Concrete Tunnel Design When a tunnel is excavated in all but the most competent of ground conditions it is an inevitable consequence that some form of support will be required if the tunnel is to retain adequate stability and/or maintain sufficient dimensions to facilitate its use in an intended manner. The form and function of the support will vary according to a wide range of factors apart from just geotechnical considerations and it would seem that for every different tunnel there is a different lining solution. Tunnels in the civil engineering category are generally driven at relatively shallow depths by comparison to those situations involving mining tunnels. Civil engineering tunnels require higher tolerances in terms of the final tunnel profile and its ensuing stability.
