A numerical model for the tunnel boring machine interaction with soil

摘要

Mechanized shield tunnelling is a reliable way of constructing tunnels in soft soil, particularlyrnin urban areas. However, a lack of understanding of the physical interaction between the TBM-shield, the soil,rnand the process fluids contributes to the long learning curves often experienced and hinders improvement of thernmachine’s driving rationality. A numerical shield-soil interaction model is proposed that bases the extent andrnspatial distribution of the displacements induced by the advancing shield on TBM monitoring data. The modelrnincludes the unloading-reloading condition of the surrounding soil and the possible infiltration of process fluidsrnaround the shield periphery. This infiltration influences the equilibrium of the TBM.A set of novel soil reactionrncurves is also introduced specifically to model aTBM interaction with the surrounding soil. The study offers anrninnovative outlook on the tunnelling related soil displacements. Results indicate that a more rational approachrnto mechanized shield tunnelling in soft soil is possible.