Aportes y recomendaciones a la normativa referente al diseño geotécnico de túneles en Colombia

Abstract

The geotechnical design of tunnels in Colombia represents a challenge for civil engineers and geologists who face these infrastructures. At present, the construction of these engineering works is increasing nationwide, therefore there is a need for an assertive and updated regulation to the particular conditions of the country that allows tunnel designs to be carried out with modern technical standards and less uncertainty in the face of to the construction stage. Given this need, in this thesis the methodologies for geotechnical tunnel designs are evaluated in the first instance according to their approach: empirical, analytical and numerical. Subsequently, a study of the regulations is carried out in countries with greater experience in the field of tunnel design, construction and operation, which have developed regulations, manuals and regulations, with which it is proposed to make a comparison to determine aspects that can be improved and update the Colombian regulations, ¨Manual para el diseño, construcción, operación y mantenimiento de túneles de carretera elaborado por el Instituto Nacional de Vías (INVÍAS)”. In addition to the study of the state of the art worldwide in regulations and geotechnical design, a geomechanical analysis is carried out at the Toyo Tunnel, which is currently under construction. In this sense, a comparison is made between the original design of the tunnel with respect to the installed support and the deformations obtained, using the finite element program RS2. The analysis of the state of the art obtained allows us to conclude that there is evidence of the need to update the manual or the development of a new regulation and, to make this a mandatory document, placing minimum criteria and guidelines to unify the designs, in a possible new version of the INVÍAS Tunnel Manual - Manual for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of road tunnels - as a support document and design analysis for tunnels in Colombia.