An experimental research on the rock cutting process of the gage cutters for rock tunnel boring machine (TBM)

摘要

This paper proposed an experimental method to investigate the rock cutting process of TBM gage cutters based on the full-scale rotary cutting machine (RCM). The key point of this method is to reconstruct the RCM by inserting three wedges with angles of 10 degrees, 20 degrees and 30 degrees respectively into the space between the cutter base and cutter box. As a result, the rock cutting process of gage cutters with tilt angles of 10 degrees, 20 degrees and 30 degrees can be proceed. Using this method, rock cutting experiments were conducted with penetrations of 2 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm and 8 mm respectively. The testing results were analysed on the rock cutting force, rock debris dimension, specific energy and cutting surface profile, and it was found that: (1) the cutting forces and specific energy of the gage cutter were lower than those of the normal cutter respectively; and (2) the depth of the rock broken zone was smaller than the cutting depth. The testing results can also be used to validate corresponding numerical models and design the layout of gage cutters. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.