What is the immersed sunken tube method?

The immersed tunnel, also called Sunken Tube, is a tunnel construction method commonly used for crossing a body of shallow water. The method has been widely used for about 100 years, and more than 150 immersed tunnels have been constructed worldwide.

What is the importance of tunnels?

Tunnels are underground passages used for transportation. They could be used for carrying freights and passengers, water, sewage, etc Tunnels are more economical than open cuts beyond certain depths. Tunnels avoid disturbing or interfering with surface life and traffic during construction.

How are immersed tunnels made?

Immersed tunnels consist of very large precast concrete or concrete-filled steel tunnel elements fabricated in dry docks and then installed underwater. Once they reach their final location, the elements are immersed, lowered into a prepared trench, and joined to previously placed tunnel elements.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of an immersed tube?

Advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage of an immersed tube is that they can be considerably more cost effective than alternative options – i.e., a bored tunnel beneath the water being crossed (if indeed this is possible at all due to other factors such as the geology and seismic activity) or a bridge.

Which is better immersed or immersed tube tunnels?

Costs for immersed tube tunnels are considerably lower than those involved in boring a tunnel beneath the water. The speed of construction is also greater, mainly because activities are simultaneously carried out for almost the entire length of the tunnel.

How to build an immersed tube rail system?

Immersed Tube Tunnel 1 Constructing the casting basin for fabrication the tunnel elements 2 Constructing the first batch of tunnel elements 3 Construct the temporary water ballast system 4 Seal the element with a temporary bulkhead 5 Fill the casting basin (inundation) 6 Remove the basin gate

What does DMC offer in immersed tube tunnels?

Immersed tube tunnels, What We Offer With its broad knowledge and detailed expertise of immersed tube tunnels, DMC is able to cover the whole project life cycle. Conceptual designs, feasibility studies or detailed designs: DMC can do it all. Working for a contractor or for the owner of the tunnel: DMC has done it before.