CBE Group recently delivered several segment moulds and a carousel to the city of Chengdu, in the Sichuan province, for an innovative technical gallery project.
A simplified production
The project’s technical gallery is divided into several segments, easy to manipulate and endowed with a resilient structure. Usually built outdoors and equipped with huge concrete panels that are difficult to manipulate, these galleries are usually not fit for an automated production. The innovation that CBE Group offers here allows a standardization of their production, which might catch the interest of several other cities wanting to simplify the creation process of such projects.
Technical innovations
Initially ordered by the Financial Board for Public Works of Chengdu, associated with Railway Group n°23, the plans for the moulds and carousel were designed by CBE Group’s Design Office in Saint-Avertin, France. While the carousel remains fairly standard (aside from a small adaptation on the concreting station), moulds had to be adjusted, largely due to the oval shape of the gallery. Out of the 1068 meters of the gallery, 768 meters were created with precast segments. The remaining part was done in concrete, poured onsite. The rings which compose the main part of the gallery and were produced using CBE Group technology are each divided into 5 segments.
This project is composed of two tunnels, each one also divided in two parts: the first one allows sewage flow on one side and the installation of cables on the other side. A second tunnel, built on the same model, shares both water supply and electric cables.
Numerous benefits
It is the first time that such a project is realized using precast segments. This first attempt was highly successful: time gain, easier handling of the pieces and improved resilience of the tunnel are part of the advantages that make this gallery project a real innovation in the underground industry.
CBE Group, tunnelling expert, offers you tailor-made solutions for the optimization of your project.Please contact us or ask us directly for a quote.