Ray Sterling, Ph.D., P.E. Trenchless Technology Center, Louisiana Tech University Tunneling and Trenchless Technology: International Technology Transfer
Ray Sterling, Ph.D., P.E.Trenchless Technology Center,
Louisiana Tech University
Tunneling and Trenchless Technology:International Technology Transfer
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• What is the role of education and technology transfer in an industry
• International technology transfer issues• International competitiveness issues• Case study of developments in the
Netherlands• Summary and conclusions
Overview of Presentation
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Role of Education and Technology Transfer
• Provide awareness of the technology
• Improve reliability and effectiveness
• Educate next generation of engineers
• Transfer new developments
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• Owners / Users• Consultants• Contractors• Manufacturers• Suppliers• Associations • Academia
– Education– Research– Specialized centers
Who is Involved?
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• Relatively few major companies involved in worldwide projects
• Tunnel designers and construction personnel move internationally
• Local engineers and construction personnel work alongside international firms
Transportability of Innovation –Tunneling / Underground Construction
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• Strong need• Financial incentive (high costs for current
technique)• Strong and stable market• Suitable site and project conditions during
early development
Triggers for Innovation
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Triggers for Innovation
Low cost tunnels - Norway
Automation - Japan
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Triggers for Innovation - France
New ground level
Metro innovationMulti-use complexes
U/g concepts
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Curved Pipe Jacking
Japan
Germany
North America ?
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Underground Pedestrian Networks
Montreal Toronto
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• Small scale equipment – easy to transport• Low costs for initial demonstration projects• Know how and experience is most valuable
asset transferred• Equipment and techniques are relatively
easy to copy• Patent protection is very important
Transportabilitiy of Innovation –Trenchless Technology
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Horizontal Directional Drilling
China
HDD Operator Training Schoolestablished in Shanghai
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Highway Tunnel in Shanghai
Microtunneling for 6-lanepipe roofed tunnel
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• Barriers posed by design practice and specifications
• Conservatism in adopting new technologies• Maintenance of know-how
– Major tunnel projects are infrequent for most cities
• Separate adoption of allowable technologies in each city
Barriers to the Widespread and Continued Adoption of Underground Technologies
U.S. National Committee onU.S. National Committee onTunnellingTunnelling TechnologyTechnology
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• Separation of design and construction processes• Emphasis on design cost and fear of litigation
discourages innovation• Strong reliance on low bid for initial cost versus
quality and life cycle cost• Labor issues can invalidate benefits of innovations• Low incentive for consultants/contractors to
innovate• Contrast with large private expenditures for R&D
in other countries
International Competitiveness in the U.S. Underground Construction Industry
U.S. National Committee onU.S. National Committee onTunnellingTunnelling TechnologyTechnology
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Opportunity from Aggressive R&D
Fourth Generation R&DFourth Generation R&DWilliam L. Miller and Langdon MorrisWilliam L. Miller and Langdon MorrisJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1999John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1999
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Acceleration of Learning Cycles
Fourth Generation R&DFourth Generation R&DWilliam L. Miller and Langdon MorrisWilliam L. Miller and Langdon MorrisJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1999John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1999
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• Few large Ph.D. employing firms in civil engineering sector
• Market very cost competitive• Several areas of excellence in U.S.
– Geomechanical computer simulation– Hard rock TBMs– Horizontal directional drilling
Relations Between Education, Research and Practice in U.S.
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• Single multi-sensor system for all utilities
• Does not require prior knowledge of approximate location or access to utility
• Can operate in urban conditions • Covers necessary range of
depths and utility diameters• Has acceptable cost
Utility Location
20Tumay, LSU
See Ahead Technology
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Wireless Sensor Chip(concept)
selectswitch
powerconvert
signalmodulator
transducer
antenna
2 m
m
• Low-cost• Miniature andembeddable
• No power supplyrequired
Sensor and Data Technologies
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• Greater use of performance specifications• More design / construction contracts• Incremental changes in technology lower
risk• Encouragement of innovation by large and
repeat clients (e.g. the government)
Alternative Means of Encouraging Innovation
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• Market for underground construction will continue to grow
• Bored tunnels will increase market share• Buried utilities will increase as a proportion
of total utilities• Trenchless technologies will increase
market share within buried utility work
Economic Incentive for Technology Development
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• Public pressure to use underground and trenchless techniques
• Costs relative to alternate methods• Confidence of public works engineers and
utility managers in the techniques
Pace of Development Affected by:
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• TARP Sewer Interceptor Project in Chicago spurred hard rock TBM development
• Congested city conditions, need for sewers and difficult geological conditions in Japan spurred microtunneling developments
