What is this???

ASubmerged Tunnel is
atunnelthat floats in water,
supported by
itsbuoyancy(specifically, by
employing the hydrostatic thrust,
orArchimedes' Principle).
The tube is placed underwater,
deep enough to avoid water traffic
and weather, but not so deep that
high water pressure needs to be
dealt withusually 2050 m (60
150 ft.) is sufficient.Cables either
anchored to the Earth or to
pontoonsat the surface prevent
it from floating to the surface or
submerging, respectively.

Why this ?
The big advantage of a floating submerged tunnel compared to a
bridge is the lightly loaded construction. Under water a weight
reduction takes place which lowers the loads to be carried by the
tunnel.
Flexible submerged tunnel has much less problems with
earthquakes which can happen in this area.
Floating tunnel can be built fast from both shores having no
problems with wind or high seas.
seas
Another possible advantage is space: the downward ramp leading
to a tunnel leaves a smaller footprint compared to the upward
ramps required by most bridges.
Moreover traffic can run very fast through this tunnel compared to
ferry link.
Due to lesser contact with the sea bed it has lesser possibilities of
chemical reaction with the construction material & the sea bad soil
strata.

Submerged tunnels can be placed immediately beneath a

waterway. In contrast, a bored tunnel is usually only stable if
its roof is at least its own diameter beneath the water. This
allows Submerged tunnel approaches to be shorter and/or
approach gradients to be flatter - an advantage for all
tunnels, but especially so for railways.

Sydney Harbour Tunnel(2.8

km)

Seikan Tunnel (53.9 km)world's longest undersea

railway tunnel

Channel Tunnel( 37.9 km)-the tube

rail between ENGLAND & FRANCE
world's longest undersea portion
railway tunnel

Marmaray (ISTANBUL)
connecting Asia and Europe

Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line (9.6 km)

world's longest undersea
portion road tunnel

Eiksund Tunnel(7.7 km),

world's deepest undersea road
tunnel

Cross Harbour Tunnel- Hong Kong,

a busy road tunnel

Regular vs. Underwater

Tunnels
Regular

Underwater

Average Costs

$
$6,349,500,
787,500,000 000

Average Length

3.5 miles
= 5.63 km
1-3

Years Build

http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/

4.5miles
= 7.24 km
3-6

How this is constructed.

A trench is dredged in the bed of the water channel.

DREDGING
Dredging technology
has improved
considerably in recent
years, and it is now
possible to remove a
wide variety of material
underwater without
adverse effects on the
environment of the
waterway.

 Tunnel elements are constructed in the dry, for example

in a casting basin, a fabrication yard, on a ship-lift
platform or in a factory unit.

casting basin

ship-lift platform

fabrication yard

factory unit

After Casting..

After casting the ends of the element are then

temporarily sealed with bulkheads.
Each tunnel element is transported to the tunnel
site - usually floating, occasionally on a barge, or
assisted by cranes.

The immersion of the tunnel element is carried

out after the tunnel element has been moved
and the element has been ballasted as
necessary to provide adequate loads in the
immersion tackles.

The tunnel element is lowered to its final

place on the bottom of the dredged
trench.

The new element is placed against the previous

element under water. Water is then pumped out
of the space between the bulkheads.
Water pressure on the free end of the new
element compresses the rubber seal between the
two elements, closing the joint.

Backfill
material is
placed
beside and
over the
tunnel to
fill the
trench and
permanentl
y bury the
tunnel, as
illustrated
in the
figures.

Approach structures can be built on the

banks before, after or concurrently
with the Submerged tunnel, to suit
local circumstances.

 Submerged tunnels are sometimes perceived by newcomers

to the technology as "difficult" due to the presence of
marine operations.
In reality though, the technique is often

bored tunneling

less risky than

and construction can be better controlled.

The marine operations, though unfamiliar to many, pose no
particular difficulties.

 Tunnels required for higher costs of security and

construction than bridges. This may mean that over
short distances bridges may be preferred rather than
tunnels (for exampleDartford Crossing).
Bridges may not allow shipping to pass, so solutions
such as theOresund Bridgehave been constructed.
Implementation of this project is very tough & requiring
skilled labours & heavy machinery & facing very
adverse situations.