Improving the diagnosis methodology for masonry tunnels

• Published in: Tunnelling and underground space technology Vol. 70; pp. 55 - 64
• Main Authors: Llanca, Daniel, Breul, Pierre, Bacconnet, Claude
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2017; Elsevier BV; Elsevier
• Subjects: Civil Engineering; Diagnosis; Engineering Sciences; Géotechnique; Infrastructures de transport; Masonry; Masonry lining; Methodology; Monitoring; Paris metro; Passenger safety; Qualitative analysis; Quality of service; Quantitative analysis; Risques; Site characterization; Studies; Subway tunnels; Transportation systems; Tunnels; Tunnels diagnosis; Underground construction; Underground structures; Paris France; Site characterization; Masonry lining; Paris metro; Tunnels diagnosis
• ISSN: 0886-7798; 1878-4364
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2017.07.002

The sustainability of transportation systems infrastructures remains a major challenge for managers in order to ensure safety and quality service to passengers. For example, the French company RATP transports up to 10 million passengers daily in Paris. Most of its underground structures are composed of masonry tunnels built several decades ago. However, at present, monitoring methodologies often remain incomplete or qualitative when evaluating the real condition of tunnels and proposing a diagnosis.
This article focuses on a new monitoring methodology that complements visual inspections, based on a quantitative analysis of each tunnel component. Using a coupled analysis of the various data (qualitative, quantitative and expert) in our possession, we suggest establishing a score to qualify the actual condition of a tunnel and improve its diagnosis.
The application of this methodology to carry out an evaluation of the masonry lining of the Paris Subway System shows that the proposed method and tools are particularly well adapted for characterizing and evaluating masonry lining.