Investigating the guiding and improvement of equipment of tunnel boring machine (TBM) in adverse geotechnical conditions, Case study: Azad project

Joudaki, Vahid; Ajalloeian, Rassoul

doi:10.22034/jiraeg.2025.228774

Investigating the guiding and improvement of equipment of tunnel boring machine (TBM) in adverse geotechnical conditions, Case study: Azad project

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

vahid joudaki

Rassoul Ajalloeian

Department of Engineering Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

10.22034/jiraeg.2025.228774

Abstract

A tunnel boring machine (EPB Hard Rock type) was used to construct the Azad Water Transfer Tunnel. The adverse geotechnical conditions in a fault zone presented special risks to the machine operation. These risks were also experienced in the Bazideraz Tunnel (machine jamming and stopping, conditioning of excavated materials). In this study, various research methods were used to investigate the operation and improvement of the Azad Tunnel Machine equipment, including: Reviewing previous technical experiences through research texts and literature (related to the Bazideraz Tunnel), examining geological observations during the machine's advance, analyzing machine deflection measurement data, conducting excavation material grading tests, analyzing operating parameters recorded in the machine's data logger system (Thrust, Penetration rate, Face pressure), and documenting remedial solutions. The results show that the implementation strategies for guiding the excavation machine in the fault zone (using additional hydraulic cylinders, installing stage high-pressure pumps, Changing the excavation mode from closed mode to semi-open and open mode, etc.) have been correctly adopted based on technical thinking and engineering judgments. The results of this study can be useful in transferring technical experiences about the guidance method and improvement of TBM and prevent the stopping of TBM.

Keywords

TBM

Fault Zone

Conditioning

Operating Parameters

Additional Hydraulic Cylinder

Subjects