Pipe Jacking in Construction: Key Components, Force Calculations, and Safety Tips

In this big world where everything changes so quickly, what has happened to traditional digging in pipeline installations? The answer lies in Pipe Jacking, a modern trenchless method that uses hydraulic jacks to push pipes through the reception pit and reduce downtime in traffic zones and sensitive sites.

It’s commonly used for projects such as water, oil, and gas, and sewer systems, as well as for crossing roads and railways.

In this blog, we’ll dig into pipe jacking construction with no soil disruption through its process, design requirements, and further considerations. So, keep your mind sharp and stay with this post till the end!

Pipe Jacking Process in Construction

Pipe jacking is a method for underground installations, perfect for sensitive sites and high-traffic areas. The process includes several steps that shape such a smooth and reliable installation.

The Step-By-Step Process of Pipe Jacking in Construction

Pipe jacking in construction goes through 4 main steps to place pipes into the soil. From shafts to soil removal, there are multiple equipment that are mentioned in the following sections.

1. Shaft Construction

The construction of the two primary shafts is the first step. From the launch shaft and goes through the reception shaft, the installation begins till pipes come out of the reception shaft that are placed in the underground area.

2. Entering Pipes Into Soil

Once the shafts are ready, it’s time to push the pipe into the soil via a jacking rig that uses hydraulic jacks to force the pipe into the soil. The hydraulic systems usually add pushing force, and they’re checked for alignment.

3. Connect Pipes Segments

After the pipe segments are placed, they are connected to the previous section to avoid any unwanted movement. During the jacking process, the thing that can prevent these movements is the thrust wall.

4. Soil Removal and Excavated Material Transportation

As pipes move forward, soil and other extra materials should be removed via a cutting head at the front of the pipe. As noted in ScienceDirect, the process is going on and on through entering the pipe through the soil, and excavated materials are removed by two central systems: screw conveyor or slurry system.

Engineering Tip: To shape reliability in pipe jacking, the correct calculation does matter. The jacking force depends on several factors, such as soil condition, pipe material, and the size of each drive. Finite element analysis is a great choice to calculate the required force.

What Are the Most Important Components of The Pipe Jacking Process?

Check the table below to see how each of these aspects affects the process.

Components	Description
Launch Shaft	Starting point of the installation
Reception Shaft	End point where the pipe exits
Jacking Rig	Equipment applying hydraulic pressure to move the pipe
Thrust Wall	Supports the system and prevents shifts during jacking
Cutting Head	Excavates soil in front of the pipe

Pipe Material Used in Pipe Jacking

The pipes that are used in this process are usually made of reinforced concrete. Steel, or GRP, can each provide a specific condition through the process.

Pipe Materials	Characteristics / Applications
Reinforced Concrete (RCP)	Durable, cost-effective, suitable for short to medium drives
Steel	High strength, suitable for long drives and high-pressure environments
GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic)	Lightweight, corrosion-resistant, ideal for specialized or urban installations

Applications in Construction Projects

Pipe jacking in construction is widely used in places where downtime must be low to manage traffic and avoid harm in historical sites, for instance. Here are the most used applications of this method:

Sewer and Drainage Networks: In these installations, it helps pipes go under the roads and urban systems with no disruption, which perfectly works for dense and heavy traffic zones to reduce the environmental impact.

Water Supply Pipelines: Pipe jacking creates such a base for a durable and leak-free installation that makes long drives possible under roads or rivers with no open trenches.

Oil And Gas Pipelines: Gas, telecom, and electrical pipelines often use pipe jacking due to its lower costs and safety risks, and underground alignment in installation can be easily reached by this method.

Culverts, Stormwater Systems, and Underpasses: Pipe jacking provides such an opportunity to avoid such probable obstacles in sites where the existing structure should be replaced with the same type.

Infrastructure Crossings: In road, railway, and river crossings where the right adjustment for no leak and durability is needed, proper pipe jacking can reach that stage by its accuracy in decreasing ground settlement over far-fetched places.

How To Manage Site Investigation and Design Requirement Aligned to Your Project Demands?

If you want to plan a reliable pipe jacking process that aligns with your project’s conditions, there are four central aspects that, if considered, will pave the way to a long-lasting result.

