Abstract
(Englisch)
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In recent years, tunnels have been constructed with great depth and length and in complex and varying
ground conditions, due to extensive demand of putting infrastructure underground, and due to increasing
environmental considerations. With those developments, tunnels will have to be constructed by a more
controlled manner, by using tunnel boring machines (TBM) and across grounds considerably difficult for
machine excavation. TBM technologies have been developed rapidly in the recent years and many of the
difficulties are overcome. However, there are still existing big technological limitations for TBM excavation on
rocks with complex geological features, e.g., squeezing ground, rock-soil mixed ground, highly fractured
blocky rocks and fault zones. Often the above types of grounds can be associated in a tunneling site.
This proposed research programme is a medium to long term research plan focusing on the study of the
interaction of tunnel machine and the ground, by examining the mechanisms of excavation. It will also allow
developing a good understanding of machine excavation in mixed, blocky and squeezing grounds, based on
case studies, laboratory experiments and numerical simulation. Ultimately, the project aims to achieve the
following objectives:
-To foresee the impact of difficult ground conditions on TBM performance and operation;
-To optimize TBM performance by means of technological measures in order to account for problems
related to effects like squeezing ground, mixed face and blocky rock;
-To generate a database relating TBM penetration, TBM parameters, rock mass parameters and ground
conditions, as a basis for developing an expert system on TBM design and penetration prediction;
-To study the influence of geological features and rock mass parameters on TBM performance, aiming to
develop a model for TBM penetration in various rock masses and in complex grounds;
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Abstract
(Französisch)
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In recent years, tunnels have been constructed with great depth and length and in complex and varying
ground conditions, due to extensive demand of putting infrastructure underground, and due to increasing
environmental considerations. With those developments, tunnels will have to be constructed by a more
controlled manner, by using tunnel boring machines (TBM) and across grounds considerably difficult for
machine excavation. TBM technologies have been developed rapidly in the recent years and many of the
difficulties are overcome. However, there are still existing big technological limitations for TBM excavation on
rocks with complex geological features, e.g., squeezing ground, rock-soil mixed ground, highly fractured
blocky rocks and fault zones. Often the above types of grounds can be associated in a tunneling site.
This proposed research programme is a medium to long term research plan focusing on the study of the
interaction of tunnel machine and the ground, by examining the mechanisms of excavation. It will also allow
developing a good understanding of machine excavation in mixed, blocky and squeezing grounds, based on
case studies, laboratory experiments and numerical simulation. Ultimately, the project aims to achieve the
following objectives:
-To foresee the impact of difficult ground conditions on TBM performance and operation;
-To optimize TBM performance by means of technological measures in order to account for problems
related to effects like squeezing ground, mixed face and blocky rock;
-To generate a database relating TBM penetration, TBM parameters, rock mass parameters and ground
conditions, as a basis for developing an expert system on TBM design and penetration prediction;
-To study the influence of geological features and rock mass parameters on TBM performance, aiming to
develop a model for TBM penetration in various rock masses and in complex grounds;
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