Semi-buried structure formed on a mountainside

A process for the construction of a semi-buried structure for the protection of a subgrade formed on a mountainside, and the structure thus constructed. The structure consists entirely of precast concrete elements forming a succession of adjacent sections, each consisting of three precast elements, respectively an upper covering element bearing, via longitudinal articulations, on two side elements comprising, respectively, a solid wall on the uphill side and at least one pillar on the downhill side, and each provided with a widened footing enabling the element simply to be placed on the ground, and with an upper portion in the form of a stringer on which are formed longitudinal portions for the articulated bearing of the corresponding lateral edge of the covering element. The invention applies, in particular, to the protection of highways or railroad tracks in mountainous locations.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The subject of the invention is a process for the construction of a 
semi-buried structure forming a tunnel for the protection of a highway or 
a railroad track, constructed on a mountainside, and also, includes the 
structures thus constructed. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
It is often necessary, in uneven terrain, to form the subgrade of a highway 
or of a railroad track by the coast or at the foot of a piece of ground 
with a steep gradient, sometimes even a vertical cliff, for example at the 
exit of a tunnel. 
Such a structure is intended essentially to protect the highway against 
landslides or avalanches. It must therefore consist, on the uphill side, 
of a solid wall which is joined to a covering enabling the landslides or 
avalanches to be held back or alternatively to pass over the top of the 
highway. On the downhill side, on the other hand, the covering generally 
bears on a wall pierced with orifices, often a series of pillars, so as to 
permit natural lighting of the highway and not to extend the tunnel 
purposelessly. 
The covering must be able to sustain very substantial impacts caused, for 
example, by the fall of large blocks, and it is often preferred to give it 
the shape of a vault. Furthermore, it is preferably covered with an 
embankment which enables the impacts to be absorbed. 
Such a structure must, however, also be able to sustain substantial lateral 
forces caused by the landslides and the avalanches. 
Such structures have been known for some time. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,282,056 for example, discloses such protective tunnels, but 
these are constructed entirely from corrugated sheet metal panels which 
must be held in place by ties. Such panels do not have the same strength 
as a reinforced concrete wall and, in particular, the risks of corrosion 
do not give the structures constructed in this way sufficient durability. 
This is why the use of reinforced or prestressed concrete is normally 
preferred. For example, the journal "Route et Circulation Routiere", No. 
6, of June 2, 1967 shows a protective tunnel consisting of an arched 
concrete wall embedded in the ground on the uphill side and resting on a 
series of pillars on the downhill side. 
Swiss Patent No. 402,919 likewise discloses a tunnel of this type, 
comprising a covering slab anchored in the rock wall on the uphill side 
and resting, on the downhill side, on a wall provided with movable panels 
enabling the downward pressure caused by the passage of an avalanche to be 
absorbed. 
In the past, such structures were constructed using conventional techniques 
with reinforced concrete, in other words by casting in-situ, using forms 
and arch centers. These processes take a relatively long time and are 
relatively expensive. 
In mountainous terrain, the season which is favorable for construction is 
very short. Moreover, workers and equipment are not fully protected 
against the rock falls or landslides which may occur during construction. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the invention to overcome these difficulties by use of a 
process enabling such protective tunnels to be built very quickly and in 
complete safety. 
The invention therefore relates, in a general manner, to the construction 
of a semi-buried structure for the protection of a subgrade extending on a 
mountainside along a longitudinal axis and comprising a covering bearing, 
on the uphill side, on a closed wall and, on the downhill side, on an open 
wall, for example a series of spaced pillars. 
According to the invention, the protective structure consists entirely of 
precast concrete elements, each covering a portion of the cross-section 
and forming a succession of adjacent sections placed sequentially along 
the longitudinal axis, and each consisting of three precast elements, 
respectively an upper covering element bearing, via longitudinal 
articulations, on two side elements comprising, respectively, a solid wall 
on the uphill side and at least one pillar on the downhill side, and each 
provided with a base in the form of a widened footing with a plane lower 
face enabling the element simply to be placed on the ground, and with an 
upper portion in the form of a stringer on which are formed longitudinal 
portions for the articulated bearing of the corresponding lateral edge of 
the covering element. 
