Wanderlust World Wanderlust World - The Channel Tunnel is made of precast concrete segments that were cast in a factory in France and then transported to the construction site.
- Each segment is about 2.5 meters (8 feet) wide, 6.5 meters (21 feet) tall, and 12 meters (39 feet) long.
- The segments were cast with steel reinforcing bars and then fitted together like Lego blocks to form the tunnel.
Steel Tunnel Linings
- The concrete segments were then lined with steel to provide additional strength and protection against water.
- The steel linings are about 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) thick and were welded together to form a continuous barrier.
Grout Filling
- The gap between the concrete segments and the steel linings was filled with grout, which is a mixture of cement and water.
- The grout helped to seal the joints between the segments and make the tunnel waterproof.
Bitumen Coating
- The final step in the construction of the Channel Tunnel was to apply a coating of bitumen to the steel linings.
- The bitumen coating helped to protect the steel from corrosion and also provided additional waterproofing.
In addition to these main materials, the Channel Tunnel also required the use of a number of other materials, including:
- Sand
- Gravel
- Concrete
- Brick
- Stone
- Glass
- Electrical wiring
- Plumbing pipes
- Ventilation ducts
- Fire safety systems