Abstract

A prefabricated segment (1) of a tunnel lining, having an intrados face (11), an extrados face (12) opposed to the intrados face (11) and a peripheral wall (13) which connects the intrados face (11) and the extrados face (12), comprises at least one male joining element (100) which is intended to cooperate with a respective female joining element of an adjacent prefabricated segment in the tunnel lining. The male joining element (100) comprises : a covering (101) which delimits a chamber (102) and which has a front wall (101a), wherein the covering (101) is embedded in the segment (1) so as to expose the front wall (101a) in the region of the peripheral wall (13) of the segment (1); an engaging pin (105) for engaging the female joining element, wherein the engaging pin (105) is slidingly mounted in the chamber (102) and is movable between a retracted position, in which the engaging pin (105) is completely received in the chamber (102), and an extracted position, in which the engaging pin (105) projects from the chamber (102) through an extraction opening (103) which is formed in the front wall (101a); elastic preloading means (106a, 106b) which are arranged inside the chamber (102) and which act on the engaging pin (105) for moving the engaging pin (105) from the retracted position to the extracted position; and removable or retractable locking means (107) for retaining the engaging pin (105) in the retracted position against the action of the elastic preloading means (106a, 106b). The segment (1) further comprises an auxiliary channel (15) which extends between the intrados face (11) and the chamber (102) which is delimited by the covering (101) of the male joining element (100) and the locking means (107) of the male joining element (100) are removable or retractable through the auxiliary channel (15).

IPC Classes  ?

• E21D 11/08 - Lining with building materials with preformed concrete slabs

Abstract

A method for impermeabilizing a tunnel covering which is formed by prefabricated ashlars (1), comprising the steps of: a) providing a plurality of prefabricated ashlars (1), having an intrados face (11), an opposite extrados face (12) with respect to the intrados face (11), a peripheral edge (13) which connects the intrados face (11) to the extrados face (12), a peripheral groove (3) which extends longitudinally in a continuous manner in the region of the peripheral edge (13), and at least one injection pipe (4) having a first end opening (410) in the region of the intrados face (11) and at least one second end opening (420) in the region of the peripheral groove (3); b) positioning the plurality of prefabricated ashlars (1) along walls of a tunnel so as to form a tunnel covering, wherein the tunnel covering comprises a grid of interconnected joint lines (112), each one being defined between two respective, mutually adjacent prefabricated ashlars (1), wherein in the region of each joint line (112) corresponding sections of the peripheral grooves (3) of the two mutually adjacent prefabricated ashlars (1) are mutually facing so as to form a respective hollow channel (113), with which there is formed in the tunnel covering a grid of interconnected hollow channels (113) corresponding to the grid of interconnected joint lines (112), and c) filling the grid of interconnected hollow channels (113) with a sealing material (5) which is impermeable to water and which can be injected, wherein the sealing material (5) is injected into the grid of interconnected hollow channels (113) through the first end opening (410) of the at least one injection pipe (4) of one or more of the prefabricated ashlars (1) which are provided with at least one injection pipe (4). There is also described a prefabricated ashlar (1) which can be used in this method.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21D 11/08 - Lining with building materials with preformed concrete slabs
• E21D 11/38 - WaterproofingHeat insulatingSoundproofingElectric insulating