Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (한국터널지하공간학회 논문집)

Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (한국터널지하공간학회)
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Evaluation of applicability of xanthan gum as eco-friendly additive for EPB shield TBM soil conditioning

친환경 첨가제로서 잔탄검의 토압식 쉴드 TBM 쏘일 컨디셔닝 적용성 평가

  • Suhyeong Lee (School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University) ;
  • Hangseok Choi (School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University) ;
  • Kibeom Kwon (School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University) ;
  • Byeonghyun Hwang (School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University)
  • 이수형 (고려대학교 건축사회환경공학과) ;
  • 최항석 (고려대학교 건축사회환경공학과) ;
  • 권기범 (고려대학교 건축사회환경공학과) ;
  • 황병현 (고려대학교 건축사회환경공학과)
  • Received : 2024.03.11
  • Accepted : 2024.05.14
  • Published : 2024.05.31
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Abstract

The Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) shield Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) is widely used for underground tunnel construction for its advantages, such as eliminating the need for additional facilities compared to the slurry shield TBM, which requires Slurry Treatment Plant (STP). During EPB shield TBM excavation, a soil conditioning technique is employed to enhance the physical properties of the excavated soil by injecting additives, thus broadening the range of applicable ground conditions to EPB shield TBMs. This study explored the use of xanthan gum, a type of biopolymer, as an alternative to the commonly used polymer additive. Biopolymers, derived from biological sources, are fully biodegradable. In contrast to traditional polymers such as polyacrylic acid, which contain environmentally harmful components, xanthan gum is gaining attention as an eco-friendly material due to its minimal toxicity and environmental impact. Test conditions with similar workability were established through slump tests, and the rheological characteristics were assessed using a laboratory pressurized vane shear test apparatus. The experiments demonstrated that, despite exhibiting similar workability, the peak strength in the flow curve decreased with increasing the content of xanthan gum. Consequently, a correlation between the xanthan gum content and peak strength was established. Replacing the traditional polymers with xanthan gum could enable stable EPB shield TBM operation by reducing equipment load, in addition to offering environmental benefits.

토압식(Earth Pressure Balance) 쉴드 TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine)은 기계화 터널 굴착 공법 중 이수식(Slurry) 쉴드 TBM에 비하여 슬러리 처리 시설을 필요하지 않아 설비가 간단하고 진동과 소음이 적어 최근에 터널 시공에 널리 사용되고 있다. 토압식 쉴드 TBM으로 터널 굴착 시 첨가제를 활용하여 굴착토 물성을 개선하는 쏘일 컨디셔닝(soil conditioning) 기법을 적용하며, 이를 통해 토압식 쉴드 TBM을 적용할 수 있는 지반의 범위를 확장할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 쏘일 컨디셔닝을 위한 첨가제로 주로 사용되는 폴리머를 대체할 수 있는 바이오폴리머(biopolymer)의 일종인 잔탄검(xanthan gum)의 적용성을 검토하였다. 바이오폴리머란 생물학적 기원으로 생성된 폴리머로써 모두 생분해가 가능하다. 환경에 유해한 성분을 함유하고 있는 일반 폴리머(폴리아크릴산계 폴리머)와 달리 잔탄검은 유독성이 거의 없고 환경에 미치는 영향이 적어 친환경 소재로 각광받고 있다. 슬럼프 시험을 통해 유사한 워커빌리티(workability)를 보이는 시험조건을 선정하고, 실내 가압 베인전단 시험을 통해 유동학적(rheological) 특성을 평가하였다. 유사한 슬럼프 값을 보이더라도 잔탄검의 함유량이 증가할수록 유동곡선(flow curve)상에 첨두강도가 감소하는 경향이 나타났으며, 이를 통해 잔탄검 함량과 첨두강도 사이의 상관관계를 도출하였다. 일반 폴리머를 잔탄검으로 대체한다면 환경친화적이라는 장점과 더불어 장비 부하를 감소시켜 안정적인 TBM 운용이 가능할 것이다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 국토교통과학기술진흥원의 건설기술연구사업(RS-2022-00144188) 및 협력거점형 국토교통국제협력 연구개발사업(RS-2024-00410248)의 지원으로 수행되었으며 이에 깊은 감사를 드립니다.

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