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Effects of discontinuities on penetration of TBM cutters

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Abstract

Based on the triaxial testing machine and discrete element method, the effects of embedded crack on rock fragmentation are investigated in laboratory tests and a series of numerical investigations are conducted on the effects of discontinuities on cutting characteristics and cutting efficiency. In laboratory tests, five propagation patterns of radial cracks are observed. And in the numerical tests, firstly, it is similar to laboratory tests that cracks ahead of cutters mainly initiate from the crushed zone, and some minor cracks will initiate from joints. The cracks initiating from crushed zones will run through the thinner joints while they will be held back by thick joints. Cracks tend to propagate towards the tips of embedded cracks, and minor cracks will initiate from the tips of embedded cracks, which may result in the decrease of specific area, and disturbing layers play as ‘screens’, which will prevent cracks from developing greatly. The peak penetration forces, the consumed energy in the penetration process and the uniaxial compression strength will decrease with the increase of discontinuities. The existence of discontinuities will result in the decrease of the cutting efficiency when the spacing between cutters is 70 mm. Some modifications should be made to improve the efficiency when the rocks containing groups of discontinuities are encountered.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Resources and Safety Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Jie Liu  (刘杰), Ping Cao  (曹平), Chun-huang Du  (杜春黄), Zhe Jiang  (蒋喆) & Jing-shuo Liu  (刘京铄)

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  1. Jie Liu  (刘杰)
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  2. Ping Cao  (曹平)
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  3. Chun-huang Du  (杜春黄)
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  4. Zhe Jiang  (蒋喆)
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  5. Jing-shuo Liu  (刘京铄)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ping Cao  (曹平).

Additional information

Foundation item: Project(2013CB035401) supported by the National Basic Research Program of China; Project(51174228) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China; Project(71380100003) supported by Hunan Provincial Innovation Foundation for Postgraduate, China; Project(201304) supported by Open Research Fund of Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Safe Mining Techniques of Coal Mines (Hunan University of Science and Technology), China

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Liu, J., Cao, P., Du, Ch. et al. Effects of discontinuities on penetration of TBM cutters. J. Cent. South Univ. 22, 3624–3632 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-015-2903-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-015-2903-1

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