• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.55-77
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• 2012

A Modern Rock TBM is a tunnel excavation method combining the conventional tunnelling method with the mechanized tunnelling method. It is a hybrid system that excavates a tunnel with TBM and supports the ground by ring beam, wire mesh, rock bolt, shotcrete, i.e., conventional tunnelling method. In the Modern Rock TBM, a ring beam is similar to a steel rib in NATM in the way that uses H-beam. But using a ring beam is more effective than a steel rib because it is installed in a closed-circle. Therefore, improving the performance of the ring beam is a key factor for achieving tunnel stability. In this respect, this study introduces a pressurized ring beam that might be functioning more effectively by confining convergence during tunnel excavation. In order to verify the effect of the pressurized ring beam, a three-dimensional numerical analysis was conducted. The numerical analysis confirms an increase in the minimum principal stress and reduction in the plastic strain that triggers excessive displacement. The analysis result also indicates a decrease in the relative displacement occurring after installing the ring beam, and expansion in spacing between the ring beams.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.323-335
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• 2021

This paper aims to estimate the range of the excavation damaged zone (EDZ) formation caused by the tunnel boring machine (TBM) advancement through dynamic three-dimensional large deformation finite element analysis. Large deformation analysis based on Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) analysis is used to accurately simulate the behavior during TBM excavation. The analysis model is verified based on numerous test results reported in the literature. The range of the formed EDZ will be suggested as a boundary under various conditions - different tunnel diameter, tunnel depth, and rock type. Moreover, evaluation of the integrity of the tunnel structure during excavation has been carried out. Based on the numerical results, the apparent boundary of the EDZ is shown to within the range of 0.7D (D: tunnel diameter) around the excavation surface. Through series of numerical computation, it is clear that for the rock of with higher rock mass rating (RMR) grade (close to 1st grade), the EDZ around the tunnel tends to increase. The size of the EDZ is found to be direct proportional to the tunnel diameter, whereas the depth of the tunnel is inversely proportional to the magnitude of the EDZ. However, the relationship between the formation of the EDZ and the stability of the tunnel was not found to be consistent. In case where the TBM excavation is carried out in hard rock or rock under high confinement (excavation under greater depth), large range of the EDZ may be formed, but less strain occurs along the excavation surface during excavation and is found to be more stable.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.257-272
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• 2016

It is usually not an easy task to counter-measure on time and appropriately when confronting with troubles in mechanized tunnelling job-sites because of the limitation of available spaces to perform those actions with the existence of disk cutter, cutter head, chamber and other various apparatus in Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). So, it is important to predict the ground condition ahead of a tunnel face during tunnel excavation. Efforts have been made to utilize geophysical methods such as elastic wave survey, electromagnetic wave survey, electrical resistivity survey, etc for predicting the ground condition ahead of the TBM tunnel face. Each prediction method among these geophysical methods has its own advantage and disadvantage. Therefore, it might be needed to apply several geophysical methods rather than just one to predict the ground condition ahead of the tunnel face in the complex and/or mixed grounds since those methods will compensate among others. The problem is that each prediction method will give us different answer on the predicted ground condition; how to combine different solutions into a most reasonable and representative predicted value might be important. Therefore, in this study, we proposed a methodology how to systematically combine each prediction method utilizing probabilistic analysis as well as analytic hierarchy process. The proposed methods is applied to a virtual job site to confirm the applicability of the model to predict the ground condition ahead of the tunnel face in the mechanized tunnelling.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.273-282
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• 2016

This study estimates tunnel face pressure through existing 8 analytical equations and 3D numerical analysis, and compares and examines it. In general, the estimating tunnel face pressure of domestic shield TBM has been examined by a method according to analytical equation and empirical method, but numerical analysis is combined in a section passing complicated stratigraphic condition and special soil condition. Therefore, the researcher is to find a reliable method to examine of tunnel face pressure by confirming a correlation between tunnel face pressure estimated by equation and tunnel face pressure estimated by numerical analysis program. When tunnel face pressure is estimated, both analytical equation and numerical analysis were identically examined in soil conditions such as sandy soil and cohesive soil. In addition, existing analytical equation is used as equation, and 3D analysis copying construction process and shield tunnel as numerical analysis.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1023-1037
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• 2018

