Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Performance assessment and structural design of the atmospheric cutterhead of slurry shield machine

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The atmospheric cutterhead is a new type of cutterhead with high technical difficulty. Compared with the conventional cutterhead, the spatial structure of the atmospheric cutterhead is more complicated, and a mature design theory has not yet been formed. This paper presents an atmospheric cutterhead design method for slurry shield machines. The method was divided into three steps: (i) design load analysis; (ii) multiobjective topology optimization; and (iii) evaluation and selection of cutterhead structures. Based on topology optimization theory, four types of cutterhead structures with different numbers of radial arms are obtained. The performance of the cutterhead was evaluated by stress, deformation, vibration mode, opening situation and space complexity, and the five-radial arm cutterhead was determined to be the best solution. Analysing the actual tunnelling parameter data shows good engineering adaptability. This paper provides a reference for the optimal design of the atmospheric cutterhead of slurry shield machine.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. S. Cao, J. Cui, Y. Fang and R. Deng, Performance of slurry TBM tunnelling in sandy cobble cround - a case study in Lanzhou, KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering, 23(7) (2019) 3207–3217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. B. Grothen, Optimizing soft ground excavation: development and design of EPB and slurry cutterheads, ITA WTC 2015 Congress and 41st General Assembly, Dubrovnik (2015) 1–12.

  3. W. Guo, J. Hu and J. Liu, The scheme design for the earth pressure balance shield cutterhead structure, Chinese Science Bulletin, 59(33) (2014) 4589–4599.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. J. Rostami and S. Chang, A closer look at the design of cutterheads for hard rock tunnel boring machines, Engineering, 3(6) (2017) 892–904.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Y. Xia, M. Yang, Z. Ji, L. Jia, Z. Zhou and D. Wu, Design and dimension optimization of cutter disassembly mechanism for shield tunneling machine, J. of Mechanical Science and Technology, 35(7) (2021) 3005–3018.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. J. Li, Key technologies and applications of the design and manufacturing of non-circular TBMs, Engineering, 3(6) (2017) 905–914.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. W. Dai, Y. Xia, H. Xu and M. Yang, Numerical simulation of freezing effect and tool change of shield machine with a frozen cutterhead, Journal of Central South University, 27(4) (2020) 1262–1272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. J. Huo, W. Sun, J. Chen and X. Zhang, Disc cutters plane layout design of the full-face rock tunnel boring machine (TBM) based on different layout patterns, Computers and Industrial Engineering, 61(4) (2011) 1209–1225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Q. Geng, A. Bruland and F. Macias, Analysis on the relationship between layout and consumption of face cutters on hard rock tunnel boring machines (TBMs), Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 51(1) (2018) 279–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. M. Yang, Y. Xia, L. Lin, S. Qiao and Z. Ji, Optimal design for buckets layout based on muck removal analysis of TBM cutterhead, Journal of Central South University, 27(6) (2020) 1729–1741.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. H. Sun, W. Guo, J. Liu, L. Song and X. Liu, Layout design for disc cutters based on analysis of TBM cutterhead structure, Journal of Central South University, 25(4) (2018) 812–830.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. W. Burger, Design principles for soft ground cutterheads, Rapid Excavation and Tunneling Conference, Toronto (2007) 784–792.

  13. M. Han, Z. Cai and C. Qu, On the loads for strength design of cutterhead of full face rock tunnel boring machine, Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 32(1) (2019) 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. M. Han, Z. Cai, C. Qu and L. Jin, Dynamic numerical simulation of cutterhead loads in TBM tunnelling, Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 70 (2017) 286–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. L. Lin, Y. Xia, F. He, Q. Mao and K. Zhang, Geological adaptive cutterhead selection for EPB shield based on BP neural network, Applied Mechanics and Materials, 607 (2014) 118–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Y. Xia, L. Tang, Z. Ji, Y. Cheng and Z. Bian, Optimal design of structural parameters for shield cutterhead based on fuzzy mathematics and multi-objective genetic algorithm, Journal of Central South University, 22(3) (2015) 937–945.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. F. Zhang, Y. Gao, Y. Wu and Z. Wang, Face stability analysis of large-diameter slurry shield-driven tunnels with linearly increasing undrained strength, Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 78 (2018) 178–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. K. Terzaghi, Stress distribution in dry and in saturated sand above a yielding trap-door, Proceedings of First International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Cambridge (1936) 307–311.

