Field monitoring and instrumentation in microtunnelling/pipe jacking: A review and future directions

The popularity of trenchless techniques as a means of utility pipeline installation in urban environments, specifically microtunnelling/pipe-jacking, has increased in recent years due to its minimally-disruptive nature and reduced carbon footprint in comparison to conventional open-cut excavation me...

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Main Authors: Asad Wadood, Bryan A. McCabe, Brian B. Sheil
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-06-01
Series:Underground Space
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2467967425000157
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author Asad Wadood
Bryan A. McCabe
Brian B. Sheil
author_facet Asad Wadood
Bryan A. McCabe
Brian B. Sheil
author_sort Asad Wadood
collection DOAJ
description The popularity of trenchless techniques as a means of utility pipeline installation in urban environments, specifically microtunnelling/pipe-jacking, has increased in recent years due to its minimally-disruptive nature and reduced carbon footprint in comparison to conventional open-cut excavation methods. The response of pipes during the jacking process is complex and is governed by several factors, including ground conditions, the amount and distribution of lubrication, pipe and annulus size, pipeline misalignments and jacking force eccentricity, among others. Design practice remains based on empirical equations and previous drives through similar geology, resulting in uncertainty in jacking force estimates, thereby restricting adoption of the technique. In order to improve our understanding of the pipe-jacking process, pipes incorporating sensors providing real-time measurements of earth pressures, pore water pressures, axial strains and hoop strains can be used; but the number of such studies reported in the literature is small and the potential of instrumentation on routine projects is largely untapped. Moreover, jacking pipe monitoring practice lags behind the state-of-the-art instrumentation techniques used for monitoring other geotechnical infrastructure. The purpose of this paper is to provide a thorough review of learnings from instrumented pipe-jacking case studies and other supporting research, as well as to propose potential solutions to research gaps in the current state of design practice and field monitoring of pipe jacking projects.
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spelling doaj-art-392a26e59080450b98ccf28e1655f7592025-08-20T03:19:57ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Underground Space2467-96742025-06-012222524010.1016/j.undsp.2024.12.003Field monitoring and instrumentation in microtunnelling/pipe jacking: A review and future directionsAsad Wadood0Bryan A. McCabe1Brian B. Sheil2Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Galway, IrelandCivil Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Galway, Ireland; Corresponding author.Laing O’Rourke Centre for Construction Engineering and Technology, University of Cambridge, United KingdomThe popularity of trenchless techniques as a means of utility pipeline installation in urban environments, specifically microtunnelling/pipe-jacking, has increased in recent years due to its minimally-disruptive nature and reduced carbon footprint in comparison to conventional open-cut excavation methods. The response of pipes during the jacking process is complex and is governed by several factors, including ground conditions, the amount and distribution of lubrication, pipe and annulus size, pipeline misalignments and jacking force eccentricity, among others. Design practice remains based on empirical equations and previous drives through similar geology, resulting in uncertainty in jacking force estimates, thereby restricting adoption of the technique. In order to improve our understanding of the pipe-jacking process, pipes incorporating sensors providing real-time measurements of earth pressures, pore water pressures, axial strains and hoop strains can be used; but the number of such studies reported in the literature is small and the potential of instrumentation on routine projects is largely untapped. Moreover, jacking pipe monitoring practice lags behind the state-of-the-art instrumentation techniques used for monitoring other geotechnical infrastructure. The purpose of this paper is to provide a thorough review of learnings from instrumented pipe-jacking case studies and other supporting research, as well as to propose potential solutions to research gaps in the current state of design practice and field monitoring of pipe jacking projects.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2467967425000157Trenchless technologyMicrotunnellingPipe jackingInstrumentationField monitoring
spellingShingle Asad Wadood
Bryan A. McCabe
Brian B. Sheil
Field monitoring and instrumentation in microtunnelling/pipe jacking: A review and future directions
Underground Space
Trenchless technology
Microtunnelling
Pipe jacking
Instrumentation
Field monitoring
title Field monitoring and instrumentation in microtunnelling/pipe jacking: A review and future directions
title_full Field monitoring and instrumentation in microtunnelling/pipe jacking: A review and future directions
title_fullStr Field monitoring and instrumentation in microtunnelling/pipe jacking: A review and future directions
title_full_unstemmed Field monitoring and instrumentation in microtunnelling/pipe jacking: A review and future directions
title_short Field monitoring and instrumentation in microtunnelling/pipe jacking: A review and future directions
title_sort field monitoring and instrumentation in microtunnelling pipe jacking a review and future directions
topic Trenchless technology
Microtunnelling
Pipe jacking
Instrumentation
Field monitoring
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2467967425000157
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AT brianbsheil fieldmonitoringandinstrumentationinmicrotunnellingpipejackingareviewandfuturedirections