Underwater tunnel construction method using tunnel modules, and underwater tunnel constructed thereby

Abstract

The present invention relates to: an underwater tunnel construction method for constructing an underwater tunnel by successively coupling new tunnel modules to the end of an already-constructed body part while moving a launching girder forward, wherein the new tunnel modules are sunk up to the opening of the launching girder and then introduced into the launching girder by using guide cables; and an underwater tunnel constructed by the construction method.

1 . An underwater tunnel construction method; comprising:
 While a launching girder ( 1 ) having an opening ( 15 ) is coupled and installed at a front end of an already-constructed body part ( 100 ), transporting a new tunnel module ( 200 ) to a site using a transport device ( 6 ), submerging the new tunnel module ( 200 ) in water, delivering the new tunnel module ( 200 ) into an internal space of the launching girder ( 1 ) through the opening ( 15 ), coupling and installing the delivered new tunnel module ( 200 ) at the end of the already-constructed body part ( 100 ), moving the launching girder ( 1 ) forward, and repeatedly performing this process to construct an underwater tunnel,   wherein the transport device ( 6 ) includes a pontoon ( 60 ) which floats, and a lift fastening member ( 61 ) which is separably fastened to the new tunnel module ( 200 ), wherein the lift fastening member ( 61 ) has a cable through-hole ( 610 ), and is lifted up and down by relaxation of a submerged wire ( 7 ) while hanging on the pontoon ( 60 ) by the submerged wire ( 7 ), and   a floating body ( 41 ) is coupled to an upper end of a guide cable ( 4 ) fixed to two transverse sides of the opening ( 15 ) of the launching girder ( 1 ), and floats in water; and   the underwater tunnel construction method comprises:   moving the transport device ( 6 ) to the site with the new tunnel mod e ( 200 ) fastened to the lift fastening member ( 61 ), fixing the floating body ( 41 ) to the transport device ( 6 ), and allowing the guide cable ( 4 ) to pass through the cable through-hole ( 610 ) of the lift fastening member ( 61 );   lifting down the new tunnel module ( 200 ) along the guide cable ( 4 ) by the relaxation of the submerged wire ( 7 ) with the lift fastening member ( 61 ) fastened to the guide cable ( 4 ) to allow the new tunnel module ( 200 ) to reach the opening ( 15 ) of the launching girder ( 1 ), and delivering the new tunnel module ( 200 ) into the internal space of the launching girder ( 1 ) through the opening ( 15 );   integrally joining the new tunnel module ( 200 ) to the already-constructed body part ( 100 ) in the launching girder ( 1 ); and   advancing the launching girder ( 1 ).   
     
     
         2 . The underwater tunnel construction method according to  claim 1 , wherein the transport device ( 6 ) includes two pontoons ( 60 ) arranged side by side at an interval in the transverse direction, each pontoon ( 60 ) being a member extended to a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction;
 a working deck ( 62 ) extended in the transverse direction is positioned on the two pontoons ( 60 ) and is coupled to the pontoons ( 60 ), and the two pontoons ( 60 ) and the working deck ( 62 ) are combined into one,   the working deck ( 62 ) includes a motor (M) and has a hole, and   the submerged wire ( 7 ) is vertically extended downward from the working deck ( 62 ) through the hole with one end coupled to the motor (M), and is coupled to the lift fastening member ( 61 ).   
     
     
         3 . The underwater tunnel construction method according to  claim 1 , wherein a push traction device ( 3 ) is provided in the launching girder ( 1 ), and includes a rack member ( 31 ) which is extended in a longitudinal direction and is fixed and installed in the launching girder ( 1 ), a pinion member ( 32 ) which is engaged with the rack member ( 31 ) in a rack and pinion structure and moves forward and rearward in the longitudinal direction, and a fastening arm ( 33 ) which is extended rearward,
 the step of integrally joining the new tunnel module ( 200 ) to the already-constructed body part ( 100 ) in the launching girder ( 1 ) comprises performing a process of after delivering the new tunnel module ( 200 ) fabricated as a precast concrete member into the launching girder (I), driving the pinion member ( 32 ) to rotate in a first direction to move toward a front end of the new tunnel module ( 200 ), and fastening the fastening arm ( 33 ) to the new tunnel module ( 200 ), and performing a process of while the launching girder ( 1 ) is brought into an immovable state, driving the pinion member ( 32 ) to rotate in the first direction to move rearward to push the new tunnel module ( 200 ) toward the already-constructed body part ( 100 ) and integrally join the new tunnel module ( 200 ) to the already-constructed body part ( 100 ), and   the step of advancing the launching girder (I) comprises performing a process of bringing the launching girder ( 1 ) into a movable state, and continuously driving the pinion member ( 32 ) to rotate in the first direction to advance the launching girder ( 1 ), and performing a process of separating the fastening arm ( 33 ) from the new tunnel module ( 200 ), and driving the pinion member ( 32 ) to rotate in a second direction to move the pinion member ( 32 ) forward.   
     
     
         4 . The underwater tunnel construction method according to  claim 3 , wherein the rack member ( 31 ) is extended in the longitudinal direction and is fixed and provided in the launching girder ( 1 ),
 the pinion member ( 32 ) is provided in a shape of a wheel of a vehicle and is engaged with the rack member ( 31 ) in the rack and pinion structure,   the fastening arm ( 33 ) is rotatably installed at the vehicle including the pinion member ( 32 ), and   an arm fastening jig ( 34 ) is provided at the front end of the new tunnel module ( 200 ), and the fastening arm ( 33 ) is separably fastened to the arm fastening jig ( 34 ) by rotation.   
     
     
         5 . An underwater tunnel constructed by sequentially connecting tunnel modules in a forward direction in water, each tunnel module having a hole through which vehicles or people pass, wherein the underwater tunnel is constructed by the underwater tunnel construction method of claim and has a successive connection structure of the tunnel modules.