****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I recently read this book nearly cover to cover. If you are seeking a good working introduction into tunnel construction, I think this is a great place to start. I provide the following thoughts:- Pay attention to the book description provided by Amazon about what the book covers. If you are an engineer looking for a technical introduction into actual tunnel design/engineering this isn't it. However, I do think the review description quote "Clear, concise, and heavily illustrated, this is a vital text for final-year undergraduate and MSc students and an invaluable starting point for young professionals" is accurate - but don't forget the words "starting point."- It begins with what I thought was a very good historical development leading to current practices before moving on to tunneling related geotechnology.- It covers the traditional methods of drill and blast, road header, and TBM. It also briefly deals with micro-tunneling and boring large diameter vertical shafts. Tunnel lining techniques are also reviewed.- Personally, I think the text spent a disproportionate number of pages covering/endorsing the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) with heavy emphasis on using shotcrete to line the tunnel, perhaps to the loss of explaining how NATM is any different from other techniques that inherently use the rock mass for tunnel support.- Extensive references and bibliography to provide a launch point for further inquiry.- While some of the above might sound pretty negative, I think this is an excellent and very thorough primer for those who already have some technical education and need or want to know more about tunneling.Good luck.
