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The Brenner Base Tunnel, with two main bores and an investigation tunnel running parallel in the middle, crosses the main ridge of the Alps beneath the Brenner Pass and the border of Austria and Italy. The first construction contract was a 10.5 km long investigation tunnel bored by a double shield machine in granite. Numerous investigation measures, laboratory tests and geological face surveys were carried out, and the TBM data was recorded on a 10-second cycle. Due to the large amount of data and the very well known homogeneous geology, it seemed appropriate to develop correlations between the data of the rock mass, the rock and the TBM. Statistically reliable statements could be derived. The unconfined compression strength of the rock, discontinuity parameters and index parameters such as the RMR (Rock Mass Rating), GSI (Geological Strength Index) and RQD (Rock Quality Designation) were compared with the penetration behaviour. GSI values between 30 and 40 showed four times the penetration rate compared to GSI values between 90 and 100. This applies similarly for the RQD, RMR and discontinuity spacing values. The objective was to precisely localize rock mass zones with a high degree of fracturing or faults for the main bores. This is only possible to a limited extent from the face surveys since the sides of the tunnel are not visible between the individual face surveys and the delivered information is not complete. By matching the geological face information with the TBM data, the faulted rock mass zones in the investigation tunnel could be defined well. In addition, experience from the investigation programme and its geotechnical monitoring is described. The constant presence of geologists on the TBM, the installation of measurement segments and continuous probe drilling can be seen as particularly positive. EinleitungBei der Errichtung des Brenner Basistunnels wurde im Erkundungsstollen Aicha in einheitlicher Geologie, dem Brixner Granit, ein 10,5 km langer Stollen mittels einer Doppelschildmaschine aufgefahren. Aufgrund zahlreicher kontinuierlicher und gezielter Erkundungsmaßnahmen, konsequent durchgeführter Ortsbrustaufnahmen während des Vortriebs und in regelmäßigen Abständen durchgeführter Laborversuche ist der Brixner Granit als Gestein und als Gebirge bestens untersucht und bekannt [1]. Die Daten der Tunnelbohrmaschine (TBM) wurden im 10-Sekunden-Takt erhoben. Seismische und geoelektrische Ver-Topics Brenner Base Tunnel -a 10.5 km double shield TBM drive in granite Brenner Basistunnel -10,5 km Doppelschild-TBM im Granit

The Brenner Base Tunnel (BBT) is a straight, flat railway tunnel between Austria and Italy. It runs from Innsbruck to Fortezza (55 km), crossing the main Alpine crest with an overburden up to 1.7 km. Including the connection to the line around Innsbruck, which has already been built and which is the endpoint for the BBT, the total length of the tunnel will be about 64 km. Once finished, the BBT will be the longest underground rail link in the world. A peculiar feature of the BBT is the exploratory tunnel running from one end to the other. This tunnel lies between the two main tunnels and about 12 m below them and is noticeably smaller than the main tubes. So far, a total of 60 km of tunnels have already been excavated in Austria and Italy (access tunnels, exploratory tunnel, main tubes and chambers), driven both by blasting and by TBM. Crossing fault zones is a geological and geomechanical challenge, both for TBM and conventional excavation methods. The Periadriatic fault zone, with a total length of 1 km, has already been driven through. This first step of the project provides an interesting look at the comparison of the predicted rock mass conditions with those that were actually encountered, the rock mass behaviour in fault zones and investigation measures ahead of the tunnel face.

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