The success of a tunnel-boring machine （TBM） in a given project depends on the functionality of all components of the system, from the cutters to the backup system, and on the entire rolling stock. However, no part ...The success of a tunnel-boring machine （TBM） in a given project depends on the functionality of all components of the system, from the cutters to the backup system, and on the entire rolling stock. However, no part of the machine plays a more crucial role in the efficient operation of the machine than its cutterhead. The design of the cutterhead impacts the efficiency of cutting, the balance of the head, the life of the cutters, the maintenance of the main bearing/gearbox, and the effectiveness of the mucking along with its effects on the wear of the face and gage cutters/muck buckets. Overall, cutterhead design heavily impacts the rate of penetration （ROP）, rate of machine utilization （U）, and daffy advance rate （AR）. Although there has been some discussion in commonly available publications regarding disk cutters, cutting forces, and some design features of the head, there is limited literature on this subject because the design of cutter- heads is mainly handled by machine manufacturers. Most of the design process involves proprietary algorithms by the manufacturers, and despite recent attention on the subject, the design of rock TBMs has been somewhat of a mystery to most end-users. This paper is an attempt to demystify the basic concepts in design. Although it may not be sufficient for a full-fledged design by the readers, this paper allows engineers and contractors to understand the thought process in the design steps, what to Look for in a proper design, and the implications of the head design on machine operation and life cycle.展开更多
Cutterhead loads are the key mechanical parameters for the strength design of the full face hard rock tunnel boring machine(TBM).Due to the brittle rock-breaking mechanism,the excavation loads acting on cutters fluctu...Cutterhead loads are the key mechanical parameters for the strength design of the full face hard rock tunnel boring machine(TBM).Due to the brittle rock-breaking mechanism,the excavation loads acting on cutters fluctuate strongly and show some randomness.The conventional method that using combinations of some special static loads to perform the strength design of TBM cutterhead may lead to strength failure during working practice.In this paper,a three-dimensional finite element model for coupled Cutterhead–Rock is developed to determine the cutterhead loads.Then the distribution characteristics and the influence factors of cutterhead loads are analyzed based on the numerical results.It is found that,as time changes,the normal and tangential forces acting on cutters and the total torque acting on the cutterhead approximately distribute log normally,while the total thrusts acting on the cutterhead approximately show a normal distribution.Furthermore,the statistical average values of cutterhead loads are proportional to the uniaxial compressive strength(UCS)of cutting rocks.The values also change with the penetration and the diameter of cutterhead following a power function.Based on these findings,we propose a three-parameter model for the mean of cutterhead loads and a method of generating the random cutter forces.Then the strength properties of a typical cutterhead are analyzed in detail using loads generated by the new method.The optimized cutterhead has been successfully applied in engineering.The method in this paper may provide a useful reference for the strength design of TBM cutterhead.展开更多
文摘The success of a tunnel-boring machine （TBM） in a given project depends on the functionality of all components of the system, from the cutters to the backup system, and on the entire rolling stock. However, no part of the machine plays a more crucial role in the efficient operation of the machine than its cutterhead. The design of the cutterhead impacts the efficiency of cutting, the balance of the head, the life of the cutters, the maintenance of the main bearing/gearbox, and the effectiveness of the mucking along with its effects on the wear of the face and gage cutters/muck buckets. Overall, cutterhead design heavily impacts the rate of penetration （ROP）, rate of machine utilization （U）, and daffy advance rate （AR）. Although there has been some discussion in commonly available publications regarding disk cutters, cutting forces, and some design features of the head, there is limited literature on this subject because the design of cutter- heads is mainly handled by machine manufacturers. Most of the design process involves proprietary algorithms by the manufacturers, and despite recent attention on the subject, the design of rock TBMs has been somewhat of a mystery to most end-users. This paper is an attempt to demystify the basic concepts in design. Although it may not be sufficient for a full-fledged design by the readers, this paper allows engineers and contractors to understand the thought process in the design steps, what to Look for in a proper design, and the implications of the head design on machine operation and life cycle.
基金Supported by National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program,Grant No.2013CB035042)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11672202)
文摘Cutterhead loads are the key mechanical parameters for the strength design of the full face hard rock tunnel boring machine(TBM).Due to the brittle rock-breaking mechanism,the excavation loads acting on cutters fluctuate strongly and show some randomness.The conventional method that using combinations of some special static loads to perform the strength design of TBM cutterhead may lead to strength failure during working practice.In this paper,a three-dimensional finite element model for coupled Cutterhead–Rock is developed to determine the cutterhead loads.Then the distribution characteristics and the influence factors of cutterhead loads are analyzed based on the numerical results.It is found that,as time changes,the normal and tangential forces acting on cutters and the total torque acting on the cutterhead approximately distribute log normally,while the total thrusts acting on the cutterhead approximately show a normal distribution.Furthermore,the statistical average values of cutterhead loads are proportional to the uniaxial compressive strength(UCS)of cutting rocks.The values also change with the penetration and the diameter of cutterhead following a power function.Based on these findings,we propose a three-parameter model for the mean of cutterhead loads and a method of generating the random cutter forces.Then the strength properties of a typical cutterhead are analyzed in detail using loads generated by the new method.The optimized cutterhead has been successfully applied in engineering.The method in this paper may provide a useful reference for the strength design of TBM cutterhead.
