Uncertainty analysis for assessing rock mass quality and water inflow in hard rock subsea tunnels

Abstract

In many occasions considerable discrepancies have been found between predicted and actual rock mass conditions, resulting significant cost and time overrun. Finding innovative solutions for quantifying geological uncertainties and assessing risk are therefore keys for cost effective and optimum subsea tunneling. In this paper, an approach of uncertainty analysis has been presented for the discussion with examples of non subsea tunnels from the Himalaya and Frøya subsea tunnel of Norway. It is believed that similar uncertainty analysis approach might be relevant in analyzing uncertainties related to stability and water inflow in the subsea hard rock tunnels under planning.