New method predicts jacking forces for smoother pipe installations in cities.
Trenchless technology is used to install pipelines underground without disrupting surface activities. A new method using particles was developed to estimate the force needed to push pipes through sandy soil. By calibrating parameters for the soil in Shenyang, the model accurately predicts the force required for pipe jacking. The method combines friction resistance and earth pressure to calculate the total jacking force. The study successfully compared calculated forces with actual measurements in sandy soils under the Hun River.