Course in tunnelling and underground structures

2024
Wednesdays 4 and 11 December
2025
Thursdays 9 and 23 January / 6 and 20 February / 13 and 27 March / 3 April
(all dates subject to possible changes)

Lesson 1. Introduction to tunnelling and underground structures (4/12/2024)
Lesson 2. Immersed tunnelling (11/12/2024)
Lesson 3. Conventional tunnelling and rock tunnelling (9/1/2025)
Lesson 4. Mechanized tunnelling (23/1/2025)
Lesson 5. Micro-tunnelling & pipe-jacking & rehabiliation (6/2/2025)
Lesson 6. Fire safety, tunnel safety and tunnel installations (20/2/2025)
Lesson 7. BIM in underground structures: from design to management (13/3/2025)
Lesson 8. Tunnels in operation: Tunnel operation and maintenance, tunnel renovations (27/3/2025) 
Lesson 9. Future proof tunneling and Innovation in underground techniques (3/4/2025)

Practical information – course material

8.30 AM: registration
9 AM: course
12.30 PM: sandwich lunch
1 PM: course
5 PM: end

All lessons will be taught in English
Theoretical lessons alternated with exercises
The course material consists only of slides
This is a first step towards the ITA-ITACET's specialized TRAINING courses (in the context of WTC2027)

The classes can also be taken as 2 separate parts. (click to see separate participation fees valid).
PART 1: lessons 1 to 5 + lesson 9
PART 2: lesson 1 + lessons 6 to 9

Lesson 1. Introduction to tunnelling and underground structures

• Introduction
• Design of underground structures
• Requirements in underground construction
• Modeling ; FE methodology
• From design to management of tunnels in operation
• Contract forms ; Design & built
• Financial and legal aspects
• Architecture in underground structures
• Tunnel heritage

Bart De Pauw (UGent + TUC RAIL)
Hans Mortier (KU Leuven + Deme Infra)
Anthony Logghe (Eubelius)

Lesson 2. Immersed tunnelling

• Design of immersed tunnel
• Execution and points of interest
• Crucial parts, accessories
• Follow-up and management
• Case studies Fehmarnbelt
• Case study Oosterweel

Hans Mortier (KU Leuven + Deme Infra)
Benoit Janssens (Lantis)

Lesson 3. Conventional tunnelling and rock tunnelling

• Design tunnel cut & cover, design conventional tunnels
• FE-modelling
• Execution techniques
• Crucial parts, accessories
• Follow-up and management
• Case studies and experiences

Bart De Pauw (UGent + TUC RAIL)
Jean-Pierre Tshibangu (RockEnGeo.be)
NCC (Sweden, guestspeaker)

Lesson 4. Mechanized tunnelling

• Design bored tunnel, design and execution
• Bore pressure 2D or 3D?
• Boring at shallow depth below tidal rivers
• Mudcake formation 
• Design departure and receiving shafts
• Design tunnel lining, from elementary equations for linings to spring-damper analysis instead of FE-models, and FE-modelling
• Where are we with deep learning in tunnelling?
• Crucial parts, accessories
• Follow-up
• Case studies (Diabolo & Liefkenshoektunnel) and experiences

Laurence Delplace (Amberg + ULiège)
Bart De Pauw (UGent + TUC RAIL)
Philippe Van Bogaert (UGent)

Lesson 5. Micro-tunnelling & pipe-jacking & rehabiliation

• Micro-tunnelling: design and execution
• Pipe jacking techniques: design and execution
• Cables and pipes tunnels
• Water storage tunnels
• Pipeline rehabilitation

Bart Vanhout (Smet Group)
Maarten Vanneste (Denys)
Kristof Van Royen (Denys)
Wim Feyen (K-boringen)

Lesson 6. Fire safety, tunnel safety and tunnel installations

• Fire safety: design and approach
• Performance based design approach
• Evacuation management and QRA
• Tunnel safety in road and rail tunnels
• Integration of rail infrastructure - clash detection
• Normative framework of tunnel safety
• Fire department concerns
• Case study Liefkenshoek

Joren Celis (Tractebel)
Bart De Pauw (UGent + TUC Rail)
Matteo Pachera (SWECO)
Heidi Cuypers (Vlaamse overheid, MOW)

Lesson 7. BIM in underground structures: from design to management

• BIM in underground structures: normative framework
• EIR and BEP in tunnels
• Use cases
• LOIN (Level Of Information Need)
• BIM from design and execution to management
• Case studies Fehmarnbelt
• Case study Kennedy tunnel (railway tunnel)

Kang-Chi Jao (Wayss & Freitag)
Joseph Ickmans (Tractebel)
Bart De Pauw (UGent + TUC Rail)
Vincent De Breuck (TUC Rail / Infrabel)

Lesson 8. Tunnels in operation: Tunnel operation and maintenance, tunnel renovations

• Operability of tunnels
• Contract forms
• Installations and tunnel lighting
• Risk analysis and RAMS
• Inspection
• Tunnel renovations
• Preventive maintenance

Erwin Joris (De Lijn)
Heidi Cuypers (Vlaamse overheid, MOW)
Joachim Peerlinck (Vlaamse overheid, MOW)
Bart De Pauw (UGent + TUC Rail)
Christophe Van Ginderachter (Vlaamse overheid, MOW)

Lesson 9. Future proof tunnelling and Innovation in underground techniques

• Underground structures in the future
• Hyperloop
• Follow-up and monitoring
• Robustness and climate change
• Sustainable design
• Energy neutral tunnels
• Innovations in construction techniques

Gust Van Lysebetten (Buildwise)
Stijn François (KU Leuven)
Maarten Vanneste (Denys)
Kristof Maes (KU Leuven)
Bart De Pauw (UGent + TUC Rail)