Trenchless Technology

The Trenchless Technology Center (TTC) is a university/industry cooperative research center under the College of Engineering and Science. The TTC was established September 1989 to assist in the development of trenchless technologies through basic research, applied research, and technology development activities coupled with educational, outreach, and technology transfer programs. The Center has a small core staff consisting of the Director, an administrative assistant, and a technician. The research activities are conducted by an interdisciplinary group of approximately 25 faculty affiliated with the Center together with graduate students, university technical support staff, and the other industry and/or government partners in the research programs. The Center has had very active research and technology transfer programs in the areas of pipeline rehabilitation, microtunneling and pipe jacking, and horizontal directional drilling. Market studies for various areas of trenchless technology and for specific companies have also been conducted. The Center is currently involved in two new research and demonstration programs in the area of trenchless pipe replacement (pipe bursting), several projects studying the long-term performance of pipe lining systems, and a research project related to the management of sewerage systems. Two state-funded exploratory research programs in the soil mechanics area are also underway. The Center is housed in the main engineering building of the Louisiana Tech campus. The Center has a strong collection of research and informational materials related to trenchless technology and the former library holdings of the Underground Space Center at the University of Minnesota covering a broad range of issues relating to the design, construction, and use of underground facilities. The Center=s research utilizes several research facilities on and off campus including a Pipeline Rehabilitation Test Facility located approximately 2 km. from campus designed to provide the ability to test the short- or longterm pressure response of a variety of pipes and pipe lining systems; and a Field Test Facility located on the Louisiana Tech Farm used for a variety of field tests on trenchless technologies.