3 ms·

The ground freezing technique is 150 years old: http://www.burnsmcd.com/BenchMark/Article/Ground-Freezing http://www.burnsmcd.com/BenchMark/Article/Ground-Freez

by olegp 14y ago

The ground freezing technique is 150 years old: http://www.burnsmcd.com/BenchMark/Article/Ground-Freezing http://www.burnsmcd.com/BenchMark/Article/Ground-Freezing I knew it was at least 30 years old since it was used in subway construction in Moscow around the time I was born but didn't realize it was quite that old.

ajtaylor 14y ago
Huh, I had no idea! Everything I read about the Big Dig's use of it implied it was new. Or maybe the idea just got stuck in my head. You learn something new every day.
- Anechoic 14y ago
  Soil freezing wasn't new when it was used on the Big Dig, but it was either the first time it was used in the USA, or it was the first time it was used on such a massive scale in the USA (similar to the use of slurry walls, which had been used in the USA, but not at that scale - in fact the Big Dig had to bring over German & French equipment along with German/French workers to run the slurry wall diggers since there was no one in the USA qualified to run the machines). One issue the Big Dig ran into with soil freezing was complications during the thaw process. The soil was frozen to that the project could horizontally "jack" precast tunnel pieces under existing Amtrak & MBTA railroad road tracks. When the freezing and tunnel jacking process was completed, the project let the soil "thaw", but the thawing takes years. During the thaw, there were settlement problems that caused the tracks to sink a noticeable amount. Nothing is ever as simple as it seems! (worked on the Big Dig as a consultant from 1998-2001)
  - ajtaylor 14y ago
    The extensive use of slurry walls was one of my favorite parts of the Big Dig. I remember reading about all the European equipment and people who came over. I have an awesome coffee table book about the Big Dig that was given to me by friends who still live in the North End. Two of the highlights of my time in Boston were the tunnel walk beginning at the southern end of the I-93 table, and talking across the Zakim Bridge before it opened up. I've got 8mm tapes somewhere of video I took on those days. Who ever thought up that idea was a PR genius. :) (BTW I'm jealous you got to work on the project)
    - Anechoic 14y ago
      (BTW I'm jealous you got to work on the project) The great majority of my work was at night (nighttime noise patrols). Looking back on it, I learned a lot about construction in general and the Big Dig in particular, but at the time it was a pretty miserable experience. And Big Dig workers did tell me about Bova's in the North End which helped passed the time. But I have stories. So many stories. However, none that I want to relate with my name attached. :)
      - ajtaylor 14y ago
        Ahh, Bova's! I lived about 3 blocks from there. They had the most amazing pastries, plus these huge rectangular pizza(?) slices for cheap. If you walked by in the wee hours of the morning, the smell of the bread baking was intoxicating.

by olegp 14y ago

ajtaylor 14y ago

Huh, I had no idea! Everything I read about the Big Dig's use of it implied it was new. Or maybe the idea just got stuck in my head. You learn something new every day.

Anechoic 14y ago
Soil freezing wasn't new when it was used on the Big Dig, but it was either the first time it was used in the USA, or it was the first time it was used on such a massive scale in the USA (similar to the use of slurry walls, which had been used in the USA, but not at that scale - in fact the Big Dig had to bring over German & French equipment along with German/French workers to run the slurry wall diggers since there was no one in the USA qualified to run the machines). One issue the Big Dig ran into with soil freezing was complications during the thaw process. The soil was frozen to that the project could horizontally "jack" precast tunnel pieces under existing Amtrak & MBTA railroad road tracks. When the freezing and tunnel jacking process was completed, the project let the soil "thaw", but the thawing takes years. During the thaw, there were settlement problems that caused the tracks to sink a noticeable amount. Nothing is ever as simple as it seems! (worked on the Big Dig as a consultant from 1998-2001)
- ajtaylor 14y ago
  The extensive use of slurry walls was one of my favorite parts of the Big Dig. I remember reading about all the European equipment and people who came over. I have an awesome coffee table book about the Big Dig that was given to me by friends who still live in the North End. Two of the highlights of my time in Boston were the tunnel walk beginning at the southern end of the I-93 table, and talking across the Zakim Bridge before it opened up. I've got 8mm tapes somewhere of video I took on those days. Who ever thought up that idea was a PR genius. :) (BTW I'm jealous you got to work on the project)
  - Anechoic 14y ago
    (BTW I'm jealous you got to work on the project) The great majority of my work was at night (nighttime noise patrols). Looking back on it, I learned a lot about construction in general and the Big Dig in particular, but at the time it was a pretty miserable experience. And Big Dig workers did tell me about Bova's in the North End which helped passed the time. But I have stories. So many stories. However, none that I want to relate with my name attached. :)
    - ajtaylor 14y ago
      Ahh, Bova's! I lived about 3 blocks from there. They had the most amazing pastries, plus these huge rectangular pizza(?) slices for cheap. If you walked by in the wee hours of the morning, the smell of the bread baking was intoxicating.