Whereas the trends in construction of microtunnels suggest increasing usage of mechanized methods, in developing countries there are still some obstacles to their widespread usage – e.g. relatively high cost, lack of skilled manpower, shortage of equipment. In fact, manual methods are still the most prevalent practice in developing countries. This paper explores the role of numerical modelling to support the choice for hand digging over mechanized microtunneling solution in drainage projects. An important application of microtunnels relates to urban drainage projects. There is a pent-up demand for such projects, since urban flooding problems have become increasingly recurrent across the world. Particularly in Southern Brazil, one of the most critical and high risk flooding regions is the Itajai Valley, Santa Catarina State. In order to control or minimize the potential harm of floods, urban drainage or macrodrainage systems should provide underground infrastructures (tunnels, pipelines and conduits) to drain away floodwaters. This paper presents some analysis results using numerical models of microtunnels for macrodrainage, designed to reduce flooding risk in the Brusque municipality, Santa Catarina State, Brazil.
Today, in most big and mid-sized cities across the world, urban drainage projects are a top agenda item, with a pent-up demand for construction of microtunnels. Whereas the trends in construction of microtunnels suggest that mechanized methods might be increasing over the past two decades, especially in developing countries there are still some obstacles to their widespread usage – e.g. relatively high cost, lack of skilled manpower, shortage of equipment. In fact, manual methods are still the most prevalent practice in developing countries. This paper explores the role of numerical modelling to support the choice for hand digging over mechanized microtunneling solution in drainage projects.
