NON-WOVEN SYNTHETIC MATERIALS - AN ALTERNATIVE TO NORMAL TUNNEL INSULATION

AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO DETERMINE THE DEFORMATION AND FILTER PROPERTIES WHICH ARE SIGNIFICANT FOR THE USE OF NON-WOVEN MATERIALS AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR TUNNEL SEALING IN STRETCHES SUBJECTED TO LIMITED WATER INFILTRATION, WHEN THEY ARE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH FRESH CONCRETE. THE TESTS WERE CARRIED OUT IN A LABORATORY. ALTHOUGH VARIOUS QUESTIONS STILL REMAIN UNANSWERED, SUCH AS HOW THE FILTER PROPERTIES VARY OVER A LONG PERIOD IN THE MATERIALS FOUND IN SOLUTION IN THE WATER FROM THE ROCK, HOW FAR THE MATERIAL SUSTAINS PERMANENT DEFORMATION IN THE ROCK AND HOW IT CAN THUS REDUCE THE LOADING ON THE LINING, THIS NEW CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL WILL HAVE A WIDER USE BECAUSE OF ITS OPERATIONAL ADVANTAGES.