Serafeimidis, Konstantinos
Konstantinos Serafeimidis
Tunnelling, Claystones, Gypsum Keuper, Swelling Process
Sulphatic claystones are among the most problematic rocks in
tunnelling due to their distinctive swelling properties. They are known
to have caused severe damage, for example, to numerous tunnels excavated
in the Gypsum Keuper formation. The repairs were extremely costly and
time-consuming, and often provided only a temporary solution. The
setbacks experienced in tunnelling through Gypsum Keuper may be
attributed, among other things, to our limited knowledge of the
macroscopic principles governing the swelling process and the underlying
microscopic mechanisms.