Summary
Basic principles of the theory of rock cutting with rolling disc cutters are used to appropriately reduce tunnel boring machine (TBM) logged data and compute the specific energy (SE) of rock cutting as a function of geometry of the cutterhead and operational parameters. A computational code written in Fortran 77 is used to perform Kriging predictions in a regular or irregular grid in 1D, 2D or 3D space based on sampled data referring to rock mass classification indices or TBM related parameters. This code is used here for three purposes, namely: (1) to filter raw data in order to establish a good correlation between SE and rock mass rating (RMR) (or tunnelling quality index Q) along the chainage of the tunnel, (2) to make prediction of RMR, Q or SE along the chainage of the tunnel from boreholes at the exploration phase and design stage of the tunnel, and (3) to make predictions of SE and RMR or Q ahead of the tunnel’s face during excavation of the tunnel based on SE estimations during excavation. The above tools are the basic constituents of an algorithm to continuously update the geotechnical model of the rock mass based on logged TBM data. Several cases were considered to illustrate the proposed methodology, namely: (a) data from a system of twin tunnels in Hong Kong, (b) data from three tunnels excavated in Northern Italy, and (c) data from the section Singuerlin-Esglesias of the Metro L9 tunnel in Barcelona.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
N Barton (2000) TBM tunnelling in jointed and faulted rock Balkema Rotterdam
N Barton R Lien J Lunde (1974) ArticleTitleEngineering classification of rock masses for the design of rock support Rock Mech 6 189–236 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF01239496
ZT Bieniawski (1973) ArticleTitleEngineering classification of jointed rock masses Trans S African Instn Civ Engrs 15 IssueID12 335–344
K Fukui S Okubo (2006) ArticleTitleSome attempts for estimating rock strength and rock mass classification from cutting force and investigation of optimum operation, of tunnel boring machines Rock Mech Rock Engng 39 IssueID1 25–44 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00603-005-0071-6
R Gertsch L Gertsch J Rostami (2007) ArticleTitleDisc cutting tests in Colorado Red Granite: implications for TBM performance prediction Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 44 238–246 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.ijrmms.2006.07.007
Itasca Consulting Group Inc. (2002) FLAC3D, Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua in 3 Dimensions: User’s Guide. Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
AG Journel CHJ Huijbregts (1978) Mining geostatistics Academic Press London
PK Kitanidis (1997) Introduction to Geostatistics: Applications in Hydrogeology Cambridge University Press United Kingdom
HK Kutter H-P Sanio (1983) ArticleTitleDiscussion of paper by Snowdon RA, Ryley MD and Temporal J, “A study of disc cutting in selected British rocks” Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 19 107–121
HK Kutter H-P Sanio (1982) Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 20 IssueID2 103–104
Matlab 6.0 (2000) The Mathworks Inc., Natick, Massachusetts, USA
A Papoulis (1984) Probability, random variables and stochastic processes McGraw-Hill International Editions Singapore 576
R Ribacchi A Lembo Fazio (2005) ArticleTitleInfluence of rock mass parameters on the performance of a TBM in a gneissic formation (Varzo Tunnel) Rock Mech. Rock Engng 38 IssueID2 105–127 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00603-004-0032-5
Rostami J, Ozdemir L (1993) A New Model for Performance Prediction of Hard Rock TBMS. Chapter 3 in 1993 RETC PROCEEDINGS, 793–809
FF Roxborough HR Phillips (1975) ArticleTitleRock excavation by disc cutter Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 12 361–366 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0148-9062(75)90547-1
M Sapigni M Berti E Bethaz A Busillo G Cardone (2002) ArticleTitleTBM performance estimation using rock mass classifications Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 39 771–788 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1365-1609(02)00069-2
M Stavropoulou G Exadaktylos G Saratsis (2007) ArticleTitleA combined three-dimensional geological-geostatistical-numerical model of underground excavations in rock Rock Mech Rock Engng 40 IssueID3 213–243 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00603-006-0125-4
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Correspondence: G. Exadaktylos, Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Exadaktylos, G., Stavropoulou, M., Xiroudakis, G. et al. A spatial estimation model for continuous rock mass characterization from the specific energy of a TBM. Rock Mech Rock Eng 41, 797–834 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-007-0160-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-007-0160-9