• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.245-256
• /
• 2016

Prediction of TBM performance is very important for machine selection, and for reliable estimation of construction cost and period. The purpose of this research is to analyze the evaluation process of various prediction models for TBM performance and applied methodology. Based on the solid literature review since 2000, a classification system of TBM performance prediction model is proposed in this study. Classification system suggested in this study can be divided into two stages: selection of input parameter and application of prediction techniques. We also analyzed input and output parameters for prediction model and frequency of use. Lastly, the future research and development trend of TBM performance prediction is suggested.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.43-52
• /
• 2010

Shield method is the tunnel boring method that propels a steel cylinder in the ground and excavates tunnels at once. After Marc Isambard Brunel started using the method for the Thames Riverbed Tunnel excavation in London, many kinds of TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) developed and applied for the construction of road, railway, electricity channel, pipeline, etc. In comparison with NATM concept that allows to observe ground condition and copes with difficulty. The machine selected before starting construction is not able to be changed during construction in shield TBM. Therefore the machine should be designed based on the ground survey result and experiment, so that the tunnel might be excavated effectively by controlling penetration speed, excavation depth and cutter head speed according to the ground condition change. This research was conducted to estimate penetration depth, excavate speed, wear of disc cutter on Boondang Railway of the Han Riverbed Tunnel ground condition by TBM performance prediction models such as NTNU, $Q_{TBM}$, Total Hardness, KICT-SNU and compare the estimated value with the field data. The estimation method is also used to analyze the reason of poor excavation efficiency at south bound tunnel.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.545-560
• /
• 2019

During EPB TBM tunnelling, an appropriate application of additives such as foam and polymer is an essential factor to secure the stability of TBM as well as tunnelling performance. From the '90s, there have been many studies on the optimal injection of additives worldwidely contrary to the domestic situation. Therefore, in this paper, the foam, which is widely adopted for soil conditioning, was selected as an additive in order to investigate the effect of foam injection on TBM performance through a series of laboratory excavation tests. The excavation experiments were carried out on artificial sandy soil specimens with consideration of the variance of FIR (Foam Injection Ratio), FER (Foam Expansion Ratio) and $C_f$ (Surfactant Concentration), which indicate the amount and quality of the foam. During the tests, torque values were measured, and the workability of conditioned soil was evaluated by comparing the slump values of muck after each experiment. In addition, a weight loss of the replaceable aluminum cutter bits installed on the blade was measured to estimate the degree of abrasion. Finally, the foam injection ratio for the optimal TBM excavation for the typical soil specimen was determined by comparing the measured torque, slump value and abrasion. Note that the foam injection conditions satisfying the appropriate level of machine load, mechanical wear and workability are essential in the EPB TBM operational design.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.243-260
• /
• 2011

To predict TBM performance in design stage is indispensable for its successful application. The NTNU model, one of the representative TBM performance prediction models uses two distinct parameters such as DRI and CLI obtained from three different tests on bored rock cores. Based on DRI and CLI, it is possible to predict TBM advance rate and cutter life in the NTNU model. In this study, NTNU testing methods and their related testing equipments were introduced to measure DRl and CLI for the NTNU model. Then, in order to derive their relationships, the two key parameters measured for 39 domestic rocks were compared with physico-mechanical properties of rock such as uniaxial compressive strength and quartz content. Lastly, the experimental results were also compared with NTNU database to verify their reliability.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.549-560
• /
• 2021

Forces exerted on a shield TBM (tunnel boring machine) such as cutter head torque, thrust force, chamber pressure, and upward force are key factors determining TBM performance. However, the forces acting on the TBM when tunnelling the mixed ground have different tendencies compared to that of the uniform ground, which could impair TBM performance. In this study, the effect of mixed ground tunnelling was numerically investigated with torque, thrust force, chamber pressure, and upward force. A coupled discrete element method (DEM) and finite difference method (FDM) model for TBM driving model was used. This numerical study simulates TBM tunnelling in mixed ground composed of upper weathered granite soil and lower weathered rock. The effect on the force acting on the TBM according to the location and slope of the boundary of the mixed ground was numerically examined.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.413-420
• /
• 2003

Modelling for performance prediction of mechanical excavation is discussed in this paper. Two of the most successful performance prediction models, namely theoretical based CSM model and empirical based NTH model, are discussed and compared. The basic principles of rock cutting with disc cutters, especially Constant Cross Section cutters, are discussed and a theoretical model developed is introduced to provide an estimate of disc cutting forces as a function of rock properties and the cutting geometry. General modelling logic for the performance prediction of mechanical excavation is introduced. CSM computer model developed and currently used at the Earth Mechanics Institute(EMI) of the Colorado School of Mines is discussed. Example of input and output of this model is illustrated for the typical operation by Tunnel Boring Machine(TBM).

