ASSET International - Tunnelling and Bridge Underpass Solutions

In view of the high demand for both economical and reliable tunnel production, ASSET International, part of the Hill & Smith Infrastructure Products Group, designs and manufactures a comprehensive range of steel structures for tunnelling and bridge underpass solutions tailored to individual requirements for underground construction worldwide.

Products include Multiplate and Tunnel Liner Plate for underground construction of tunnels and Stren-Cor for cross section and preservation of bridges. Product applications include:

• Culverts
• Tunnel relining
• Vehicular underpasses
• Caissons
• Bat tunnels
• Perforated soakaways
• Railway tunnels
• Pedestrian underpasses
• Livestock underpasses
• Vertical pile casings
• Cable protection structures
• Materials recovery tunnels
• Conveyor tunnels
• Back shutters
• Service tunnels
• Temporary structures
• Tower crane cofferdams

MULTIPLATE - CORRUGATED STEEL STRUCTURES FOR TUNNEL APPLICATIONS

Multiplate - a versatile construction system based around curved, corrugated, galvanised steel sheets, which are bolted together to form durable arch corrugated steel structures, or part structures.

Multiplate is cost-effective, easy to install and has a long life compared to traditional concrete tunnelling material - up to 120 years when designed using The Highways Agency standard BD12/01.

Available in spans of up to 12m, Multiplate tunnel applications are approved for use by the Highways Agency and is a BBA Roads and Bridges Agreement certified product. Multiplate is BSEN 9001:1994, 12306 and BSEN ISO 9002:1994, 01453 approved.

Typical tunnelling applications include the following urban environments:

• Cable protection culverts
• Road and pedestrian passes under highways and railways
• Relining of existing tunnels
• Vertical tunnelling for caissons and shafts
• Environmental tunnel applications such as otter and fish underpasses

CABLE PROTECTION CULVERTS

Multiplate MP200 galvanised arches were installed as part of the Newport Southern Distributor Road (SDR) scheme in South Wales in 2004. 4.25m span Multiplate corrugated steel arches were used to form a 103m-long protective cable tunnel for two 132kV underground cables, supplying electricity to homes in the area.

The prefabricated arches had four elbows accommodating bends up to 105˚ and doorways at both ends to allow access for future maintenance. Engineering consultant for Newport City Council, Morgan Vinci, found that Multiplate eliminated the need to divert the cables deeper underground, providing contractors with a cost-effective, easy-to-install alternative to traditional methods.

CYCLE UNDERPASS

Multiplate was installed as part of the Port Talbot Peripheral Distributor Road (PDR) project carried out on behalf of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. The 43m-long corrugated steel structure was used to replace an existing riverside cycle path with minimal environmental disruption. Contract manager on site, Alun Smith found Multiplate to be an ideal solution. "We wanted an economical solution, which would also be aesthetically pleasing. The Multiplate structure proved a far more cost-effective option than traditional reinforced concrete."

ASSET TUNNEL LINER PLATE - COMPLETE ASSEMBLY WITHIN A STRUCTURE

ASSET steel Tunnel Liner Plate - a corrugated steel, two-flange sectional lining system and is available in a variety of shapes and sizes, from as small as 1.3m diameter to a maximum 8m diameter.

It is assembled completely within the progressing structure, making Tunnel Liner one of the safest products available for soft ground tunnelling.

The maximum strength provided by the strong corrugated steel plates and the low weight of the product provides both an economical and safe solution for workmen.

Installed horizontally for tunnels and relines, or vertically for shafts and caissons, Tunnel Liner applications include:

• Ground tunnelling
• Road underpasses
• Relining existing concrete structures
• Rockfall protection for mining applications

STREN-COR TUNNEL APPLICATIONS

The bulk of Stren-Cor products are used in bridge applications, however Stren-Cor is also used for culverts, and environmental structures as in Hampton, Peterborough at two locations, 6m wide x 1.8m high x 60m long. Further applications include tunnels in road tunnel applications and shafts.

ASSET International's tunnel applications offer solutions to a variety of placements, from underground road tunnels for urban environments to environmental preservation passages for conservation projects.

Please also see Road Traffic Technology - Asset International - Steel Structures for Bridge and Underpass Solutions