  19. X. Shen, D. Yuan and D. Jin, Influence of shield attitude change on shield soil interaction, Applied Sciences Basel, 9(9) (2019) 1812.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. U. Ates, N. Bilgin and H. Copur, Estimating torque, thrust and other design parameters of different type TBMs with some criticism to TBMs used in Turkish tunneling projects, Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 40 (2014) 46–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. J. Rostami, Study of pressure distribution within the crushed zone in the contact area between rock and disc cutters, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 57 (2013) 172–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. I. Evans, The force required to cut coal with blunt wedges, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, 2(1) (1965) 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Y. Nishimatsu, The mechanics of rock cutting, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, 9(2) (1972) 261–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Q. Zhang, C. Qu, Z. Cai, Y. Kang and T. Huang, Modeling of the thrust and torque acting on shield machines during tunneling, Automation in Construction, 40 (2014) 60–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Y. Zhao, Q. Gong, Z. Tian, S. Zhou and H. Jiang, Torque fluctuation fluctuation analysis and penetration prediction of EPB TBM in rock-soil interface mixed ground, Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 91 (2019) 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. H. Guan, Shield Machine Design and Calculation, Southwest Jiaotong University Press, Chengdu (2018).

    Google Scholar 

  27. J. Zhu, W. Zhang and L. Xia, Topology optimization in aircraft and aerospace structures design, Archives of Computational Methods in Engineering, 23(4) (2016) 595–622.

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  28. A. Remouchamps, M. Bruyneel, C. Fleury and S. Grihon, Application of a bi-level scheme including topology optimization to the design of an aircraft pylon, Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, 44(6) (2011) 739–750.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. A. Yildiz, U. Kilicarpa, E. Demirci and M. Dogan, Topography and topology optimization of diesel engine components for light-weight design in the automotive industry, Materials Testing, 61(1) (2019) 27–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. S. Lu, H. Ma, L. Xin and W. Zuo, Lightweight design of bus frames from multi-material topology optimization to cross-sectional size optimization, Engineering Optimization, 51(6) (2019) 961–977.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  31. X. Tian, Q. Wang, G. Liu, Y. Liu, Y. Xie and W. Deng, Topology optimization design for offshore platform jacket structure, Applied Ocean Research, 84 (2019) 38–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Y. Lee, J. Gonzalez, J. Lee, Y. Kim, K. Park and S. Han, Structural topology optimization of the transition piece for an offshore wind turbine with jacket foundation, Renewable Energy, 85 (2016) 1214–1225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. M. Bendsoe and O. Sigmund, Material interpolation schemes in topology optimization, Archive of Applied Mechanics, 69(9–10) (1999) 635–654.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  34. J. Huo, L. Zhou, D. Zhu, W. Zhang, W. Wang and W. Sun, Cutterhead opening mode design of a composite earth pressure balance shield machine, Journal of Harbin Engineering University, 38(3) (2017) 433–439.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Y. Pan, Q. Liu, J. Liu, X. Huang, Q. Liu and X. Peng, Comparison between experimental and semi-theoretical disc cutter cutting forces: implications for frame stiffness of the linear cutting machine, Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 11(266) (2018) 1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  36. J. Ling, X. Tong, C. Guo and Z. Li, Natural frequency sensitivity and influence analysis of TBM cutterhead system, Journal of Vibroengineering, 21(6) (2019) 1710–1723.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. B. Liao, X. Zhou and Z. Yin, Modern Mechanical Dynamics and Its Engineering Application, China Machine Press, Beijing (2004).

    Google Scholar 

  38. GB/T 1591–2018, High Strength Low Alloy Structural Steels, State Market Regulatory Administration (2008).

  39. GB/T 50017-2017, Code for Design of Steel Structure, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of PRC (2017).

  40. S. Mokhtari and M. Mooney, Predicting EPBM advance rate performance using support vector regression modeling, Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 104 (2020) 1–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. S. Mokhtari, W. Navidi and M. Mooney, White-box regression (elastic net) modeling of earth pressure balance shield machine advance rate, Automation in Construction, 115 (2020) 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Science and Technology Major Project of Hunan Province, China (Granted No. 2014FJ1002), Postgraduate Scientific Research Innovation Project of Hunan Province (Granted No. CX20210211) and Independent Exploration and Innovation Program of Central South University (Granted No. 2021zzts0135).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., Changsha, 410100, China

    Feixiang Liu & Zhiyong Ji

  2. College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Qingyang Wang & Laikuang Lin

Authors
  1. Feixiang Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Qingyang Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhiyong Ji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Laikuang Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qingyang Wang.

Additional information

Feixiang Liu was born in Xiangyin Hunan Province in 1963. He graduated from Southwest Jiaotong University in 1983, majored in Engineering Machinery with a Bachelor’s degree. He is a Senior Engineer. And his research interests are in the development of planning of intelligent equipment for tunnel construction.

Qingyang Wang is a Ph.D. Student in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China. He received his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Ocean University of China in 2019. His research interests include structural design, numerical analysis for design, and simulation of mechanical systems.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, F., Wang, Q., Ji, Z. et al. Performance assessment and structural design of the atmospheric cutterhead of slurry shield machine. J Mech Sci Technol 36, 5611–5624 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-022-1024-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-022-1024-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation