Drills and Rigs

Definition:

Drills and rigs in the context of tunneling and underground structures refer to specialized equipment designed for drilling holes and performing various drilling operations during construction projects. They are used to create boreholes for various purposes, such as rock blasting, anchoring, soil investigation, and installation of support systems.

Uses/benefits:

Borehole preparation: Drills and rigs are used to create boreholes of specific sizes and depths required for various construction activities, including foundation preparation, ground reinforcement, and installation of utilities.
Exploration and geotechnical investigations: Drills and rigs are used for geological and geotechnical surveys to gather information about the subsurface conditions, such as soil properties, rock formations, groundwater levels, and stability assessments.
Rock drilling and blasting: Drills and rigs equipped with appropriate drilling tools and accessories are used for rock drilling and blasting operations during tunnel excavation, shaft sinking, and underground mining.
Ground support installation: Drills and rigs are employed to install anchor bolts, rock bolts, injection pipes, and other support systems to reinforce and stabilize the surrounding ground in tunneling and underground construction.
Utility installations: Drills and rigs are used for installing utilities such as pipelines, cables, conduits, and ventilation systems underground.

Specifications:

Drilling capacity: Specifications include the drilling diameter range, drilling depth, and drilling method (such as rotary, percussive, or rotary-percussive).
Power source: Drills and rigs may be powered by electricity, hydraulic systems, compressed air, or a combination of these.
Mobility: Specifications may include information about the mobility of the equipment, such as crawler-mounted, truck-mounted, or skid-mounted.
Drilling speed and efficiency: Specifications may include drilling speed, feed force, rotational speed, and torque for different drilling applications.
Safety features: Specifications may outline safety features such as emergency shutdown systems, operator protection, and safety interlocks.

Types:

Rotary drills: These drills use rotary motion and downward force to drill holes in various materials, including rock, soil, and concrete. They are commonly used in tunneling and underground construction for various drilling operations.
Percussion drills: Also known as hammer drills, these drills combine rotary motion with a percussive action to drill through hard materials like rock. They are suitable for hard rock drilling in tunneling and underground excavation.
Directional drills: These drills are used for horizontal or angled drilling, allowing for precise installation of utilities or creating boreholes in a specific direction.
Jumbo drills: Jumbo drills are large, self-propelled drilling rigs equipped with multiple drilling booms. They are commonly used in tunneling for simultaneous drilling of multiple holes in a tunnel face.
Raise boring rigs: These rigs are specifically designed for drilling vertical or inclined shafts in underground mining or civil engineering projects. They can create large-diameter boreholes with high precision.
Anchor rigs: These rigs are designed for the installation of rock anchors and bolts for ground stabilization in tunneling and underground construction.

Drills and rigs are essential equipment in tunneling and underground construction, enabling the creation of boreholes for various purposes. They offer versatility, efficiency, and precision in drilling operations, ensuring the successful execution of construction projects in challenging subsurface conditions. Adhering to the specified requirements and selecting the appropriate type of drill or rig based on the project's needs are crucial for achieving desired drilling outcomes.