DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY TO CONTROL AND MANAGE MUCK FLOW INSIDE EPB SHIELD CHAMBER

Abstract

 A new technology has been developed to establish a more reliable excavation control protocol than currently used to ensure face stability. The new technology comprises the development of a measuring device, such as flappers, for muck flow inside the chamber and numerical analysis to evaluate the status of plastic muck flow for earth pressure balance shield tunneling. Flappers were installed in the chamber of the shield machine and the torque on the flappers was measured. Then, a numerical analysis was conducted to satisfy the data obtained in the field. Once the numerical analysis had been obtained, the condition of the muck flow in the chamber could be evaluated. The result of the field application verified that this technology was useful to evaluate the status of and to control the muck flow inside the chamber.