Reducing seismic vulnerability with steel fiber reinforced concrete for tunnel linings

The challenge

Türkiye has a long history of seismic activity and devastating earthquakes.

Building infrastructure that can better withstand these events and facilitate aid when they occur is a high priority. The Sarıyer-Kilyos Highway Tunnel is one such project—once completed it will serve as an evacuation route in the event of an earthquake.

The twin tube tunnel project has been designed for both TBM excavation and New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM also known as the Sequential Excavation Method).

The solution

Research has shown that steel fibers have an advantage over conventional steel rebar with it comes to the seismic performance of concrete linings.

Dramix® 4D 65/60BG steel fibers have been selected instead of traditional bars to reinforce the cast-in-place tunnel lining for the Sarıyer – Kilyos Highway Tunnel.