Geotechnical surveys and soil analysis are the first step in this process, which shows how soil type, density, and groundwater level can change some steps, such as cutting head choice.
The second aspect is shaft design and construction, which must consider pipe characteristics like pipe size and material.
Furthermore, ground conditions represent the need for lubricants or the type of excavation to design the overall strategy.
Lastly, alignment tolerance and accuracy are other issues that help engineers achieve pipelines following standards to avoid structural dilemmas.

Equipment & Technology Used in Pipe Jacking

As a modern method in trenchless pipe installation, pipe jacking requires specific equipment and technologies to reach that magnificent final with ease. Here are some of the most-used equipment:

Hydraulic jacking systems are the first equipment that is specifically used in pipe jacking to provide the required force for pushing pipes through the earth easily. What makes it perfect for this process is the control of pressure over pipes that can prevent cracks. (Source: BSCES Journal)
Cutting heads and excavation tools are required as we’re discussing different soil types (such as soft clays or rocky ones) that can be designed by the final soil condition (for instance, adding replaceable teeth or a pressure-adjustable mechanism).
To control the whole process, guidance and monitoring systems such as sensors, lasers, and GPS devices are used to follow the process and reduce the probable errors in real-time situations as well.
Last but not least, lubricant systems like bentonite slurry can decrease the friction of pipe and soil (especially soft soils that include humidity), resulting in a lesser need for jacking force in harsh conditions.

Equipment/Technology	Purpose
Hydraulic Jacking Systems	Provides force to push pipes underground
Cutting Heads & Excavation Tools	Breaks through soil and rock for pipe advancement
Guidance & Monitoring Systems	Tracks alignment and grade in real-time
Lubrication Systems	Reduces friction between pipe and surrounding soil

Engineering And Construction Considerations

To make sure that your planning for pipe jacking in construction is fit enough for the site’s conditions, there are some necessary tips that guide you to aim for the most proper plan.

How To Calculate the Required Force?

The jacking force should be balanced with the central factors like soil type, pipe material, and needed adjustment. To give an example, in sandy soils or clay soils with high humidity, the resistance and friction may require higher forces.

Pipe-Soil Interaction and Friction Resistance: Which Pipe to Which Soil?

The interaction between the pipe and soil conditions can pose some challenges as well, which require moderation and brilliant selection between these two components. In some cases, the surrounding soil may cause frictional problems; smooth coatings will ease the process.

Hint For Pros: In soft soils like sandy soils, the more you go down, the more frictional resistance you’ll face. For instance, at a depth of 0.9 meters, this matter will increase to 2006 N for pipes in circular shapes that were highlighted vividly in PubMed.

How To Control Ground Movements?

To monitor the ground that can cause surface structural issues, techniques like grouting and continuous control of the process can decrease such risks in advance.

How To Measure the Safety of Shafts and Tunnels?

There are some protocols for this matter that can aid engineers in digging them correctly. They include ventilation, mechanical supports, and some vital protocols to protect workers in those areas.

What Are the Main Jacking Pipes and How Do They Differ?

Once you’ve got deep into the design and engineering considerations, it’s time to select the best pipe for your project. That’s where we come to help you choose the one that meets your project demands. Follow this section!

Common Types of Jacking Pipes

Reinforced Concrete Pipes: Due to their cost-effectiveness and long-term performance, concrete pipes are good choices for a medium range of drive length. They include such a perfect structural base, but they’re heavier than alternatives.
Clay and Vitrified Pipes: In sites with lighter loads and applications where the chemical resistance of the pipe matters, clay pipes can be used in long drives as well as lower drive lengths.
Steel Pipes: According to TrenchlessPedia, to reach success in installation in depth, the strength of the pipe is an essential factor; steel pipes can be used, though they require heavy machinery and extra jacking force as well.
Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) Pipes: Due to their lightweight yet high resistance to pressure and corrosion, GRP pipes are top choices for both trenching and trenchless installations. They can be used more easily than their alternatives in harsh soils, though their initial costs may be more than traditional pipelines like steel or concrete.

Now check the table below to compare these four pipelines and choose the most proper one for your project.

