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Estimation of the TBM penetration rate using the post-failure behavior of a rock mass and the equivalent thrust per cutter. A case study: the Amirkabir Water Transferring Tunnel of Iran

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Abstract

One of the most important parameters to predict the cost and time of tunnel excavation is the penetration rate of the tunnel boring machine (TBM). This is because the advance rate of the TBM is highly dependent on this parameter and is directly related to the cost and time of tunnel excavation. There are several methods to estimate advance rate, including experimental, empirical and analytical methods. In this study, based on the actual collected data from the Amirkabir Water Conveyance Tunnel in Iran, a new empirical method to predict the TBM penetration rate using the drop modulus and the equivalent thrust per cutter is proposed. The drop modulus is defined as the slope of the post-failure stage of the stress–strain curve of the rock mass, and the equivalent thrust per cutter is an important operational parameter of the TBM. The results show that there is a direct relation between the TBM penetration rate and the equivalent thrust per cutter, and an inverse relation between the TBM penetration rate and the drop modulus, and, finally, a power equation is proposed to predict the TBM penetration rate using both parameters. It is emphasized that the TBM penetration rate is a function of both parameters.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to the staff composed of consulting engineers, contractors and employers for offering data to us, and to all people who helped us during the preparation of this paper. The authors are also indebted to reviewers, whose comments hopefully lead to a more accurate estimation of TBM ROP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mining Engineering, Bafgh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bafgh, Iran

    H. A. Lazemi & M. Soleiman Dehkordi

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  1. H. A. Lazemi
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  2. M. Soleiman Dehkordi
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Correspondence to H. A. Lazemi.

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Lazemi, H.A., Soleiman Dehkordi, M. Estimation of the TBM penetration rate using the post-failure behavior of a rock mass and the equivalent thrust per cutter. A case study: the Amirkabir Water Transferring Tunnel of Iran. Bull Eng Geol Environ 78, 1735–1746 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-017-1205-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-017-1205-2

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