Thermal Insulation, Antifreeze, and Anti-Drainage Technology for Tunnels in the Cold Area of Jinpen Bay
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This paper considers an important problem appearing in the construction of tunnels. Authors consider the multitude of the effects and ways to deal with them. This type of problems are important not only for China, but for other countries situated in the cold climates.
The main problem that this reviewer had with the paper is the quality of English. Often wrong words are used or sentences are not structured properly. The quality of English affects the exposition in the paper and should be fixed before the paper can be published.
Just few representative examples:
*). line 10, rephrase the sentence.
*). line 88, likely comma, not a period.
*). line 262, move period, so that there is no extra space.
*). line 269, "freezing diseases", likely some other word should be used instead of "diseases".
*). line 614, "techniques"? Likely, some other word should be used.
Also, in the introduction parts of the review are not supported by references, although the authors summarize somebody else research.
The whole paper should go through the extensive editing on the subject of English, in the current form paper cannot be published. The substantial editorial work is a must.
The authors should edit not only the places listed by this reviewer, but look through the whole paper. There are many places that should be fixed.
Author Response
1Comments and Suggestions for Authors
This paper considers an important problem appearing in the construction of tunnels. Authors consider the multitude of the effects and ways to deal with them. This type of problems is important not only for China, but for other countries situated in the cold climates.
The main problem that this reviewer had with the paper is the quality of English. Often wrong words are used or sentences are not structured properly. The quality of English affects the exposition in the paper and should be fixed before the paper can be published.
Just few representative examples:
*). line 10, rephrase the sentence.
*). line 88, likely comma, not a period.
*). line 262, move period, so that there is no extra space.
*). line 269, "freezing diseases", likely some other word should be used instead of "diseases".
*). line 614, "techniques"? Likely, some other word should be used.
Reply: The above issues have been modified.
Also, in the introduction parts of the review are not supported by references, although the authors summarize somebody else research.
Reply: The relevant references have been supplemented.
The whole paper should go through the extensive editing on the subject of English, in the current form paper cannot be published. The substantial editorial work is a must.
Reply: The article has been modified.
2Comments on the Quality of English Language
The authors should edit not only the places listed by this reviewer, but look through the whole paper. There are many places that should be fixed.
Reply: The article has been modified.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
In this paper, the authors have studied the thermal insulation, antifreeze, and anti-drainage of the tunnels located in the cold area of Jinpen Bay (China). I believe the paper could be improved adding more details from the scientific point of view (e.g. a description of how some physical measures have been performed, an explanation of horizontal and vertical axes in a figure, etc..). Moreover, the Introduction should be shortened and their contribution should be better explained.
Here are listed my remarks:
l.27 I suggest adding a reference in which the reader can find these percentages.
l.149 please explain why MF12 has been chosen.
l.309 please define each acronym you have used in the paper.
l.385 please add a few sentences describing how the wind speed was measured.
l.406 please add the corresponding error.
l.412 please add a few sentences describing how pressure and humidity were measured.
l.434 Why was it established that one grade is 5°C? Please add a brief explanation to the paper.
l.482 please explain the diagram, in particular, explain the vertical and horizontal axes.
l.495 please explain tab. 7, what is phi? what do you mean by phi 16 @ 250? please add the unit of measure. What does IIa mean?
Moderate editing of the English language.
Author Response
- The introduction has been shortened.
According to the climate characteristics of cold regions in Inner Mongolia, the cold proof design of highway tunnels in the cold area of Jinpen Bay is summarized and optimized, including lining structure, waterproof and drainage system, thermal insulation layer, expansion joint, inspection shaft, etc. The structural form of utility tunnel for mountain tunnels is proposed.
- Zhao, L.; Zou, D.; Hu, G.; Du, E.; Pang, Q.; Xiao, Y.; Li, R.; Sheng, Y.; Wu, X.; Sun, Z.; et al. Changing Climate and the Permafrost Environment on the Qinghai–Tibet (Xizang) Plateau. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes 2020, 31, 396–405, doi:10.1002/ppp.2056.
- MF12 plastic blind drain is a high-performance drainage material that can effectively resist the erosion of chemicals such as acids and alkalis, withstand certain mechanical forces, and is not easily deformed or damaged, thus ensuring the long-term stable operation of the drainage system.
- Each acronym has been defined.
- This article uses a hot wire anemometer, TSI 9535-A VelociCalc Air Velocity Meter. Place it inside the tunnel to ensure that the measuring instrument is perpendicular to the air flow path inside the tunnel, in order to obtain accurate wind direction and speed information. Measure within a month and record daily wind speed values.
- Table 1. Average wind speed inside the tunnel and average temperature outside the tunnel.
- Install GP2Y0A02YK0F digital pressure sensor inside the meteorological station. The data from the pressure sensor will be automatically read and sent to the data collection system of the meteorological station, which will be converted into pressure values.
The measurement of humidity uses SHT10 capacitive humidity sensor. The humidity sensor measures the humidity value in the air in real time and sends it to the data collection system of the meteorological station and converts it into humidity value.
- The thermal conductivity of conventional soil is 0.15W/mK, while the thermal conductivity of frozen soil is generally between 0.5 and 2.5W/mK. In the case of frozen soil, the temperature changes below the ground every 5 ℃ will have an impact on the freezing depth of about 5cm. Therefore, it is relatively reasonable and scientific to classify the degree of coldness based on a scale of 5 ℃.
- Figure 12 shows the average minimum temperature values in Inner Mongolia from 2008 to 2018. The vertical axis represents the latitude of Inner Mongolia region. The horizontal axis represents the longitude of the region. Color difference indicates temperature difference.
- φ: Bar diameter; mm. @: Bar spacing; mm. φ16@250 represents bars with a diameter of 16mm and a spacing of 250mm. IIa represents the type of surrounding rock.
- The article has been edited.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Authors for the most part addressed the issues raised during the review process.
I would suggest that you revisit the conclusion one more time.
Reviewer 2 Report
The paper has been improved and now can be considered for publication.
