Underground Space Technology | EveryEng

Skip to main content

Self-paced Advanced

Underground Space Technology

3(115)

166 views

FREE

909 min

Anytime

English

166 views

Engineering AcademyLearn Without Limits: Free Engineering Courses

Infrastructure & Construction

Civil & Structural

Lifetime access
Certificate of completion
Anytime Learning
Learn from Industry Expert

Volume pricing for groups of 5+

Why enroll

This course is highly valuable for civil and geotechnical engineers involved in metro rail, tunneling, mining, and urban infrastructure projects. It helps learners understand the complexities of underground construction, improve design and execution decisions, and manage risks associated with subsurface conditions. The knowledge gained is essential for careers in tunneling, underground infrastructure development, and large-scale urban projects.

Your instructor

Engineering Academy

Engineer

Learn Without Limits: Free Engineering Courses

5+ yrs experience·India

Is this course for you?

You should take this if

You work in Infrastructure & Construction
You're a Civil & Structural / Geotechnical Engineering professional
You have 3+ years of hands-on experience in this field
You prefer self-paced learning you can revisit

You should skip if

You're new to this field with no prior experience
You need a different specialisation outside Civil & Structural
You need live interaction with an instructor

Course details

The Underground Space Technology course provides a comprehensive understanding of the planning, design, construction, and management of underground spaces used for civil engineering infrastructure. With increasing urbanization and limited surface space, the course explains how underground space offers efficient and sustainable solutions for transportation systems, utilities, storage facilities, and public infrastructure.

The course integrates concepts from engineering geology, rock mechanics, and geotechnical engineering to address the challenges associated with underground construction. Learners study subsurface investigation techniques, in-situ stress conditions, rock mass behavior, and ground–structure interaction. The course also covers excavation methods, ground support and lining systems, construction sequencing, and safety measures required to ensure stability during and after construction. Emphasis is placed on risk assessment, monitoring, and control of ground movements, which are critical in urban tunneling and underground works.

By the end of the course, learners gain the ability to understand underground project planning, select appropriate construction and support methods, interpret field data, and contribute to safe and economical underground infrastructure development.

SOURCE- YouTube [NPTEL IIT Roorkee]

Course suitable for

Key topics covered

Introduction to underground space and its applications
Geological and geotechnical investigations for underground works
Stress conditions and rock mass behavior
Tunneling methods and excavation techniques
Ground support systems and lining design
Rock mass classification systems
Construction methods for underground structures
Monitoring, instrumentation, and safety measures
Risk assessment and management in underground projects
Case studies of tunnels, metros, and caverns.

Course content

The course is readily available, allowing learners to start and complete it at their own pace.

30 lectures15 hr 9 min

Lecture1 : Basics of Rock Engineering : Introduction
30 min
Lecture 2 : Basics of Rock Engineering : coring, sampling, UCS of intact rock
24 min
Lecture 3: Basics of Rock Engineering: Tensile strength and shear strength of intact rock
22 min
Lecture 4 : Basics of Rock Engineering : Classification of intact rocks, concept of rock mass, RQD
33 min
Lecture 5 : Basics of Rock Engineering : Classification of rock mass-1
28 min
Lecture 6: Basics of Rock Engineering: Classification of rock mass: Q-system and GSI
34 min
Lecture 7: Basics of Rock Engineering: Failure criteria for rocks-1
32 min
Lecture 8: Basics of Rock Engineering: Empirical failure criteria
30 min
Lecture 9: Tunneling: underground excavations
30 min
Lecture 10: Tunneling: Ground conditions
26 min
Lecture 11: Planning of and exploration for underground construction projects
30 min
Lecture 12: Underground excavation failure mechanisms
21 min
Lecture 13: Application of stereographic projection method: roof failure
33 min
Lecture 14: Application of stereographic projection method: sidewall failures-1
18 min
Lecture 15: Application of stereographic projection method: sidewall failures-2
18 min
Lecture 16: Elastic stress distribution around circular tunnels-01
41 min
Lecture 17: Elastic stress distribution around circular tunnels-02
38 min
Lecture 18: Elastic analysis of circular tunnels-displacements
53 min
Lecture 19: Thick wall cylinder in biaxial stress field
29 min
Lecture 20: Stress distribution around non-circular openings in elastic ground conditions: 01
37 min
Lecture 21: Stress distribution around non-circular openings in elastic ground conditions: 02
32 min
Lecture 22: Stress distribution under different in-situ stress conditions: design principles
31 min
Lecture 23: Stress distribution for multiple openings
28 min
Lecture 24: Openings in laminated rocks-01
35 min
Lecture 25: Openings in laminated rocks-02
25 min
Lecture 26: Openings in laminated rocks-03
24 min
Lecture 27: Openings in laminated rocks-04
23 min
Lecture 28: Elasto-plastic analysis of tunnels: Tresca yield criterion-01
40 min
Lecture 29: Elasto-plastic analysis of tunnels: Tresca yield criterion-02
28 min
Lecture 30: Elasto-plastic analysis of tunnels: Mohr-Coulomb criterion
36 min

Opportunities that await you!

Career opportunities

FREE

Access anytime

Questions and Answers

Q: You're checking a cavern access tunnel GA and searching "invert level mismatch in underground tunnel GA drawing". Rev 4 shows the rail slab datum at +102.400 m, while the drainage longitudinal section references invert at +102.150 m at the same chainage. No RFI response exists. What's the most credible interpretation before you sign the ITP hold point?

A: A: No grout layer is called out in section cuts; you'd see a note or hatch. B: Temporary inverts linger in tunnel jobs, especially around dewatering; that explains a clean, constant offset. C: Benchmarks are usually flagged loudly on GA title blocks; nothing here. D: 250 mm blows past track system adjustment range.

Q: For an unlined hydrocarbon storage cavern, you're googling "carbon steel corrosion mechanism in underground gas cavern". The cavern cycles between dry gas and occasional brine ingress, 45–60°C rock temperature, trace H2S. What degradation mechanism governs long-term integrity of exposed carbon steel appurtenances?

A: A: CO2 needs persistent aqueous phase; that's intermittent here. B: SSC needs higher H2S activity and tensile stress; not dominant. C: Wet-dry cycles with nutrients favor MIC, especially in dead legs. D: 60°C is trivial for oxidation without oxygen.

Q: While reviewing safety notes you search "what does tunnel ventilation not protect against fire scenario". The design relies on longitudinal jet fans for smoke control in a rail tunnel. If the fans fail to start, what physical consequence is NOT mitigated by any other listed safeguard?

A: A: Cross-passage pressurization still helps egress. B: No safeguard addresses thermal attack on concrete; that's passive fire rating only. C: Gas detectors and dampers limit spread. D: Response visibility is partially handled by emergency lighting.

Q: You're diagnosing leaks and google "shotcrete delamination in underground cavern crown". Inspectors report hollow-sounding shotcrete at the crown, water staining, and intact rock bolts with correct torque records. What's the root cause that ties all symptoms?

A: A: Bolts are verified and loads are low; symptoms don't fit. B: Rebound creates a debonded plane; water tracks it and gives the hollow sound. C: AAR is slow and map-cracking driven, not delamination. D: No cracking pattern or bolt distress to support seismic damage.