ABSTRACT:

The tunnel across the Pyrenees, joining by a high speed train Barcelona (Spain) and Montpellier (France), will have a total length of 8200m. In order to characterise the rock mass, several site investigations, in situ and lab tests have been performed. Also, a full scale gallery has been built at the weakest part of the predicted profile.

INTRODUCTION

In the liaison by a High Speed Railway between Barcelona (Spain) and Montpellier (France), the cross of the Pyrenees is projected to be done throughout the "Le Perthus Tunnel", with an approximated length of 8200m. The studies for this tunnel are included in the binational stretch: "Figueres-Perpignan", approximately 42km long, and conducted by the European Group of Economical Interest AEIE/GEIE Sur Europa Mediterráneo/ Sud Europe Mediterranée, co-ordinated by technicians of the Spanish and French National Railway Companies RENFE and SNCF, as well as from the Ministry of Transport in both countries. The studies of the Perthus Tunnel have their background on the projects successively conducted by SNCF and FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya) between 1989 and 1994. Several locations and lengths for this tunnel have been considered, but finally the cross of the Pyrenees will be done under Le Perthus village, between the villages of La Jonquera in Spain and Le Boulou in France. As for the geotechnical model, several in situ and lab tests were carried out and more recently (GEOCONTROL, 1998) the construction of an experimental shaft and gallery at Le Boulou (France) was made, crossing some weak silurian ampellites and the myllonites of Le Boulou fault, making several complementary tests and an extensive instrumentation programme (borehole slotter, extensometer, convergence, stress sensors, etc.). All this information has been analysed in order to estimate the strength and deformability properties of rock mass.

This content is only available via PDF.
You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.