Examples of Technology Boosts
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• Adoption of innovation from abroad
• Strong markets• High levels of research
funding• Geological conditions• Labor availability• Distribution of R&D
Underground Construction Innovation in Japan
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• University student preparation
• Reduction in credit hours for B.S. degree
• Expectations for new technical skills and knowledge
• Specialization versus breadth
Fitting Underground ConstructionInto University Curricula
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Research ModulesDistanceLearning
IndustryIndustry
TechnologyTransfer
Educate“New”
Engineers
ResearchTraining
KnowledgeTransfer
DesignSkills
PracticalSkills
K-12Students
K-12Students
Formal& Informal Workshops
K-12Teachers
K-12Teachers UndergradsUndergrads FacultyFaculty
Awareness
MechanismsMechanisms
Target GroupsTarget Groups
OutcomesOutcomes
ShortCourses
StudentPipeline
GradStudents
GradStudents
ResearchWorkshops Modules
GradStudents
GradStudentsUndergradsUndergrads
TechnologyTransfer
Educate“New”
Engineers
ResearchTraining
KnowledgeTransfer
StudentPipeline
FacultyFaculty
DistanceLearning
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• A university-industry-government partnership to pool resources– make the best use of limited funds– target research on major and urgent
problems– create effective technology transfer
• Based at Louisiana Tech University• Initiated in 1989 and formalized in 1992
Trenchless Technology Center
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Technology Transfer
Tunnel Technology Masters Program -Politecnico di Torino
NW Forum
Denver Forum
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• Established to provide a vehicle for cities to interact directly to share information on trenchless technologies and their application
• Facilitates cooperation on problems of mutual interest
• Approximately 150 municipalities participating in 8 forums at present
Trenchless Technology Municipal Users’ Forum
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Regional Municipal Forums
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Accelerated Testing of Pipe Liners
Elevated Temperature Long-Term Liner Testing
Elevated Temperature Long-TermMaterial Characterization
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PHASE 1: STORM - Mar 20, 1989
Total rainfall: 0.63 inch
Peak hour rainfall: 0.22 inch
HOUR
0.200
0.400
0.600
0.800
1.000
1.200
1.400
1.600
FLO
W (m
gd)
Phase 1 - Total flowPhase 1 - I/IPhase 2 - Total flowPhase 2 - I/IPhase 3 - Total flowPhase 3 - I/I
SIMILAR STORMS IN DIFFERENT PHASES
Reconnections for water rehabilitation
Flow impact of lining defects Testing new products
Effectiveness of sewer lateral rehab
Technology Transfer: Sewer and Water System Rehabilitation
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y = 2.73x + 1118
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400LENGTH OF PIPE IN BORE (ft)
LOA
D (l
bf)
TOTAL LOAD IN-BORE RESISTANCE
REGRESSION TRENDLINE-σx boundary
+σx boundaryR2 = 0.50, σx = 283
HDD Borehole Stability
HDD Load Cell for Pipe Pullback
Technology Transfer: HDD Research
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0 3.75 .105 7.5 .105 1.13 .106 1.5 .106 1.88 .106 2.25 .106 2.63 .106 3 .1061 .104
1.63 .104
2.25 .104
2.88 .104
3.5 .104
4.13 .104
4.75 .104
5.38 .104
6 .10460000
10000
x
stress
30000000 y x( ) life,
Drill Steel Test Rig Fatigue curve generated
Technology Transfer: HDD Drill Steel Fatigue Studies
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Technology Transfer: Method Selection
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• So far, mostly a “push” from the technology developers
• Owners can help “pull” the technology to meet their needs and to encourage further R&D
• Strong and stable markets plus high standards for quality encourage technology development
Technology Push vs Pull
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• No bored tunnels in 1990 to tunnels of world record size and complexity
• Research program stretching from architectural design issues to theoretical and experimental tunnel mechanics
• Major state-of-the-art research facilities and high quality field monitoring programs
• Issues of need for underground space firmly on the public agenda
Netherland’s Program Results
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• Adoption of some improved technologies will occur over time without special efforts
• How quickly a country will take advantage of the improvements is usually the key issue
• Quick adoption and further improvement of techniques can change a technology importer into a technology exporter
Realizing the Benefits of Innovation
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• Provide international leadership and consistency
• Exchange information and advance the state-of-the-art
• Provide education and informational materials• Encourage and support education and training
programs• Provide a quality control input to education
and certification initiatives
Role of International Societies
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International Tunnelling Association:Symposia and Working Groups
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International Trenchless Technology Research Colloquium
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• Technology transfer problems due to communications, trade barriers and work force mobility are reducing
• However, many barriers to long-term adoption and effective use remain
• A deliberate and consensus action to improve technology in a certain sector can have rapid and dramatic results
Summary
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• We have a new tool kit for working with underground facilities – allowing us to do things that simply were not possible before.
• Improvements in capability, reliability and cost effectiveness will occur.
• Cities and utility system owners can help greatly in speeding the development and adoption of the technologies.
• Effective education, training and technology transfer are critical.
Concluding Remarks
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Questions and Discussion
• For further information• ISTT www.istt.com• ITA www.ita-aites.org• TTC www.ttc.latech.edu
Radical improvements in underground infrastructure technology are both possible and critical to the future livability and economic vitality of our cities and nation.