Evaluation of the jacking force in microtunneling technology

Abstract

Every manufacturer of jacking pipes specifies the maximum permissible jacking force, the exceeding of which may result in damage to the pipes. Therefore, the precise determination of the jacking force during the construction of the pipe when using microtunneling technology is crucial for the safety of this procedure. The determination of the jacking force is also necessary to specify the distance between the starting and receiving wells. This distance is of significant importance for the costs of the construction of the pipe because it determines the number of wells on the pipe’s route. The cost of building a well may be higher than the cost of building the pipe itself. This paper attempts to both theoretically estimate the jacking force and verify the obtained results based on the value of the actual force measured during the construction of a specific sewage pipe.