Lining Systems for Penstocks, Tunnels, and Shafts — Where To Apply Which System?

The workshop addresses the full spectrum of lining types used in pressurized underground tunnels and shafts, focusing on durability and cost-effectiveness.

Faculty will examine alternatives to traditional steel linings, including reinforced and pre-stressed concrete solutions, alongside the boundary conditions necessary for their implementation under varying geological and geotechnical constraints. A comparative analysis will highlight the cost and time implications of different lining methods.

Key case studies—such as the reinforced concrete lining at Nant de Drance and passive pre-stressed linings in vertical shafts at Uttendorf II and Drakensberg—demonstrate practical applications. These are complemented by insights from the Niagara Tunnel, which illustrate the suitability of such linings in large-diameter, high-pressure environments.

In addition, faculty will present a newly developed glass fibre-reinforced system to improve the workability of pre-stressed linings.

The workshop concludes by evaluating the influence of geological and geotechnical factors on lining selection and performance and their broader impacts on project alignment, construction efficiency, and cost.

Presenters

Martina Friedrich

Faculty

Head of Pumped Storage Unit at Implenia AG.

Helmut Wannenmacher

Faculty

Contract Manager at Implenia Construction GmbH