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

Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (한국터널지하공간학회)
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A lab-scale screw conveyor system for EPB shield TBM: system development and applicability assessment

토압식 쉴드 TBM 스크류 컨베이어 축소 모형 시험 장비: 장비 개발과 적용성 평가

  • Suhyeong Lee (Dept. of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University) ;
  • Hangseok Choi (School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University) ;
  • Kibeom Kwon (Dept. of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University) ;
  • Dongjoon Lee (Overseas Civil Engineering Team, Daewoo E&C) ;
  • Byeonghyun Hwang (Dept. of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Korea University)
  • 이수형 (고려대학교 건축사회환경공학과) ;
  • 최항석 (고려대학교 건축사회환경공학부) ;
  • 권기범 (고려대학교 건축사회환경공학과) ;
  • 이동준 (대우건설 토목해외기술팀) ;
  • 황병현 (고려대학교 건축사회환경공학과)
  • Received : 2024.08.16
  • Accepted : 2024.09.19
  • Published : 2024.09.30
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Abstract

Soil conditioning is a critical process when tunneling with an earth pressure balance (EPB) shield tunnel boring machine (TBM) to enhance performance. To determine the optimal additive injection conditions, it is important to understand the rheological properties of conditioned soil, which is typically assessed using a rheometer. However, a rheometer cannot simulate the actual process of muck discharge in a TBM. Therefore, in this study, a scaled-down model of an 8-meter-class EPB shield TBM chamber and screw conveyor, reduced by a factor of 1:20, was fabricated and its applicability was evaluated through laboratory experiments. A lab-scale model experiment was conducted on artificial sandy soil using foam and polymer as additives. The experimental results confirmed that screw torque was consistent with trends observed in previous laboratory pressurized vane shear test data, establishing a positive proportional relationship between screw torque and yield stress. The muck discharge efficiency according to foam injection ratio (FIR) showed similar values overall, but decreased slightly at 60% of FIR and when the polymer was added. In addition, the pressure distribution generated along the chamber and screw conveyor was assessed in a manner similar to the actual EPB TBM. This study demonstrates that the lab-scale screw conveyor model can be used to evaluate the shear properties and muck discharge efficiency.

일반적으로 토압식(earth pressure balance) 쉴드 TBM (tunnel boring machine)으로 지반 굴착 시 쏘일 컨디셔닝(soil conditioning)을 수행하여 굴착 효율성을 높이고 안정성을 도모한다. 지반 여건에 따른 최적의 첨가제 주입 조건을 결정하기 위해 컨디셔닝된 흙의 유동학적 특성을 정량적으로 파악하는 것이 중요하며, 이는 주로 유동계(rheometer)를 활용하여 이루어진다. 그러나 이는 실제 TBM에서 굴착토가 배토되는 과정을 모사할 수 없어 장비에 미치는 영향을 파악하는데 한계가 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 8 m급 토압식 쉴드 TBM의 챔버와 스크류 컨베이어(screw conveyor)를 1:20으로 축소시킨 모형 장비를 개발하여 실제 배토 과정을 모사하였다. 이를 위해 인공 사질토 시료를 대상으로 첨가제로 폼과 폴리머를 사용하여 축소모형시험을 수행하였다. 실험 결과, 스크류 토크는 기존에 수행한 실내 가압 베인전단시험 결과 데이터와 연계하여 항복응력과의 경향성이 일관되는 것을 확인하였으며, 스크류 토크와 항복응력 사이의 양의 비례관계를 도출하였다. 폼 주입비(foam injection ratio, FIR)에 따른 배토 효율은 전반적으로 유사한 경향을 보였으나 60% 일 때 미소하게 감소하였으며 폴리머를 첨가하면 효율이 떨어지는 것을 확인하였다. 또한 실제 토압식 쉴드 TBM과 동일하게 챔버 상, 하부에서 압력차가 발생하는 것과 스크류 컨베이어 케이싱을 따라 배토구로 갈수록 압력이 점진적으로 소산되는 과정을 확인하였다. 따라서 본 연구에서 제작한 축소모형시험 장비가 굴착토의 전단특성 및 배토 효율 평가에 활용될 수 있음을 보여준다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 국토교통과학기술진흥원의 지원(RS-2024-00410248)으로 수행되었으며, 이에 깊은 감사를 드립니다.

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