• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.69-77
• /
• 2024

The development of shield-driven cross-river tunnels in China is witnessing a notable shift towards larger diameters, longer distances, and higher water pressures due to the more complex excavation environment. Complex geological formations, such as fault and karst cavities, pose significant construction risks. Real-time adjustment of shield tunneling parameters based on parameter prediction is the key to ensuring the safety and efficiency of shield tunneling. In this study, prediction models for the torque and thrust of the cutter plate of ultra-large diameter slurry shield TBMs is established based on integrated learning algorithms, by analyzing the real data of Heyan Road cross-river tunnel. The influence of geological complexities at the excavation face, substantial burial depth, and high water level on the slurry shield tunneling parameters are considered in the models. The results reveal that the predictive models established by applying Random Forest and AdaBoost algorithms exhibit strong agreement with actual data, which indicates that the good adaptability and predictive accuracy of these two models. The models proposed in this study can be applied in the real-time prediction and adaptive adjustment of the tunneling parameters for shield tunneling under complex geological conditions.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.243-256
• /
• 2019

Formation of filter cake with little slurry penetration into the tunnel face ground is an essential factor to successfully apply the slurry shield tunnel boring machine (TBM) for tunnelling work. However, when the bentonite slurry is in contact with seawater, it is not easy to guarantee the filter cake formation due to decrease of the swelling volume and viscosity of the slurry. In this study, in order to evaluate the effect of the seawater on the applicability of the slurry shield TBM method, the slurry injection tests were carried out with the variation of seawater percentage contained in the slurry samples as well as the variation of soil types. And then, the effect of these two factors on the slurry clogging phenomena was theoretically and experimentally figure out. As a result, it was found that the value of the slurry clogging criteria (SCC) indicating the applicability of the slurry shield TBM significantly decreases up to 67% as the percentage of seawater increases from 0% up to 20%. In addition, it was found to be necessary to take into account both the characteristics of slurry and soil types together when judging the applicability of the slurry shield TBM method by assessing the slurry penetration characteristics that will occur during tunnelling work.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.277-291
• /
• 2020

Shield TBM is a tunnelling method that has a wider range of applications in the poor ground condition compared to conventional tunnels (Drill and Blast). Currently, a 13.3 m large-diameter slurry shield TBM is preparing for construction to pass under the Han River. Shield TBM is divided into slurry and EPB shield TBM, and management items during construction are different depending on each characteristic. In this paper, the equipment type, origin, application case and trouble case were analyzed for slurry shield TBM, which is mainly constructed in soft ground. In addition, 2D and 3D model tests were conducted on the condition of soil depth for the possibility of slurry leakage into front of the equipment, with appropriate chamber pressure. Based on this paper, it proposed to provide basic and reference data for proper excavation surface pressure and chamber pressure during construction of slurry shield TBM under soft ground conditions, and proposed measures to minimize stability and environmental decline due to slurry ejection.

• Magazine of korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.44-60
• /
• 2021

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.261-275
• /
• 2012

This paper presents numerical analysis of the mud cake infiltration behaviour which is influenced tunnel face stability during excavation by slurry shield TBM. This analysis method can make useful data to select proper shield TBM type and to set up the construction plan. But effective analysis did not proposed until now. In this paper, we carried out numerical analysis using by $PFC^{2D}$ fluid coupling simulation which is suitable for sandy soil modelling. As a analysis result, we checked that the slurry infiltration behaviour varied with soil permeability and slurry characteristic(specific weight, viscosity etc). This analysis method is helpful safety excavation through anticipating the proper slurry viscosity at the design stage and verifying the slurry quality at initial excavation stage.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
• /
• 2011.10a
• /
• pp.1199-1213
• /
• 2011

