Estudo da viabilidade de túneis viários em obras de infraestrutura

Abstract

Tunnel construction usually brings many advantages in urban areas, it improves the use of limited spaces, has less ecological impact and its structure is less susceptible to external agents. These advantages have been receiving more attention due to an increase on urbanization and environmental awareness. In the last decades significant advances on tunnel technology have occurred, which led to an increase on tunnel construction numbers in Brazil and in the rest of the world. This work make a recap on some of the first tunnels in Brazil and World’s history and review the main tunnel construction methods applied nowadays; cut and cover techniques, immersed tunnels, shield tunneling, New Austrian Tunneling Method, porticos made with spiked pipes and porticos made with jet grouting columns. This review is used as basis to understand the tunneling method chosen for two tunnels located in João Pessoa city’s center: the Rua Guedes Pereira Tunnel and the Av. Miguel Couto tunnel. They were both initially constructed in 1970 with Cut and Cover techniques. These tunnels construction resulted in partial destruction a cultural heritage located in the area, which caused many critics. This work analyze how suitable the Cut and Cover method adopted in this work was, considering the following characteristics: tunnel function, soil type, cover dimension, surface occupation, tunnel cross-section and tunnel extension. The Cut and Cover technique is suitable for most characteristics studied. However, this technique requires destruction and reconstruction of the surface, which in this case is an urban area of cultural significance.