In order to build such a structure according to the invention: 
three series of precast elements are made in advance in a precasting 
factory, respectively uphill side elements comprising a plane wall 
extending between a widened base and an upper stringer, downhill side 
elements comprising at least one pillar extending between a widened base 
and an upper stringer, and upper covering elements, each consisting of a 
rigid shell extending between two parallel lateral edges, on which upper 
elements are formed longitudinal bearing portions capable of interacting 
with matching longitudinal portions formed on the upper face of the 
stringers of the side elements in order to form articulated bearings, 
at least a portion of the flattened subgrade is formed at the desired 
level, and 
at least one uphill side element, one downhill side element and one vault 
element are placed successively on the subgrade portion. 
The invention takes advantage of the recent progress in precasting which 
makes it possible to make very strong precast elements having substantial 
dimensions. In particular, the inventor has already proposed, in European 
Patent 081,402, a technique for building underground structures such as 
ducts or bridges by means of precast elements placed at the bottom of a 
trench and subsequently covered with an embankment. 
In this known process, side elements are also used which are equipped at 
their base with a stabilization portion enabling them simply to be placed 
on the ground, standing upright without any scaffolding, and supporting an 
upper element in the form of an inwardly curved vault which is joined 
tangentially to the side elements so that the loads applied are 
transmitted by arching to the side elements and as far as a plane raft 
enabling the stresses to be distributed over a large surface. 
Consequently, the precast elements described in EP 081,402 were provided in 
order to transmit the forces tangentially, not to sustain substantial 
lateral stresses. For this reason, could not be used without adaptation 
for the construction of semi-buried structures on a mountainside. 
In particular, each covering element consists of a shell in the shape of a 
cylindrical sector associated with at least one transverse stiffening rib 
formed on the intrados of the shell and extending in a plane perpendicular 
to the axis, the whole forming a substantially undeformable rigid piece 
cast in a single piece from reinforced or prestressed concrete. 
As a result, the arched shape of the curvature is preserved, which makes it 
possible better to absorb the load of the embankment and the impacts 
resulting from landslides, but the rigidity afforded by the rib enables 
the spacing of the lateral edges to be retained and the loads to be 
transmitted to the side elements in essentially vertical directions via 
articulated bearings which are formed on opposite horizontal faces of the 
upper element and of the bearing stringers. 
Such an articulated-portal structure better withstands the lateral forces 
which are occasionally exerted in the event of landslides or avalanches. 
However, the lateral edges of the covering element are subjected to 
substantial vertical forces and must therefore be capable of being 
reinforced. 
To this end, each covering element can be provided, along its two parallel 
longitudinal edges, respectively with two strengthening longitudinal beams 
bearing on the upper stringers of the side elements, and the articulated 
longitudinal bearings consist of matching portions formed, respectively 
recessed and projecting, on the opposite horizontal faces of the 
longitudinal beams of the covering element and of the stringers of the 
side elements. 
It is likewise advantageous for the uphill side element to consist of an 
inwardly curved wall joined tangentially to the cylindrical shell of the 
covering element. In this case, the inwardly curved wall is equipped, at 
its upper end and on the side of the extrados, with a widened portion of 
triangular cross-section comprising a horizontal face on which is formed 
the corresponding portion of the articulated bearing. 
Given that the covering element is simply placed on top of the upper 
stringers of the side elements, its width is not necessarily limited to 
the spacing of the stringers and can advantageously be extended, at least 
on the downhill side, by a portion extending in cantilevered fashion from 
the corresponding lateral bearing edge and comprising a section of a 
cylindrical shell associated with at least one stiffening rib extending 
between the extrados of the upper element and of the extension, 
perpendicularly to the axis and on either side of the lateral bearing 
edge. 
