What is the purpose of a tunnel boring machine? A tunnel boring machine (TBM) is used to excavate tunnels through a variety of ground conditions, including soil, rock, sand, and clay. The main purpose of a TBM is to create tunnels with a smooth, circular cross-section, which can be used for various infrastructure projects.
I. Transportation engineering construction
Railway tunnel construction:
It can quickly excavate tunnels under complex geological conditions, creating conditions for the smooth laying of railway lines. For example, in mountainous and other areas with complex terrain, when building railways, the use of tunnel boring machines can greatly shorten the line length and reduce the slope, improving the safety and speed of train operation.
It can precisely control the cross-sectional shape and size of the tunnel, ensuring the standardization and stability of railway tunnels and meeting the strict requirements of high-speed trains for tunnel clearance and track flatness.
Highway tunnel construction:
For highway construction in mountainous areas, tunnel boring machines can pass through mountains and avoid the construction of winding mountain roads, shortening the driving distance and time. For example, in some areas with steep terrain, highway tunnels can effectively improve the convenience and safety of transportation.
In urban transportation construction, tunnel boring machines can be used for the construction of underground expressways, alleviating ground traffic pressure. It can construct without affecting urban surface buildings and traffic, reducing interference with the lives of urban residents.
II. Water conservancy project construction
Excavation of water conveyance tunnels:
In large-scale water conservancy projects, such as the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, tunnel boring machines can excavate water conveyance tunnels to ensure the efficient and stable transportation of water resources. It can ensure the tightness of the tunnel and reduce the loss of water leakage.
Used for the tunnel construction of urban water supply and drainage systems to improve the efficiency of urban water resource management.
Hydropower station construction:
In the construction of hydropower stations, tunnel boring machines can excavate diversion tunnels to introduce water flow into turbines and realize the conversion of water energy to electrical energy. It can adapt to complex geological conditions in hydropower station construction and ensure the quality and stability of diversion tunnels.
III. Mining
Mine roadway development:
It can quickly excavate mine roadways and provide passages for the mining of mineral resources. Compared with traditional blasting excavation methods, tunnel boring machines are safer and more efficient in construction, reducing the threat to the lives of miners.
It can precisely control the size and shape of roadways, which is conducive to the layout of mine ventilation, drainage, and transportation systems and improves the production efficiency of mines.
Construction of mine slag transportation tunnels:
Excavate tunnels for transporting mine slag to realize the rapid cleaning and transportation of mine slag. This helps to keep the production environment of mines clean and reduce the impact of mine slag accumulation on mine production.
IV. Urban underground space development
Subway tunnel construction:
It is one of the main equipments for subway tunnel excavation. It can construct in the complex geological environment underground cities and ensure the quality and progress of subway tunnels. For example, in some cities with poor geological conditions such as Shanghai and Guangzhou, tunnel boring machines can effectively deal with problems such as soft soil foundations.
It can reduce the impact on urban ground transportation and buildings and reduce construction noise and dust pollution, meeting urban environmental protection requirements.
Underground utility tunnel construction:
Used to excavate underground utility tunnel tunnels and concentrate various pipelines such as power, communication, water supply and drainage in one tunnel for easy management and maintenance. This helps improve the safety and reliability of urban infrastructure and avoid frequent excavation of urban roads due to pipeline maintenance.
V. Other fields
Military engineering:
In the military field, tunnel boring machines can be used to build underground military facilities such as underground command posts and ammunition depots. It can improve construction efficiency and project quality while ensuring engineering concealment.
Scientific research and exploration:
In some scientific research projects, such as geological exploration and underground laboratory construction, tunnel boring machines can excavate underground passages to provide research sites and passages for scientific researchers. For example, the Large Hadron Collider of the European Organization for Nuclear Research is built in an underground tunnel, and tunnel boring machines have played an important role in its construction.
TBMs offer an efficient and safe way to tunnel through challenging geological conditions.The machine operates by cutting through the earth with a rotating cutting head, while a support system stabilizes the surrounding structure, preventing cave-ins and other hazards.