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.453-467
• /
• 2018

The excavation performance and the cutting tool wear prediction of shield TBM are very important issues for design and construction in TBM tunneling. For hard-rock TBMs, CSM and NTNU model have been widely used for prediction of disc cutter wear and penetration rate. But in case of soft-ground TBMs, the wear evaluation and the excavation performance have not been studied in details due to the complexity of the ground behavior and therefore few testing methods have been proposed. In this study, a new soil abrasion and penetration tester (SAPT) that simulates EPB TBM excavation process is introduced which overcomes the drawbacks of the previously developed soil abrasivity testers. Parametric tests for penetration rate, foam mixing ratio, foam concentration were conducted to evaluate influential parameters affecting TBM excavation and also ripper wear was measured in laboratory. The results of artificial soil specimen composed of 70% illite and 30% silica sand showed TBM additives such as foam play a key role in terms of excavation and tool wear.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.347-362
• /
• 2019

Underground excavation using TBM machines has been increasing to reduce complaints caused by noise, vibration, and traffic congestion resulted from the urban underground construction in Korea. However, TBM excavation design and construction still need improvement because those are based on standards of the technologically advanced countries (e.g., Japan, Germany) that do not consider geological environment in Korea at all. Above all, although TBM performance is a main factor determining the TBM machine type, duration and cost of the construction, it is estimated by only using UCS (uniaxial compressive strength) as the ground parameters and it often does not match the actual field conditions. This study was carried out as part of efforts to predict penetration rate suitable for Korean ground conditions. The effective parameters were defined through the correlation analysis between the penetration rate and the geotechnical parameters or TBM performance parameters. The effective parameters were then used as variables of the multiple regression analysis to derive a regression model for predicting TBM penetration rate. As a result, the regression model was estimated by UCS and joint spacing and showed a good agreement with field penetration rate measured during TBM excavation. However, when this model was applied to another site in Korea, the prediction accuracy was slightly reduced. Therefore, in order to overcome the limitation of the regression model, further studies are required to obtain a generalized prediction model which is not restricted by the field conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Rock Mechanics Conference
• /
• 2006.03a
• /
• pp.217-236
• /
• 2006

In this study, the LCM was applied as the preliminary study for the cutterhead design of TBM and the drilling performance evaluation. The optimum cutting condition is obtained from the LCM tests and the effects of the design factors of IBM cutterhead, such as penetration depth and cutter spacing, on drilling performance are estimated. In this study, hence, to predict the accurate performance of TBM, instead of one-dimensional penetration depth applied in existing studies, three-dimensional cutting volume was quantified and measured. For this, the digital photogrammetry technique was applied to the LCM tests. Also, AUTODYN 2D was applied to investigate the applicability of the numerical analysis technique to simulate the cutting process of rock by the TBM disc cutter.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.496-507
• /
• 2020

A prediction of the performance of EPB TBM is significant for improving the constructability of tunnels. Thus, various attempts to simulate TBM excavation by the numerical method have been made until these days. In this paper, to evaluate the performance of TBM with different operating conditions, a parametric study was carried out using coupled discrete element method (DEM) and finite difference method (FDM) EPB TBM driving model. The analysis was conducted by changing the penetration rate (0.5 and 1.0 mm/sec) and the rotational speed of screw conveyor (5, 15, and 25 rpm) while the rotation velocity of the cutter head kept constant at 2 rpm. The torque, thrust force, chamber pressure, and discharging with different TBM operating conditions were compared. The result of parametric study shows that the optimum driving condition can be determined by the coupled DEM-FDM numerical model.