PWRI jananese
TOP > English
Tunnel


Welcome to the Tunnel Research Team website.
Our team conducts various researches and technical development focused on the methods of design, construction, and maintenance concerning to the structure of road tunnels.
Our team also targets at the researches and development on the facilities and systems of ventilation, lighting and emergency operation in road tunnnels.


Research Projects
  • Construction and design methods of mountain tunnel
    Our team conducts numerical analyses, model experiments, and field measurements for the purpose of evaluating the underground loading conditions and the performance of the tunnel structure.
Full-scale loading test for tunnel lining An example of test results(Final stage)
  • Construction and design methods of urban tunnel
    Our team conducts numerical analyses, model experiments, and field measurements for the
    purpose of developing the methods of design, construction, and maintenance with respect to the shield tunnels.
  • Seismic properties of the mountain tunnel
     This research project is related to :
     >Clarification of the uncertainties of tunnel mechanical behavior during earthquake.
     >Researching and developing the effective solutions against seismic damages to mountain tunnel. 
The earthquake damage Ground Vibration
The earthquake damage Ground Vibration
  • Maintenance of aged tunnel  This research project is related to :
    >Evaluation of the performance of the old tunnel structure using soundness properties.
    >Repairing, retrofitting, and reinforcing the performance of aged tunnel structures.
  • Research and development of the systems of ventilation, lighting, and emergency operation in road tunnel
     This Research project is related to:

     >Researching and developing the efficient and economical ventilation, lighting systems.
     >Reseaching and developing the safe and effective emergency operation systems.
Full-scale loading test for tunnel lining
Our team carries out full-scale loading test for full-scale tunnel linings.The diameter of the model is 9.7m. We study the behavior of tunnel lining considering its thickness, its material properties, and the loading conditions.

Current issue
The number of road tunnel construction has been increasing recently owing to the development of road transportation network. In addition, the cross sections of newly constructed tunnels have been becoming larger with the purpose of safe and comfortable driving. Accordingly, the cost of tunnel construction tends to get higher, and its reduction is required. Furthermore, the importance of the tunnel durability becomes higher from the needs of the efficient maintenance purpose for the quite large number of tunnels, such as preventing falling concrete debris from tunnel structures. Corresponding to these requirements, more rational solutions for design, construction, and maintenance of tunnel structure are required.

Full-scale loading test for tunnel lining
Full-scale loading test for tunnel lining

Public Works Research Institute
Road Technology Research Group
Tunnel Research Team
1-6 Minamihara, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8516, JAPAN
Tel. +81-29-879-6791   Fax. +81-29-879-6796

Copyright © Public Works Research Institute