 ft); and “Most Feet Mined in One Month” (1,754 m/5,755 ft). “It’s nice to start the job with a machine that has already been proven and successful,” said Stuart Lipofsky, Project Manager for S-K JV.
However the DRTC was far from the TBM’s first job. The machine, originally built in 1980, has been used on New York City’s Second Avenue Subway, as well as projects in Massachusetts and Canada. Once the machine has completed the DigIndy network of tunnels, it will have bored more than 51 km (32 mi) of tunnel™n achievement making it one of the hardest working Robbins TBMs ever put into service. “The age of the machine wasn’t a concern for us, it was a positive. We knew it could perform in harder, abrasive rock,” said Lipofsky.
The machine was launched from the 67 m (220 ft) deep White River shaft following a refurbishment that included new motors, gearboxes, electronics, and other elements. As of the last week of September, the TBM has bored over 300 m (1,000 ft) of the White River Tunnel. About one mile into the White River Tunnel, the drive will bifurcate eastwards to bore the 2.7 km Lower Pogues Run Tunnel in front of Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis. The machine will then be backed up to the bifurcation point before continuing north for completion of the White River Tunnel.
As the machine bores, Robbins continuous conveyors remove muck in an extensive system that was highly successful at the DRTC. Much of the conveyor structure remains the same for the new tunnels, with new horizontal and conveyor belting provided. The conveyors will wind through curves as sharp as 300 m (1,000 ft) in radius, as the tunnels follow the path of the White River overhead.
The S-K JV has until 2021 to complete the White River and Lower Pogues Run tunnels for local owner Citizens Energy Group, and until 2024 to complete all the tunnels. The use of one TBM was seen as a positive: “The use of one machine was more efficient for our crews. The schedule allowed us to run with one TBM and we feel we can do it with one machine. It also was a less costly option than running two machines in terms of the owner funding the project,” said Dan Martz, vice president for J.F. Shea. Once complete, the EPA-mandated deep tunnel project will reduce the amount of raw sewage overflows and clean up tributaries along the White River.
The Robbins Company Announces Joe Lechner to SBU Sales
The Robbins Company announced the appointment of Joe Lechner to the role of Small Boring Unit (SBU) Sales Manager. With over 18 years of industry experience, the role is a natural career progression for Lechner. It brings him back to his early roots of working with SBUs, while more recently he worked with TBMs. Lechner can continue his success with the company in this new capacity with the trenchless division.
In his new position, Lechner will handle SBU sales and rentals for Robbins, assist customers in equipment specifications for projects, and provide full-spectrum customer support. In addition, Lechner will be responsible for many other tasks such as generating quotes for cutters and spare parts, shop scheduling, forecasting, internal operations for Robbins, and field service support, as needed.
“I want customers to know they can come to me with any issues. I have a good understanding of the industry and our business,” said Lechner. “I want to provide an all-around good experience. Robbins wants your project to be successful, with our equipment and support.”
Lechner began working with SBUs in 1998, starting in field service. When he wasn’t out in the field, he was building SBUs and cutters. He started up and commissioned SBU-As in the field, and transitioned over to working with TBMs worldwide in the mid 2000’s. With his diverse worldwide field experience, Lechner’s knowledge will continue to benefit Robbins and its customers.
Lechner said his goals as Sales Manager for the SBU product line for the next two years include increasing stocking levels and providing fast deliveries to customers. He noted the division is streamlining inspection quoting and repair processes to ultimately provide the most efficient services possible. With a few hundred machines in service, some of which are working around the clock, he anticipates product sales, rentals and repairs all will remain consistent moving forward.
“We’re lucky to have Joe working with Robbins,” said Tom Fuerst, Utility Tunneling Sales Manager. “With his background and extensive knowledge, he’ll easily implement the best solutions for our customers.”