TUNNEL BORING MACHINE (TBM) METHOD

There are two major shield methods around: earth pressure balanced (EPB) and slurry type shield
machine. Selection of shield method depends on ground conditions, surface conditions, dimensions of
the tunnel section, boring distance, tunnel alignment and construction period. Both are closed-face
type shield machines, meaning the "head" part of machine is "closed" and separated from the rear
part of machine. The "head" has a working chamber filled with soil or slurry between the cutting face
and bulkhead to stabilize the cutting face under soil pressure. The EPB type shield machine turns the
excavated soil into mud pressure and holds it under soil pressure to stabilize the cutting face. It has
excavation system to cut the soil, mixing system to mix the excavated soil into mud pressure, soil
discharge system to discharge the soil and control system to keep the soil pressure uniform.
Therefore, EPB may not be applicable for the rocky soil that is difficult to turn the excavated soil into
slurry. It can be used at ground predominated by clayey soil. The slurry type shield machine, on the
other hand, uses the external pressurized slurry to stabilize the cutting face, similar to bored piles or
diaphragm walls using bentonite to contain the trench wall. The slurry is circulated to transport the
excavated soil by fluid conveyance. Besides having excavation system, the slurry type shield machine
has slurry feed and discharge equipment to circulate and pressurize slurry and slurry processing
equipment on the ground to adjust the slurry properties.

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT TBM TUNNELS

A typical rail tunnel section with its components

Schematic construction sequence for TBM

A shield machine at factory ready to transport out to the site

Main components of a shield machine

EARTH PRESSURE BALANCED MACHINE (EPBM)

Schematic representation of EPBM

Schematic representation of EPBM

Types of cutting face of EPBM

EPBM circulation system

Typical site utilization plan for EPBM including working shaft, gantry crane, segment stock yard, tanks,
etc.

Section view of the EPBM site utilization

SLURRY TYPE TBM

Schematic representation of a slurry type shield machine

Cutting head sketch of slurry type shield

Types of cutting face of slurry type shield

Slurry type TBM: Slurry circulation system

Slurry type TBM: Slurry circulation system

Slurry type TBM: Slurry circulation system

Slurry treatment plant

Typical site utilization plan for slurry type TBM including working shaft, gantry crane, segment stock
yard, tanks, etc.

Section view of the site utilization for the slurry type TBM

SHAFT CONSTRUCTION

Shaft construction using diaphragm wall method (C905)

Shaft construction using diaphragm wall method (C905)

Shaft construction using diaphragm wall method (C902). Access stairs, ventilation and passenger
hoist are provided.

LAUNCHING AND OPERATION

Main body of the shield machine being lowered down into launching shaft. From there, the TBM
system is to be assembled and starts boring.

Lowering down the main body of shield machine into launching shaft

A receiving shaft to accommodate dismentle (right) and assemble (left) TBM at the same time (C902)

Assemble TBM (C902)

The shield machine at work

The function part of TBM (backup) at the rear (C902)

Work Sequece:
Lower main body, cutting head, segment erector,
screw conveyer, tail shield, thrust frame >
Assemble TBM > Erection of reaction frame >
Connection of hose and cables > Installation of 4 to
5 nos. of temp segments > Initial drive >
Completion of initial drive > Modification of TBM
including removal of reaction frame, cradle and
temp rings, laying rail > Main drive > Break through
soft eye (reach receiving shaft) > Dismantle TBM
Notes:
- Gantry crane (for example, 35ton, 45ton) is
normally
used
crossing
the
shaft.
- Lower down TBM components to the shaft needs
heavy lifting. 600ton or 700ton crawler crane is
needed.
- TBM production rate depends on soil condition.
Normally
at
5-10
m/d.
- Ground improvement is necessary at receiving
shaft end for TBM to pass through (about 3-4m in
length). Start end depends on ground conditions.
- Grouting to the gap between shield skin and
segment following segment installation from
ground
surface.
- Dismantle TBM can be done in launch shaft after
being transporting back from receiving shaft end to
the launching shaft end, leaving behind shield skin
at receiving shaft end.

LINING

The start end of tunnel lining (C902)

Lining segments are being lowered down from shaft to the locomotive

Close view of segment lining. A typical ring of lining: 1.4m width with 6 segemnts to be joined by bolts.
Note that the joint of neighbouring rings to be staggered (C902)

Locomotive rail (C902)

The locomotive. It transports muck out and segments to and fro from shaft to the TBM (C902)

Completed tunnel with linings. From here, 1st stage concrete, rail track, ventilation, electrical and
other cables, etc., starts installation.

PIPE JACKING

Pipe Jacking, a smaller scale "TBM" method to lay sewer lines

TBM VIDEO

TBM breaks through soft eye

TBM TERMINOLOGIES
Backfill Grouting (tailskin grout): Grouting to fill void between the lining and the ground (tail void) by
grout
injection
Cycle Time: Segment erection > excavation / backfill grouting > segment erection
EPB:
Earth
Pressure
Balance
(Shield
Machine)
Goliath
Crane:
Gantry
crane
Segment,
Ring
and
Lining:
Segment: a splice of precast concrete to form part of ring structure. This ring is also called primary
lining. The inside surface is sprayed with concrete, usually for waterproofing and finishing. Also called
secondary
lining.
Segment
>
Lining
(primary,
secondary),
or
ring
Shaft:
- To allow muck taken out, lining material brought in, TBM lowering in and assembly, reaction force at
the
start,
operation
space
Launching
shaft,
intermediate
shaft,
receiving
shaft,
turning
shaft
Screw Conveyor: Carry excavated rocks and earth from cutting face to the rear of the completed
tunnel

Muck:
Soil
slurry
Overburden: Distance from top point of tunnel to the surface of ground. Usually 1 - 1.5D
TBM: Tunnel Boring Machine
MAIN
REFERENCES
1.
Japanese
standard
for
shield
tunneling,
third
edition,
1996.
2.
Mitsubishi
Heavy
Industries
catalogue,
2005.
3. DTL 1 C902 (main contractor: Shanghai Tunnel), C905 (main contractor: Shimizu).

NEW AUSTRIAN TUNNELING METHOD (NATM)

The New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM), an alternative and cheaper way for tunneling.

NATM support tubes installation (double layer)

NATM support tubes installation (single layer)

NATM support system sketch

MAIN
Basler&Hofmann's catalogue

REFERENCES