The space between the natural terrain and the side element placed nearest 
the top of the incline is preferably filled with relatively loose backfill 
material, and the whole is covered with topsoil as far as the opposite 
lateral edge of the upper element.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The structure shown in FIG. 1 comprises an upper element 1 placed on two 
side elements, respectively an uphill element 2 and a downhill element 3, 
each resting on the ground via a footing 21, 31. All the elements are made 
from reinforced or prestressed concrete. 
There is no need for any anchoring in the ground and any foundation work, 
the two side elements 2 and 3 being simply placed on the subgrade 4 by 
their footings 21, 31 which are provided in order to enable them to stand 
upright without any scaffolding. 
The upper covering element 1 consists of a concrete shell in the shape of a 
sector of a cylinder of revolution centered on a longitudinal axis 10 and 
provided, on its intrados 11a, with two transverse ribs 12 which extend in 
planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 10. Furthermore, along its 
two lateral edges 13, 13' parallel to the axis 10, the upper element 1 is 
provided with two strengthening longitudinal beams 51, 52, bearing 
respectively on stringers 22, 32 formed on the upper ends of the side 
elements 2 and 3, via articulated longitudinal bearing members 5, 5'. 
In the illustrated embodiment, each uphill side element 2 consists of a 
solid wall curved inwards and extending, in a substantially vertical 
direction, from the base 21. 
The curvature of the inwardly curved wall 2, at least at its upper end, is 
equal to that of the cylindrical shell 1, so that the elements join 
tangentially. 
However, in order to enable the side element 2 to absorb the vertical 
forces applied on bearings 5, the upper end of the element 2 is widened on 
the side of the extrados by a portion 22 having a horizontal upper face 23 
and in which the reinforcement necessary to withstand the forces applied 
can be placed, the upper end 22 thus forming a strengthening stringer with 
a substantially triangular cross-section. 
The stringer 22 is normally cast in a single piece with the side element 2. 
It could, however, consist of an attached girder placed and sealed on the 
upper end of the element 2. 
Each bearing member 5 consists of two complementary portions 53, 54 
respectively projecting and recessed on the opposite faces of the 
longitudinal beams 51, 52 and of the stringers 22, 32, or vice versa. 
The lower face of each longitudinal beam 51, 52 of the covering element is, 
for example, provided with a rib 53 of convex rounded profile engaging in 
a groove 54 formed on the upper face 23 of the stringer 22 (32) of the 
side element, 2 (3). 
Sealing strips 55 (55'), for example made of neoprene, can advantageously 
be placed between the two portions 53, 54 bearing on each other. 
The upper element 1, stiffened by the ribs 12 and the longitudinal beams 
51, 52, constitutes a rigid, substantially undeformable assembly cast in a 
single piece. Consequently, even when it is loaded with an embankment, the 
upper element 1 transmits to the side elements 2 and 3 only vertical 
forces passing through the mid planes P, P' of the bearing members 5, 5'. 
The whole structure thus forms an articulated portal resting on the 
footings 21, 31 which can be designed in order to withstand occasionally 
the horizontal forces resulting from landslides or from the passage of 
avalanches, the vertical forces being dominant. 
The inner portion 21a of the footing 21 of the side element 2 can thus 
extend sufficiently inwards from the bearing plane P to give the element 2 
stability. Furthermore, the outer portion 21b of the footing 21 can 
advantageously be considerably extended outwards in order to contribute 
toward the stability of the element 2 by a spade effect when it is loaded 
with an embankment. 
It will also be noted that, when the elements 2 are inwardly curved, the 
stringer 22 enables the plane P of application of the bearing forces to be 
displaced outwards. 
The upper element 1 can simply cover the space between the side elements 2 
and 3. The longitudinal beams 51 and 52 are then identical. However, in 
the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the upper element 1 is 
provided on one side with a covering extension 6 consisting of an inwardly 
curved shell 61 extending in cantilevered fashion from the longitudinal 
beam 52. The shell 61 can have the shape of a cylindrical sector of the 
same radius as the shell 11, so that the stringers of the two vaults form 
an assembly which is symmetrical with respect to the bearing longitudinal 
beam 52. 
