Tenders Are Invited For Research And Development Services And Related Consultancy Services – Investigation Of The Economic Optimization Potential Of Longitudinal Tunnel Drainage

Research And Development Services And Related Consultancy Services – Investigation Of The Economic Optimization Potential Of Longitudinal Tunnel Drainage. Longitudinal Tunnel Drainage Is An Essential Component Of Road Tunnels And Makes A Significant Contribution To Durability, Operational Safety And Traffic Safety. It Ensures The Controlled Drainage Of Surface, Seepage And, In The Event Of An Incident, Extinguishing And Hazardous Liquids And Also Fulfills An Important Function In Limiting The Spread Of Fire In The Event Of A Fire. In Germany, Systems Consisting Of Slot Channels And Separate, Closed Drainage Pipes Are Currently Predominantly Used. However, These Are Costly Both To Manufacture And To Operate And Lead To Traffic Restrictions Due To Regular Maintenance Measures. Against This Background, Interest In Alternative, More Economical Solutions Is Growing. A Promising Approach Is The Use Of Culverts Within Slot Channels To Create Fire Compartments. While Such Systems Are Already Established In Countries Such As Austria And Switzerland, There Are Still Safety Reservations In Germany, Particularly With Regard To Their Behavior In The Event Of A Fire. There Is A Lack Of Reliable Knowledge About The Functionality And Tightness Of Culverts Under Thermal Stress As Well As About Possible Effects On The Spread Of Fire And The Overall Function Of The Drainage System. In Addition, There Are Gaps In Knowledge Regarding The Interaction Between Hydraulic Performance, Construction And Fire Protection. In Addition, There Has So Far Been A Lack Of A Holistic Assessment Of The Economic Viability Over The Entire Life Cycle Of Various Drainage Systems, Especially Taking Into Account Adjacent Trough Sections. The Research Project Therefore Aims To Create A Sound Basis For An Economically Optimized And At The Same Time Safe Design Of Drainage Systems. To This End, Different Solutions Should Be Comparatively Evaluated In Terms Of Economic Efficiency, Operational Reliability And Availability. A Particular Focus Is On Clarifying The Conditions Under Which The Use Of Culverts Is Safe And The Impact Of Their Potential Failure. The Results Are Intended To Improve The Basis For Decision-Making, Further Develop Regulations And, In The Long Term, Contribute To Optimizing Safety, Availability And Economic Efficiency In Tunnel Construction.