Settlement Predictions of The Noordtunnel: A Numerical Simulation

The Noordtunnel is an immersed tunnel open to roadway service since 1990 in The Netherlands. Over the past thirty years of its operation time, a significant differential settlement behaviour has been observed, and this ongoing settlement potentially imposes safety concerns to the tunnel, such as joint leakage. However, the underlying factor...

Insufficiency of immersion joints in existing immersed tunnels: Case study on functioning of Gina-seal and Omega-seal in the Kil Tunnel

In 2009 and 2010, two leakages through immersion joints occurred in the First Coen Tunnel near Amsterdam. From the study on t-he cause of these leakages, it followed that there was a potential problem for existing immersed tunnels: failure of the temporary Gina-seal combined with corrosion on the clamping structure of the definitive Omega-seal....

Investigation on Stress Increase of Sand Inside Immersed Tunnel Joint Gap

Watertightness and leakage prevention is crucial in every tunnel joint design. Immersed tunnels have been utilizing the Gina-Omega gasket solution since the 1960s to prevent leakage from occurring. However, after almost 50 years of service life, leakages were detected in the immersion joints, which leads to an investigation into the source of...

Alternative of an immersion joint

The developments in the technology and design philosophy since the first immersed tunnel was completed more than a century ago. These developments include, amongst others: the introduction of the Gina rubber gasket between elements; the division of elements into sections divided by flexible joints; various foundation methods; and the transport...