Moreover, one or more transverse ribs 63, perpendicular to the longitudinal 
axis 10, are formed at the top, between the extrados 11b and the extrados 
61b, in order to join together the two vaults 11 and 61. The upper element 
1 thus constitutes a rigid assembly which is cast in a single piece from 
reinforced or prestressed concrete and which comprises the vault 11 and 
its extension 6, the ribs 12 and 63 and the longitudinal beams 51 and 52. 
The dimensional features of the cylindrical shells and of their ribs, as 
well as the reinforcements, are determined in order to form an assembly 
which is both rigid and light and is capable of sustaining without 
deformation its own weight and the weight of a bank of limited thickness. 
The longitudinal bearing member 5' of the longitudinal beam 52 of the upper 
element on the side element 3 is likewise symmetrical with respect to the 
vertical plane P', the groove 54' being formed on the upper face 33 of the 
longitudinal beam 32 which therefore does not need to be widened like the 
longitudinal beam 22 of the side element 2. 
The structure which has just been described is particularly suited to the 
construction of a coast road, as has been shown in FIG. 4. 
The precast elements 1, 2, 3 can advantageously be made in a precasting 
factory, possibly far away from the building site. Indeed, their 
dimensions in the longitudinal direction can be limited to the width of a 
truck trailer in order to enable them to be transported. The highway, 
which can have two parallel lanes A and B, is placed on a subgrade 40 
formed on a mountainside. 
In order to build the tunnel, after having formed the subgrade 4, possibly 
over a reduced length in order to reduce the risks of landslides, firstly 
a certain number of uphill elements 2 are placed in alignment, followed by 
the downhill elements 3 and lastly the covering elements 1. 
The side of the subgrade 4 nearest to the top of the incline can be 
excavated and, if the type of earth permits it, the uphill face 41 can be 
substantially vertical in order to limit the area taken up and the volume 
of excavated materials. Indeed, the workers benefit, once the uphill 
elements 2 have been put in place, from a degree of protection against 
landslides which are caught between the mountain 41 and the element 2. 
This protection is further improved by the inwardly curved shape of the 
wall 2. When the structure has been built over a certain length, the 
highway can be constructed in sheltered conditions. 
For a two-lane highway, the downhill element 3 is placed substantially at 
the center of the subgrade 4. However, because there are no foundations 
and because the load is effectively distributed by the footing 31, the 
side element 3 could be placed, in the case of a narrow lane, very near 
the downhill edge of the subgrade 4. 
The highway 46 is constructed in a conventional manner, it being possible 
for the inner portions of the footings 21 and 31 to constitute a restraint 
and to support sidewalks, if necessary. 
The invention could take alternative forms. The side element 2 placed 
nearest the top of the incline is, for example, advantageously inwardly 
curved in order better to withstand the pressure of the earth and in order 
to protect a sidewalk, but it could also consist of a plane wall extending 
vertically from the footing 21. 
The dimensions and the reinforcement of the various elements are determined 
in order to withstand the forces and, in particular, in order to give the 
upper element 1 the desired rigidity without increasing its weight 
excessively. In particular, as shown in the drawings, the lower face 14 of 
the rib 12 can be inwardly curved in order to make the assembly lighter 
and in order to make available a larger clearance limit. However, in 
certain applications, for example dwellings or industrial buildings, the 
lower face 14 could be horizontal in order to facilitate the placing of a 
ceiling, it then being possible for the ribs 12 to be thinner. 
Orifices 15 permitting the passage of ducts, lines and various circuits 
could also be formed in the ribs 12. 
Moreover, the structure according to the invention could have other 
applications, for example for the construction of walls for protection 
against noise in an urban environment. In this case, the construction of 
an embankment and of a bank of topsoil above the structure would remain 
advantageous for its noise-absorption effect and from an aesthetic point 
of view. 
A structure of the same type could also be used for the construction of 
semi-buried buildings, for example on hillsides in tourist sites, such 
buildings, which may be covered with gardens, blending in well with the 
countryside and being effectively protected against possible landslides or 
winter avalanches.