Certain tunnels of Vitória-Mina Railway have presented rock fall problems which do not represent major risks, but can impair the railway operation. The TUNELCON Project, partnership between Vale SA and Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo (EPUSP), seeks to study the geomechanical behavior of these tunnels trough laboratory tests, geological and geotechnical mapping and numerical analyses. Therefore, it is important to collect large amount of data regarding to the rock mass geological and geotechnical characteristics that will be useful in further analysis. In this article the results of the roughness characterization of different discontinuity sets showed high variability for the shear fractures and foliation while relief fractures presented more constant values. The roughness was characterized by profilometer (Barton profilometer) and by 3D terrestrial laser scanner (3DTLS) images and their results were compared. Several Discontinuities from drill cores samples and 3DTLS mapping were used for this investigation.
The Vitória–Minas Railway is 905 km long and containing 44 tunnels. The majority of these tunnels are constructed in rock mass and there are no concrete lining along their way. In recent years, some tunnels have been presenting some block falls, which have not represented generalized risk. The TUNELCON Project, partnership between Vale Company and Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo – EPUSP, seeks to study the geomechanical behavior of these tunnels by the laboratories test, geological geotechnical mapping and numerical analyses.
One of these tunnel is located near to the cities of João Neiva and Ibiraçu in the state of Espírito Santo, where in the recent years, the blocks fall mechanism has been studied in detail (Cacciari et al., 2013; Cacciari, 2014; Monticeli et al., 2014 and Monticeli, 2014).
