• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.417-430
• /
• 2014

A new rock excavation method using an abrasive waterjet system is under development for efficiently creating tunnels and underground spaces in urban areas. In addition, an appropriate abrasive flow rate and abrasive flow quality are important for the new rock excavation (cutting) method using an abrasive waterjet system. This study evaluated the factors influencing the abrasive flow rate and abrasive flow quality, specifically the abrasive pipe height, length, tortuosity and inner diameter, through experimental tests. Based on the experimental test results, this study suggested optimal conditions for the abrasive flow rate and abrasive flow quality. The experimental results can be effectively utilized as baseline data for rock excavation methods using an abrasive waterjet system in various construction locations such as tunnels near urban surroundings, utility tunnels, and shafts.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.141-151
• /
• 2015

A new rock excavation method using an abrasive injection waterjet system has been developed to enhance the efficiency and reduce the vibration of tunnel excavation. The abrasive feed rate is an important factor for the cutting performance and the economical efficiency of waterjet-based excavation. In this study, various experiments were performed to explore the effects of major process parameters for both the abrasive feed rate and the suction pressure occurring inside the mixing chamber when the abrasives are inhaled. Experimental results reveal that the abrasive feed rate is affected by geometry parameters (abrasive pipe height, length, and tortuosity), abrasive parameters (abrasive particle size), and jet energy parameters (water pressure and water flow rate). In addition, the relation between the cutting performance and the abrasive feed rate was discussed on the basis of the results of an experimental study. The cutting performance can be maximized when the abrasive feed rate is controlled appropriately via careful management of major process parameters.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.153-170
• /
• 2022

Waterjet has been comprehensively used in urban areas owing to a suitable technique for cutting concrete and rock, and low noise and vibration. Recently, the abrasive waterjet technique has been adopted and applied by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute to demolish concrete plugging without disturbing and damaging In-situ Demonstration of Engineered Barrier System in the disposal research tunnel. In this study, the use of abrasive waterjet in the tunnel was evaluated for practical applicability and the existing cutting model was compared with the experimental results. As a variable for waterjet cutting, multi-cutting, water flow rate, abrasive flow rate, and standoff distance were selected for the diversity of analysis. As regarding the practical application, the waterjet facilitated path selection for cutting the concrete plugging and prevented additional disturbances in the periphery. The pump's noise at idling was 64.9 dB which is satisfied with the noise regulatory standard, but it exceeded the standard at ejection to air and target concrete because the experiment was performed in the tunnel space. The experimental result showed that the error between the predicted and measured cutting volume was 12~13% for the first cut and 16% for second cut. The standoff distance had a significant influence on the cutting depth and width, and the error tended to decrease with decrement of standoff distance.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.332-341
• /
• 1998

Conventional polishing of stone panel edges has been done by hand. While this has changed somewhat with the advent of automatic machines, it is still very much a hand finishing technology. For the development of edge shape milling tool, the primary test on characteristics of edge shape milling tool was carried out. This paper presents the results of tests focused upon the milling capability that was varied by the variables of operation parameters. Author tried to confirm the effect of six operation parameters of equipment such as rotation speed, advance speed, applied load, water flow rate and rotational direction. The result from test was described in term of shape milling capability that was defined as cutting volume of rock by unit weight of tool wear. The variance of the results could indicate the optimum level of each operating parameters. The test was also carried out to determine the abrasion resistance varied according to the abrasive flow rate. The abrasion resistance was increased with the abrasive flow rate, but over some rate it was not changed.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.533-551
• /
• 2015

The rock fracturing during waterjet cutting is very complicated because rock is inhomogeneous and anisotropic, compared with artificial materials (e.g., metal or glass). Thus, it is very important to verify the effects of rock properties on waterjet rock cutting performance. Properties affecting the rock cutting efficiency have been variously described in the literature, depending on the experimental conditions (e.g., water pressure, abrasive feed rate, or standoff distance) and rock-types studied. In this study, a rock-property-related literature review was performed to determine the key properties important for waterjet rock cutting. Porosity, uniaxial compressive strength, and hardness of the rock were determined to be the key properties affecting waterjet rock cutting. The results of this analysis can provide the basic knowledge to determine the cutting efficiency of waterjet rock cutting technology for rock excavation-related construction.