The Metro Tunnel is a metropolitan rail infrastructure project in Melbourne, Australia. It frees up space in the City Loop to run more trains to and from the suburbs by diverting the busiest train lines through a new tunnel under the city.
The Metro Tunnel includes the construction of twin 9-kilometre rail tunnels. CaSE was involved in the detailed design check of fabricated TBM cradle support structures, which were required to span a large sewer line. The original design, completed by others, specified a steel trussed frame that was later found to be inadequate for the loading requirements.
CaSE specified global and local strengthening in accordance with Australian Standards. This included finite element modelling of the main trusses, which were converted into plate girders through the addition of welded infill plates.