The interest in the use of shield TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) on the tunnel excavation has been increased rapidly in Korea. The shield TBM tunnel is generally designed as non-drainage tunnel. Consequently, if water leakage through the segment joints happens, big problems on the usage and stability of tunnel can be occurred. In this study, the variation of waterproof capacity of hydrophilic rubber waterstop and gasket, respectively by the construction error and excessive displacement of segment was studied. The test results show that hydrophilic rubber waterstop has favorable on the offset, however unfavorable on the gap. On the other hand, gasket has unfavorable on the offset, however favorable on the gap.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.553-561
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• 2015

In this study, the performance assessment criterion for reasonable maintenance of shield TBM tunnel was presented. The performance assessment items such as crack, leakage, breakage, spalling, exfoliation/detachment, efflorescence, quality condition, exposure of steel, carbonation, faulting step, bolts condition, drainage condition, ground condition, contact section condition and conduit condition were selected by analyzing domestic and foreign performance assessment criterions and investigating segment lining deterioration cases through the site investigation and in-depth inspection analysis result on the shield TBM tunnel. In addition, the reasonable weight using AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) were estimated.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 2018

The use of TBM (tunnel boring machine) gradually increases in worldwide tunneling projects. TBM machine are often applied to more difficult and complex geological conditions in urban area, and many problems and difficulties have been reported due to these geological conditions. However, in Korea, there is a lack of research on difficult grounds so far. This paper discussed general aspects of investigation method, and problems of TBM tunneling in difficult grounds. Construction cases that passed through the difficult grounds in worldwide were analyzed and the typical difficult grounds were classified into 11 cases. For each case, the definition and general problems were summarized. Particularly, for mixed ground and boulder ground, and fault zone, which are frequent geological conditions in urban area with shallow depth, classification system, investigation methods and major considerations were discussed, and proposed the direction of future research. This paper is a basic study for the development of TBM construction technology in difficult ground, and it is expected that it will be useful for related research and construction of TBM in difficult ground in the future.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.15 no.1 s.54
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• pp.22-27
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• 2005

This paper presents an article explaining a TBM project overall in Norway. The paper which published in Norwegian TBM Tunnelling by Norwegian Soil and Rock Eng. Assoc. in 1998, contains most of the items considered in TBM tunnelling. New powerplants, tunnels and dams have been built at Meraker in Central Norway. A total of 44 km of tunnels with cross sections varying from $7\;m^2\;to\;32\;m^2$ have been excavated in hard rock formation. Tunnel of 10 km with the 3.5 m diameter was excavated by a HP TBM in a year. his project gives the special attention to the TBM drive and equipment selection, including planning, site organization and performance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.03a
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• pp.562-570
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• 2010

This study was conducted to estimate the number of disc cutter consumption and to predict amount of disc cutters when a shield TBM(Tunnel Boring Machine) of the Han Riverbed Tunnel was applied. In fact, it is almost impossible to change the machine after starting the excavation using the shield TBM method. Therefore, it is important to design an appropriate equipment in the shield method - an efficiency choice of the operation equipment plays a key role in the shield tunnel processing. For the above reason, the disc cutter consumption prediction is quite important so that the detailed analysis is required. A number of disc cutter consumption was predicted by the three methods, viz. KOMATSU, MITSUBISHI and NTNU. In addition, the predicted results were compared with field data. The prediction of disc cutter consumption showed that 237 for KOMATSU, 501 for MITSUBISHI, and 634 for NTNU, respectively. However, a total number of 1,263 disc cutter consumption were investigated during the tunnel construction. It was found that there was a huge difference between the predicted and real values of the disc cutter consumption. The more detailed investigation showed that the disc cutter was worn out bluntly in the northbound tunnel, meanwhile it was worn out sharply in the southbound tunnel. In particular, the disc cutter consumption in the southbound tunnel was increased rapidly because of rear abrasion for remaining mucks in the chamber.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.197-204
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• 2006

A large sectional tunnelling method using Shield TBM is expected to be popular as domestic demand of long tunnel gets growing. Although a shield tunnelling method has been recognized as prominent method in consideration of stability and applicability in shallow and poor ground, the cases of accident and constructional trouble have been often happened due to unexpected poor ground condition, or selection and use of improper shield machine. Especially, troubling cases at tunnel face are frequently occurred, so supporting pressure control of tunnel face would be the main issue for securing safer and more efficient tunnel excavation using Shield TBM. In this point, we carried out the numerical feed-back analysis to compare the ground deformation pattern with theoretical result at tunnel face.