18.6 Make up the answers to these questions. Use the Word list

1. Can you give a definition of a tunnel and a transport tunnel in particular?

2. Why is it so important to foresee the peculiarities of ground conditions?

3. What is a vertical opening?

4. What is a drift?

5. What geological difficulties can influence the choice of driving methods?

6. What method do the workers use for supporting loose rock?

7. What cutting phases does the sequential excavation method involve?

8. When is the “drill and blast” method suitable?

9. How do the workers clear the tunnel face from blasting fumes and spoil?

10. When is the “cut-and-cover” technique suitable?

11. What are the two basic forms of cut-and-cover tunneling?

12. Why is tunnel construction most compl­ex challenge in civil engineering?

18.7 Read the dialogue below and retell it with a partner

Trans-Atlantic Maglev Tube

Tom: Today I’m speaking to Dr Tore Jensen. He’s a civil engineer and his company is working on big and bold ideas such as planning a tunnel under the Atlantic Ocean. So, Tore, tell me about this tunnel, or tube, under the Atlantic (fig.18.6). Are you building it now?

Dr J: No, no, we’re not building it now. That’s a long time in the future but no challenges could stop engineers from dreaming up. Right now, we’re thinking about it and planning it. Another company is designing the small-scale model of a Transatlantic Tunnel to connect New York with London.

Tom: So, when will they build it?

Dr J: I think, they’ll start in 2080 and complete it in 2100.

Tom: That’s a long time in the future.

Dr J: Yes, it is.

Tom: So, where will the tunnel be? How long will it be? How deep?

Figure 18.6 Trans-Atlantic Maglev Tube does not exist in the world today

Dr J: The tube will be below the Atlantic Ocean. It’ll connect the USA with Britain. It’ll be about 5000 km long and about 100 metres deep, in the ocean.

Tom: Will the tube move around in the water?

Dr J: No, it won’t move. One hundred thousand cables will attach it to the sea floor.

Tom: Will the train use electricity?

Dr J: No, it won’t. It’ll use magnetism. The tube will be a vacuum. Maglev trains will be able to travel through the tube at 8000 km/h.

The Word List

1. Alignment	осевое направление
2. Blast hole	шпур
3. Bottom-up method	опускной метод
4. Cleavage	слоистость
5. Cutting head	бурильная головка
6. Drift	выработка, направление проходки
7. ‘Drill and blast” method	буровзрывной способ проходки
8. Drilling jumbo	буровая каретка
9. Entrance	портал
10. Fault zone	сдвиг горной породы, разлом
11. Fracturing	образование трещин
12. Full-face method	проходка тоннеля полным профилем
13. Hazard	опасность, риск, опасный фактор
14. Heading	направление проходки, штольня
15. Loose ground	сыпучий, рыхлый грунт
16. Mine survey	маркшейдерское дело
17. Sandy loam	супесь, песчаный суглинок
18. Sealing gasket	уплотнительная прокладка
19. Spoil, muck	порода
20. Tunnel boring machine (TBM)	проходческий комбайн
21. Top-heading-and-bench method	проходка с верхней штольни методом уступа
22. Top-down method or diaphragm wall method (Slurry wall)	“стена в грунте”
23.Water table	уровень грунтовых вод