Abstract
Centrifugal model tests and three-dimensional elasto-plastic finite element analyses are conducted in order to clarify the effects of the ring-cut excavation method on the displacements of the ground and the stability of a tunnel face. In the experiments, the ground is excavated by an excavation robot, which is controlled by computer programs. The displacements and the stability of the tunnel faceare compared between such two methods as the full-face excavation method and thering-cut excavation method, and quantitative effects of the ring-cut excavation method are made clear.