Pipe Type	Characteristics	Best Use Cases
Reinforced Concrete (RCP)	Durable, heavy, strong structural integrity	Medium-length drives in stable soils
Clay and Vitrified Pipes	Chemically resistant, light-duty, less strong	Cohesive soils, low-pressure applications
Steel Pipes	High strength, handles long drives and high pressure, heavy	Long drives, high-pressure environments
Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP)	Lightweight, corrosion-resistant, thinner walls, easier to install	Urban areas, challenging soils, reduced jacking force

How Do We Offer Advantages at YasminTrading?

At YasminTrading, we design customized pipelines for your pipe jacking project that’ll be aligned perfectly.

While thinner walls can reduce the need for higher jacking forces, higher structural strength and durability of our GRP pipes let you install piping systems in long drives for decades with the least maintenance requirements.

In the end, although GRP pipe may include higher initial costs, the overall cost of transportation, installation, and repair will satisfy your demands for durable and cost-effective underground pipelines!

Advantages of Pipe Jacking in Construction

As we’ve mentioned in the last sections, pipe jacking in construction contains multiple benefits for contractors and engineers who are seeking a modern solution in underground installation.

In underground installations like roads, buildings, and landscapes, where traffic may cause some issues, this method, compared to the open-cut ones, provides less disruption to surfaces. (Source: Amiblu)
In urban areas that require lower downtime, the trenchless method, unlike the open-cut method, can be used more easily and faster to avoid probable delays.
To achieve such strong and long-lasting pipe installation, a modern solution like pipe jacking is recommended due to the excellent resistance to soil pressure and environmental dilemmas.
The need for traffic closure can be decreased by pipe jacking, where less disruption can ease the utilities and traffic flow.
And lastly, there are some environmental and sustainability impacts in pipe jacking that comes from less excavation and waste, resulting in ecological safety.

What Are the Main Challenges in Construction Projects? (Case of Pipe Jacking)

While pipe jacking is known as a perfect solution for modern trenchless installation, several challenges threaten the project that must be considered.

Limitations on Drive Length and Pipe Diameter

The pipe diameter and drive length can be affected by some aspects; for instance, hydraulic jacks and soil conditions will determine how pipe size and length would be, and how complicated the installation may get.

Shaft Construction Requirements

Both launch and reception shafts should be designed based on the space, reinforcement, and drainage that can increase the costs of projects through strict processes aimed at.

Ground Settlement and Alignment Risks

MDPI highlights that uneven jacking or misalignment is another dilemma that engineers are dealing with through pipe jacking, which can harm their pipelines or surrounding constructions.

High Initial Equipment and Setup Costs

Also, the costs of the initial equipment and setup affect the choice of hydraulic jacks, cutting head, or monitoring system. This is done to find a reasonable balance between these costs and the needs of the project.

Cost & Productivity in Construction Use

There are a lot of influential aspects in the cost and productivity of pipe jacking in construction. The type of soil, the depth of the shaft, the material of the pipe, and the size of the project all have a direct effect on the cost of materials and labor.

Unforeseen ground conditions or delays in equipment can affect project timelines, which can lead to scheduling problems.
Proper lubrication can make things more efficient by lowering jacking forces, keeping an eye on things in real time to keep them in line, and designing the shaft in the best way to cut down on handling and installation time.

Final Thought

Pipe jacking in construction is known as an efficient and cost-effective method for modern trenchless installations that has less surface disruption in sensitive sites like historical landscapes and traffic zones. There are both environmental and equipment factors that need to be considered, and the proper alignment of them with the actual demands of each project can pave the way for a reliable pipe jacking process.

FAQs

1- How does pipe jacking reduce surface disruption?

In underground installations like roads, buildings, and landscapes, traffic may cause some issues; this method, compared to the open-cut ones, provides less disruption in surfaces.

2- How does pipe jacking impact the environment?

Pipe jacking in construction contains multiple benefits for contractors and engineers who are seeking modern solutions in underground installation. The need for traffic closure can be decreased by pipe jacking, where less disruption can ease the utilities and traffic flow.

3- What factors influence cost and productivity in pipe jacking projects?

The type of soil, the depth of the shaft, the material of the pipe, and the size of the project all have a direct effect on the cost of materials and labor.