Glossary of Trenchless Terms

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

Removal of material due to a frictional contact.

Ability of a material to resist the infliction of damage in the form of scratches, grooves, and other minor imperfections.

Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene; a form of thermoplastic.

Asbestos Cement; a composite material used in pipe construction.

By the owner of the work as being fully complete in accordance with the contract documents.

In microtunneling, a fabricated ring, usually made from steel, that is mounted on the first pipe of the pipe string. This ring is intended to transfer the jacking force from the MTBM’s bearing area to the jacking pipe and to create a waterproof seal between the machine and the spigot of the first joint.

Written or graphic instruments issued prior to the execution of the agreement, which modify or interpret the contract documents, drawings and specifications, by addition, deletions, clarifications, or corrections.

A substance added in a small amount, usually to a fluid, for a special purpose such as to reduce friction, corrosion, etc.

Ingredients added during mixing; often in construction to aid workability of concrete, mortar or grout.

The motion of the machine in a direction toward the face wall of the entrance pit.

Forward progress over a given period of time; includes penetration rate, make-up time, downtime, and idle time; typically measured in feet or meters per shift.

An unburied sewer (generally sanitary type), supported on pedestals or bents to provide a suitable grade line.

Presence of unreacted or free oxygen (O2).

A property of water which favors the corrosion of its conveying structure.

Corrosion index established by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Standard C-400; established as a criterion for determining the corrosive tendency of the water relative to asbestos-cement pipe; calculated from the pH, calcium hardness (H), and total alkalinity (A) by the formula AI = pH + log (A * H).

The written agreement between the owner and the contractor covering the work to be performed; the contract documents are attached to and made a part of the agreements. Also designated as the contract.

The capacity of a water to neutralize acids; a measure of the buffer capacity of a water. The major portion of alkalinity in natural waters is caused by (1) hydroxide, (2) carbonates, and (3) bicarbonates.

An oxide of aluminum present in clay.

Asset Management Plan; a structured approach for utilities to achieve long term defined service standards – or – an external bearing used to isolate the final drive from the thrusting force of the machine.

Able to live and grow where there is no oxygen.

The angle which the sloping face of a bank of loose earth, gravel, or other material, makes with the horizontal.

Material for grouting the annular space between the existing pipeline and the lining system.

The theoretical volume between the gauge cut and the outside radius of the jacking pipe times the length of the installation, equal to annulus x length of tunnel.

The radial distance between the excavated radius created by the gauge cutter and the outside radius of the jacking pipe. The radial distance is equal to the overcut (gauge cut) plus the shield cut.