• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.91-111
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• 2024

Most of utility cable tunnels are constructed utilizing shield TBM as part of the underground transmission line project. The TBM chamber is the only space inside the tunnel that encounters rock and soil, and is the place with the highest frequency of accident exposure, such as collapse and collision accidents. Since there is currently no way to measure the disc cutter wear from outside the chamber, frequent inspection by workers is essential. Accordingly, in this study, in order to prevent safety accidents inside the TBM chamber and expect the effect of shortening the construction period by reducing the number of chamber openings, the concept of disk cutter wear measurement technology was established and a prototype was produced. By considering prior technology and determining that magnetic sensors are most suitable for the excavation environment, wear measurement sensor package were developed integrating magnetic sensors, wireless communication modules, power supply, external casing, and monitoring systems. To verify the performance of the prototype in an actual excavation environment, a full-scale tunnelling test was performed using a 3.6 m EPB shield TBM. Based on the full-scale tests, five prototypes were operated normally among eight prototypes. It was analyzed that sensor measurement, wireless communication, and durability performance were secured within a maximum thrust of 3,000 kN and a rotation speed of 1.5 RPM.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.273-280
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• 2003

This paper describes a study of the effect of shield tunnel construction on the liners of nearby existing perpendicular tunnels. The research programme investigated the influence of tunnel proximity and alignment, liner stiffness on the nature of the interactions between closely spaced tunnels in clay. A total of two sets of carefully controlled 1g physical model tests, including the same test for repeatability, were performed. A cylindrical test tank was developed and used to produce clay samples of Speswhite kaolin. In each of the tests, three model tunnels were installed in order to conduct two interaction experiments in one clay sample. The tunnel liners were installed using a model tunnelling machine that was designed and developed to simulate the construction of a full scale shield tunnel. The first tunnel liner was instrumented to investigate its behaviour due to the installation of each of the new tunnels. The interaction mechanisms observed from the physical model tests are discussed and interpreted.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.623-641
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• 2020

About 5 km length of tunnels were constructed by mechanized tunnelling method using closed type shield TBM. In order to avoid construction delay problems for ensuring timely electricity transmission, it is necessary to increase the prediction accuracy of the excavation process involving machines according to rock mass types. This is important to corroborate the project duration and optimum operation for various considerations involved in the machine. So, full-scale tunnelling tests were performed for developing the advance rate model to be appropriately used for 3.6 m diameter shield TBM. About 100 test cases were established and performed using various operational parameters such as thrust force and rotational speed of cuttterhead in representative uniaxial compressive strengths. Accordingly, relationships between normal force and penetration depth and, between UCS and torque were suggested which consider UCS and thrust force conditions according to weathered, soft, hard rocks. Capacity analysis of cutterhead was performed and optimum operational conditions were also suggested based on the developed model. Based on this study, it can be expected that the project construction duration can be reduced and users can benefit from the provision of earlier service.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.487-497
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• 2023

Penetration rate (PR) and penetration depth (Pe) are crucial parameters for estimating the cost and time required in tunnel construction using tunnel boring machines (TBMs). This study focuses on investigating the impact of rock strength on PR and Pe through full-scale experiments. By conducting controlled tests on rock-like specimens, the study aims to understand the contributions of various ground parameters and machine-operating conditions to TBM excavation performance. An earth pressure balanced (EPB) TBM with a sectional diameter of 3.54 m was utilized in the experiments. The TBM excavated rocklike specimens with varying uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), while the thrust and cutterhead rotational speed were controlled. The results highlight the significance of the interplay between thrust, cutterhead speed, and rock strength (UCS) in determining Pe. In high UCS conditions exceeding 70 MPa, thrust plays a vital role in enhancing Pe as hard rock requires a greater thrust force for excavation. Conversely, in medium-to-low UCS conditions less than 50 MPa, thrust has a weak relationship with Pe, and Pe becomes directly proportional to the cutterhead rotational speed. Furthermore, a strong correlation was observed between Pe and cutterhead torque with a determination coefficient of 0.84. Based on these findings, a predictive model for Pe is proposed, incorporating thrust, TBM diameter, number of disc cutters, and UCS. This model offers a practical tool for estimating Pe in different excavation scenarios. The study presents unprecedented full-scale TBM excavation results, with well-controlled experiments, shedding light on the interplay between rock strength, TBM operational variables, and excavation performance. These insights are valuable for optimizing TBM excavation in grounds with varying strengths and operational conditions.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.215-223
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• 2013

