Free Pipe Jacking Design Calculator
Calculate a pipe jacking design using our database of past project references.
Input pipe geometry
This tool is intended for a quick estimate and must not replace any design check.
Internal diameter
m
Enter a number between 0.45 & 2.4m.
Tunnel drive length
m
Enter a number between 0 and 500m.
Geology type
Jacking force estimates
Loading...
Use the table below to decide on your TBM jacking forces. We've found - project references and used these to estimate your pipe jacking loadings.
The nearest standard pipe size is m and we've used this for the estimates below.
| Face load (kN) | Skin friction (kN/m) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg record | - | - | |
| Min record | - | - | |
| Max record | - | - | |
| Enter your own values |
Enter a faceload between 0 and 3000kN.
Enter a skin friction between 0 and 100kN/m length of pipe.
Note: Stoppages in jacking can result in higher loads to restart jacking of approximately 25% within an hour and 75% within four hours of a stoppage.
Pipe size prediction
The predicted pipe size is based upon the nearest fit selection offered by FPMcann, featured in their tunnels and shafts jacking pipes brochure v2.0.
| Nominal Diameter (A) | -mm |
| Wall thickness (B) | mm |
| Outer diameter (C) | mm |
| Pipe length | m |
| Weight (approx) | -kg |
| Spigot length (D) | -mm |
| Socket length (E) | -mm |
| Packer width (E) | -mm |
| Packer thickness | -mm |
Interjacks and jacking load prediction
Interjacks are required where jacking loads exceed the capacity of the pipes. Deflection angles resulting from levelling differences and a lack of squareness between pipes have a significant effect on capacity. For most projects angular deflection is typically controlled between 0.0 and 0.25 degrees.
| Allowed angular deflection | |
| Estimated face load | kN |
| Estimated skin friction | kN/m |
| Tunnel drive length | m |
| Max allowable jacking load | -kN |
| Total thrust required if no interjacks used | -kN |
| Max drive distance before interjack required | -m |
| Number of interjacks required | - |
Minimum launch shaft size prediction
| Launch shaft size (L×W) | -mm |
| Entrance ring (a) | mm |
| Clearance (b) | mm |
| Jacking unit (c) | mm |
| Thrust wall (d) | -mm |
| Entrance open space (e) | -mm |
| Approx. length for TBM (f) | -mm |
| Jack (g) | -mm |
Minimum retrieval shaft size prediction
| Retrieval shaft size (L×W) | - |
| Arriving ring (a) | mm |
| Packing (b) | mm |
| Hume pipe (c) | mm |
| Margin (d) | -mm |
| Approx. length for TBM (e) | -mm |
| Margin (g) | -mm |
TBM prediction
| TBM type | - |
| TBM length | -mm |
| TBM diamater | mm |
| TBM weight | tonnes |
What's this calculator used for?
This tool can be used by Tunnel Engineers and Geotechnical Engineers to estimate the jacking and thrust forces required to operate a pipe jacking tunnel boring machine or TBM.
Interested in learning more about automation?
Enroll on our training certifications and learn how to code, build AI applications with no-code tools and automate tasks.