Slurry type shield would be very effective for the tunnelling in a sandy ground, but low slurry pressure could cause a tunnel face failure or a ground settlement in front of the tunnel face. Thus, the stability of tunnel face could be maintained by applying an excess slurry pressure that is larger than the active earth pressure. However, the slurry pressure should increase properly because an excessively high slurry pressure could cause the slurry flow out or the passive failure of the frontal ground. It is possible to apply the high slurry pressure without passive failure if a horizontal impermeable layer is located in the ground in front of the tunnel face, but its location, size, and effects are not clearly known yet. In this research, two-dimensional model tests were carried out in order to find out the effect of a horizontal impermeable layer for the slurry shield tunnelling in a saturated sandy ground. As results, larger slurry pressure could be applied to increase the stability of the tunnel face when the impermeable layer was located in the ground above the crown in front of the tunnel face. The most effective length of the impermeable grouting layer was 1.0~1.5D, and the location was 1.0D above the crown level. The safety factor could be suggested as the ratio of the maximum slurry pressure to the active earth pressure at the tunnel face. It could also be suggested that the slurry pressure in the magnitude of 3.5~4.0 times larger than the active earth pressure at the initial tunnel face could be applied if the impermeable layer was constructed at the optimal location.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.265-281
• /
• 2022

A set of slurry shield test system capable of cutter cutting and slurry automatic circulation is used to investigate the deformation characteristics, the evolution characteristics of support resistance and the distribution and evolution process of earth pressure during excavating and collapsing of slurry shield tunneling in circular-gravel layer. The influence of cover-span ratio on surface subsidence, support resistance and failure mode of excavation face is also discussed. Three-dimensional numerical calculations are performed to verify the reliability of the test results. The results show that, with the decrease of the supporting force of the excavation face, the surface subsidence goes through four stages: insensitivity, slow growth, rapid growth and stability. The influence of shield excavation on the axial earth pressure of the front soil is greater than that of the vertical earth pressure. When the support resistance of the excavation face decreases to the critical value, the soil in front of the excavation face collapses. The shape of the collapse is similar to that of a bucket. The ultimate support resistance increase with the increase of the cover-span ratio, however, the angle between the bottom of the collapsed body and the direction of the tunnel excavation axis when the excavation face is damaged increase first and then becomes stable. The surface settlement value and the range of settlement trough decrease with the increase of cover-span ratio. The numerical results are basically consistent with the model test results.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.57-70
• /
• 2017

In this study, we investigated the wear measurement methods for slurry pipe applied in the field of mining and oil sand industry and theoretical equations related to the prediction of wear in slurry pipe through literature review. Average daily wear rate and wear rate per excavated distance were determined from slurry discharge pipe thickness measurement data periodically measured at the actual slurry shield TBM site in Singapore. The wear rate of slurry pipe for Bukit Timah Granite was obtained. The wear rates for G (V) grade and mixed zone were 1.5 times higher than that of G (I) to G (IV) grade. Slurry pipe wear rate tends to increase in proportion to the slurry discharge velocity. The optimal slurry pipe replacement or rotation frequency can be estimated through the selection of the pipe wear rate considering geological condition and the reasonable pipe management thickness.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.47-51
• /
• 2013

In this study, we carried out an experimental shield TBM excavation model test using a down-scale device in soft clay, to understand tunnel-face stability properties in relation to changes in slurry pressure. We performed five tests according to tunnel depth (0.5D, 0.75D, 1.0D, 1.25D, 1.5D), and compared theoretical tunnel-face pressure with model test results. The range in theoretical tunnel-face slurry pressure ($P_{min}{\leq}P_{slurry\;pressure}{\leq}P_{max}$), which is determined by earth pressure and water level, was very similar to the model test result. This result was due to the more isotropic condition of the soft clay ground, than of rocky ground.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.95-107
• /
• 2004

In this paper, the rheological characteristics of slurry used fur slurry-shield tunnels were studied with emphasis on penetration characteristics. The slurry penetration was modeled by soil-filter clogging theory. The coefficient of particle deposition was suggested as an indicator of sin clogging during tunnel construction and calculated through model tests. The measured slurry weight, clogged in the base soil, was compared with the value obtained from clogging theory. Based on the testing results, a stability analysis of a tunnel face was performed to pinpoint the most influential factor affecting stability of slurry-shield tunnels. It was found that the stability of tunnel face is dependent on the ratio of infiltration velocity to the coefficient of particle deposition, and the penetration distance of slurry increases with the ratio of infiltration velocity to the coefficient of particle deposition. Since the stability of tunnel face decreases with the slurry penetration distance, it was necessary to add some additives in order to reduce the slurry penetration distance. It was found that the ground condition needs additives when the soil has the effective particle diameter$(D_{10})$ larger than 0.75mm. It was also found that the tunnel face stability due to slurry penetration is significantly affected by the tunnel advance rate.