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The Niagara Tunnel Project, Niagara Falls, Ontario
Customized PERI formwork solutions for the iconic hydro tunnel project
The 14.40 m diameter, 10.4 km long Niagara Tunnel is one of the largest tunnels ever built in North America. Upon completion, the tunnel will deliver 500 m3 of water per second from upper Niagara River to the Sir Adam Beck power station. Dufferin Construction Company out of Oakville Ontario, the contractor for concrete work of the tunnel in take and outlet, commissioned PERI to provide a comprehensive solution for the tunnel intake formwork.
Because the intake geometry ensures water flowing through the structure remains smooth and free from turbulence, the precise geometry of the concrete intake structure is extremely important. The intake is 22 m long. The 12 m long transition part of the intake has been designed to gradually transition from a 12.80 m wide by 12.80 m high rectangle cross section to a 12.80 m diameter full circle.
PERI’s engineers worked with Dufferin team to define the project requirements and select the formwork concept. The tunnel formwork was devised to be poured in 8 elevations. At each elevation depending on shape of structure a combination of several PERI solutions such as VARIO GT 24, VARIOKIT, CB brackets, RUNDFLEX and PERI UP was outlined.
PERI design engineers in Weissenhorn, Germany used PERI CAD software to create a design which will not only take into account the complicated structure geometry, but also satisfy requirements for quality of concrete surface. The 3D design technology was used to clearly show design of formwork units, and assembly process.
Based on PERI CAD design, CNC machines precisely cut wood gussets. The well trained PERI assembly specialists in Bolton, Ontario, put together hundreds of precisely made formwork elements on the base which is comprised of VARIOKIT elements. VARIOKIT was chosen as the formwork base because of it’s standardized and rentable components resulting in a fast, safe and cost effective system. The pre-assembled, ready to use formwork elements are shipped by truck from Bolton directly to jobsite in Niagara Falls Ontario. At the jobsite PERI assembly supervisors support Dufferin’s site personnel for final assembly of formwork component and help them achieve maximum efficiency and safety.
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| PERI Systems In Use |
RUNDFLEX Circular Wall Formwork
VARIO GT 24 Girder Wall Formwork
CB Climbing System
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PERI scope | Issue 1 | 2011 CA
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