TUNNEL BLOCKS
Practical support for tunnel construction
Our tunnel blocks made of hanit recycled plastic are an all-around secure and reliable solution for storing and transporting tunnel segments, and they were developed especially for this purpose, even exceeding the strict requirements of tunnel construction. Our blocks guarantee no corrosion during storage and remain dimensionally stable, even under high loads of up to 3 N/mm². The tunnel blocks are manufactured with a radius tailored to the project, precisely matching the shape of the tunnel segments and offering full-surface support. By comparison, when storing segments on a wooden bearing, the radius has to be milled into the block later, which is an expensive process.
Tunnels are created by positioning rings alongside each other. These rings form by assembling pre-fabricated tunnel liner segments. Transporting and storing these concrete segments poses a specific challenge in mechanical tunnel construction due to usually being kept in rings stacked on each other. These are extremely heavy, meaning the piece at the bottom of the stack and the bearing blocks (supports), typically oak, beech or tropical timber, bear a heavy load. The issue is that wooden bearing blocks tend to warp, leading to undesired heavy line and point loads. When assembled, precision is essential down to the millimetre, so preventing any damage or deformation is of utmost importance.
Durable and dimensionally stable
Our tunnel blocks come with markings that indicate the installation direction. The bearing blocks are also available with locking knobs on request. These specify where the parts should go, resulting in precise vertical load dissipation, preventing eccentricities that the concrete can't withstand in the maturing phase, which can lead to cracks and even failure. The three-point bearing prevents torsional forces and supports the segments without putting them under stress. That's how tunnel blocks made of hanit reliably avert damage and deformation to segments, reducing the costs of tunnel construction projects and keeping them on schedule.
The shapes and sizes can easily be adapted to specific project requirements, making our bearings convenient for tunnel construction and other areas where precast concrete parts must be stored and transported.
YOUR ADVANTAGES AT A GLANCE
Material characteristics of hanit
High load bearing capacity
Hydrophobic
UV-resistant
Fire class B2 (DIN 4102)
Density of approx. 0.93 g/cm3
Testing of mechanical parameters available
TUNNEL BLOCKS MADE FROM RECYCLING PLASTIC
Individual solutions from hanit
Item No.: 6001187
Our hanit System products can be flexibly adapted to customer-specific requirements. Just talk to us – we’ll find the right solution together.
Our hanit System products can be flexibly adapted to customer-specific requirements. Just talk to us – we’ll find the right solution together.
REFERENCE PROJECT
SCS JV | HS2 high-speed railway | United Kingdom
The High Speed 2 (HS2) railway in the UK is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe. The project started in 2009 and will connect Euston Station in London to Birmingham, where the y-shaped line forks. With a total length of 531 kilometres, the railway will connect Crewe, Wigan, Manchester and MAN airport on the western leg. The eastern branch will connect a new interchange station between Nottingham and Derby and the city of Leeds. Four hundred-metre-long trains with 1,100 seats will operate along the new high-speed route. The route will be used up to 18 times per hour at speeds of up to 360 km/h. Speeds up to 400 km/h between London and Birmingham should be possible down the track, making these high-speed British trains the fastest in Europe. The HS2 trains will be operated with carbon-free energy, offering a clean and eco-friendly alternative to domestic flights and car trips.
Around 105 kilometres of tunnel will be built between London and West Midlands for the project, for which 130 million tonnes of earth needs excavating. Ten tunnel boring machines in five separate tunnel drives will dig the twin-bore HS2 tunnels. A further six cut and cover tunnels will be built, with trees and shrubs planted on top to improve the landscape. The project is in two parts, the planning phase, with a contract value of approx. GBP 79 million, and the realisation phase, with a construction volume of approx. GBP 2 billion.
STRABAG SE, a European-based technology group, won the contract for the main construction of lots S1 and S2 for this enormous infrastructure project. STRABAG is active in all areas of the construction industry with extensive expertise in planning and building high-speed railways. STRABAG is teaming up with Skanska and Costain to build the HS2 under the joint venture SCS. The first construction works will connect London Euston and Old Oak Common railway stations. This stage involves constructing an 8.8 km twin-bore tunnel. The second stage will connect Old Oak Common in the west with a 13.7 km twin-bore tunnel as well as a 2.2 km above-ground segment.
Over the past few years, STRABAG has already used our hanit tunnel blocks in many of its tunnel projects to store segments without placing them under stress and to transport them safely. Sections weighing up to 65 tonnes were stacked in the massive HS2 project, and our blocks met the challenge because the stable supports made of recycled plastic can easily withstand loads of up to 3 N/mm². A total of 36,000 tunnel blocks were used during the construction of the first twin-bore tunnel. A further 36,000 hanit tunnel blocks will build the second tunnel.
Work on the first stage of the high-speed railway was completed on schedule at the end of 2022. The upcoming 18 to 24 months will focus on planning and delivering the rail systems, signalling equipment, tracks and the electricity supply. The first trains are due to start using the tracks from 2030. Work on the second stage begins in 2023 and is expected to be completed between 2035 and 2040.
Around 105 kilometres of tunnel will be built between London and West Midlands for the project, for which 130 million tonnes of earth needs excavating. Ten tunnel boring machines in five separate tunnel drives will dig the twin-bore HS2 tunnels. A further six cut and cover tunnels will be built, with trees and shrubs planted on top to improve the landscape. The project is in two parts, the planning phase, with a contract value of approx. GBP 79 million, and the realisation phase, with a construction volume of approx. GBP 2 billion.
STRABAG SE, a European-based technology group, won the contract for the main construction of lots S1 and S2 for this enormous infrastructure project. STRABAG is active in all areas of the construction industry with extensive expertise in planning and building high-speed railways. STRABAG is teaming up with Skanska and Costain to build the HS2 under the joint venture SCS. The first construction works will connect London Euston and Old Oak Common railway stations. This stage involves constructing an 8.8 km twin-bore tunnel. The second stage will connect Old Oak Common in the west with a 13.7 km twin-bore tunnel as well as a 2.2 km above-ground segment.
Over the past few years, STRABAG has already used our hanit tunnel blocks in many of its tunnel projects to store segments without placing them under stress and to transport them safely. Sections weighing up to 65 tonnes were stacked in the massive HS2 project, and our blocks met the challenge because the stable supports made of recycled plastic can easily withstand loads of up to 3 N/mm². A total of 36,000 tunnel blocks were used during the construction of the first twin-bore tunnel. A further 36,000 hanit tunnel blocks will build the second tunnel.
Work on the first stage of the high-speed railway was completed on schedule at the end of 2022. The upcoming 18 to 24 months will focus on planning and delivering the rail systems, signalling equipment, tracks and the electricity supply. The first trains are due to start using the tracks from 2030. Work on the second stage begins in 2023 and is expected to be completed between 2035 and 2040.
TECHNICAL DATA
Project-specific dimensions
Our tunnel blocks are produced specifically for your project and can be customized in shape and size.
Radius, locking knobs, recessed grips or markings can also be realized very easily.
Radius, locking knobs, recessed grips or markings can also be realized very easily.
YOUR CONTACTS
Get in touch
As an experienced project partner, we know that every project has its own complexity.
Our hanit System experts would be pleased to take the time to analyse your requirements with you and find the best possible solution for your project.
Just talk to us – we look forward to getting to know you.
Georgina Bourdon
+44 161 8501965
+44 7961630 886
georgina.bourdon@hahnplastics.co.uk
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