High Speed Rail
The Japanese Shinkansen
A $500B investment reaching high speeds through mountainous terrain.
The Japanese Shinkansen
A $500B investment reaching high speeds through mountainous terrain.
Generate excitement
A $132B investment reaching high speeds under oceanic expanses
The US National Rail Network
A projected $2.2T over 17-25 years to develop an inter-city high speed transportation scheme. There are specific city-to-city transit legs of highest priority, with a "large project" scope for initial implementation along the proposed Transcontinental Rail Project (The Redline) linking Los Angeles, California to Washington, DC (as an analogue to LA - DC "Redeye" flight). To this point, an "express" line from LA to DC, at full speed of 300 mph would take approximately 8 hours.
Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)
Hard-Rock TBM Design
Principles of motion and stabilization.
General Purpose TBM Design
Features of excavation and logistics.
TBM Project Considerations
Many TBMs are buried or dismantled. This one was used for a parallel tunnel.
Issues of Flooding, Groundwater
Careful consideration of geology, relative depth, and pressure variances.
Mountainous Terrain
The project scope for a critical infrastructure project.
Tunneling at Scale
The biggest Tunnel Boring Machines produced to date.
Related Mechanical Methods of Excavation
Drilling head assembly process.
Economical Principles of Drilling
Sacrificial cutting faces and high-abrasion materials.
Approaches to Tunneling
Small-scale and angular control for specific use-cases.
Potential for Innovation
Incorporating high-pressure water excavation changes the approach.
The Power of Water
A concentrated jet of water with abrasives can bore through solid material.