Recent progress in drilling equipment for underground work

Abstract

In civil engineering the drilling of underground galleries is a common occurrence, especially in hydroelectric projects and also in the construction of railways and roads. In planning a project, one of the main questions is how to carry it out not only in the quickest time, but also in the cheapest possible manner. Hence the choice of the right equipment is of paramount importance, especially so in underground excavations, where the excavation itself is more costly. At present there is quite a variety of equipment for this type of work, for in addition to its widespread application by the civil engineer, the mining industry has developed its use in a very extensive manner. Every day new developments and improvements are available to the user of such equipment, which make possible the undertaking of more ambitious and difficult tasks. Thus the choice of the best possible machinery is not an easy matter, for in this type of underground work the mechanical aids are decisive in their usefulness. Before selecting an item of machinery it is necessary to know precisely its performance, and the task that it is required to do. The author describes a number of machines now in use in France, which he thinks may serve as a first step in selecting the right equipment. No attempt has been made at making an exhaustive analysis of the problem: it is merely intended to provide some guidance to potential users of underground drilling equipment.