• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.181-191
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• 2014

This study aims to evaluate cutter acting forces as well as axial stresses and torques in the shaft of two kinds of disc cutters including a single disc cutter and a double disc cutter with the same cutter ring geometry in a series of linear cutting tests. From the tests, the mean values of normal forces and rolling forces acting on the double disc cutter were approximately twice as high as those from the single disc cutter. Similarly, the mean values of axial stresses in the shaft of the double disc cutter were also twice as high as those from the single disc cutter even though the comparisons of torques from two kinds of disc cutters were insignificant since they showed very low values. However, it is necessary to take the durability of a tapered roller bearing used for the double disc cutter into high consideration since the average normal force from the double disc cutter exceeds the allowable force for a disc cutter with the diameter of 432 mm (17 inches). Finally, there is no practical problem in terms of axial stresses in the shaft of the double disc cutter since they are much lower than the yielding stress of the cutter shaft material, even though the axial stresses in the shaft of the double disc cutter are approximately twice as high as those from the single disc cutter.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.321-331
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• 2013

This paper describes the evaluation of shield TBM disc cutter penetration depth in practice. In this study the disc cutter penetration depth used to design the excavation speed of tunnel is reviewed. The characteristics of ground encountered in the investigation site are analysed and evaluated. The shield TBM used in the field is reviewed to verify the applicability of machine in the site. The thrust and torque capacities of each TBM disc cutter are also evaluated. Based on the field data, the excavation volume and speed are re-analysed to evaluate the disc cutter penetration depth used in the design stage. It is clearly found that the design value of disc cutter penetration depth needs to modify when estimation of the TBM capacities in very hard rock formation ($S_c$ >150 MPa).

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.17 no.3 s.68
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• pp.225-233
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• 2007

Because of Norwegian topography as valleys and fjords, a large number of tunnels has been built and 59 of them have been excavated by TBM for last 30 years. Prognosis technology has been developed and improved through lots of TBM experiences, and the NTNU prediction model has been completed. This paper focuses the improvement of net penetration rate and advance rate in 14 Norwegian and 4 Koran TBM tunnelling sites of which data were reported. Through this period, net penetration rate as well as advance rate were increased to double with the improvement of disc cutter size and cutter arrangement in Norway. These rates in Korea were also increased for 15 years even though the rates were lower compared to Norwegian. It is estimated that these low rates were mainly caused by using disc cutters less than 17 inch diameter. It is expected that net penetration rate and advance rate can be increased by improvement of machine and tunnelling technology, especially by using 17 or 19 inch of the disc cutter size in the Korean full face mechanical tunnelling site.