An experimental research on the possibility of using fiber reinforced concrete precast tunnel segments instead of traditional reinforced concrete(RC) segment has been performed in europe. This solution allows removing the traditional reinforcement with several advantages in terms of quality and cost reduction. Full-scale bending tests were carried out in order to compare the behaviour of the segments under flexural actions on both rebar reinforced concrete and rebar-fiber reinforced elements. The test results showed that the fiber reinforced concrete can substitute the traditional reinforcement; in particular the segment performance is improved by the fiber presence, mainly in terms of crack.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.225-235
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• 2013

Cutter forces acting on a disc cutter in TBM are the key parameters for TBM design and its performance prediction. This study aimed to experimentally evaluate cutter forces with different ring shapes in a hard rock. The stiffness of a cutter ring was indirectly estimated from a series of full-scale linear cutting tests. From the experiments, it was verified that the rolling stress acting on a V-shape disc cutter was much higher than on a CCS disc cutter even though the penetration depth by a V-shape disc cutter could be increased in the same cutting condition. Finally, it is suggested that a prediction model considering the shape parameters of a disc cutter should be used for its better prediction.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.215-230
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• 2012

An experimental research on the possibility of using high-strength concrete with the design strength of 60 MPa and high-tension rebar with the yielding strength of 600 MPa instead of conventional reinforced concrete segment to reduce its production cost was performed. Full-scale bending tests on both conventional and high-strength reinforced concrete segments were carried out to compare their mechanical and structural behaviors of the segments under flexural action. From the experiments, it was shown that the failure load of high-strength reinforced concrete segment was approximately 30% higher than that of the conventional segment even though reinforcements in high-strength segment were reduced by 26%. The test result showed that the bearing capacity of high-strength segment highly increased by high-strength concrete and high-tension rebar. It also verified the high possibility of high-strength reinforced concrete segment as a technical alternative to reduce the production cost of segments in a shield tunnel.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.77-85
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• 2009

This paper describes the findings obtained from a research project aimed at investigating, via 1 g laboratory model tests, the ground movements caused by multiple side-by-side (sbs) tunnel construction in clay. The ground movements above a second tunnel showed different trends from those observed above a first tunnel. These trends include an increase in the overall volume loss, and a widening of the settlement troughs on the near limb of the trough accompanied by a shift of the maximum settlement towards existing tunnel. This would suggest that the use of simple predictive methods of adopting a Gaussian curve for analysing the ground settlements associated with twin (sbs) tunnel construction is not appropriate. Therefore the current paper adopts a method that modifies the Gaussian curve approach in order to improve the predictions. This paper comments on the parameter selection involved with adopting this new method to apply it to full-scale field situations, and also discusses its limitations.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.101-120
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• 2023

Electrical resistivity survey have been widely conducted at diverse scales, from a few centimeters for laboratory tests to kilometers for field tests. It measures electrical resistance through relationship of electric potential difference and current between two electrodes penetrated on the surface of medium, and eventually quantifies electrical resistivity known as inherent properties of the medium. In field or full-scale test, it assumes the electrodes as equivalent half-sphere electrodes that have a same surface area with different electrodes for ease of calculation because the contact area between electrode and medium is small and sufficient distance between two electrodes. However, small-scale laboratory test is significantly affected by the electrode geometries (penetrated depth, height, radius of electrode and distance between electrodes), which change the equipotential surface and electric current flow. Indeed, the electrode geometries may eventually cause a difference of electrical resistivity value. This study reviews the theoretical electrical resistance derived with various electrode geometries (half-sphere, cylinder, cylindrical with half-spherical tip, cylindrical with conical tip) and verifies the developed numerical module by comparing results with the theoretical electrical resistance. The distributions of electrical resistance around electrodes and among electrodes are analyzed. In addition, it is discussed how the electrical characteristic of cylindrical electrode with conical tip widely used in field test has effect on the electric current flow.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.337-346
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• 2020

Traffic jam and congestion in urban areas has caused the need to improve the utility of underground space. In response, research on underground structures is increasingly being conducted. Notably, a double-deck tunnel is one of the most widely used of all those underground structures. This double-deck tunnel is separated by the middle slab into the upper and lower roadways. Both vehicle load and earthquake load cause the middle slab to exhibit dynamic behavior. Earthquake-related response characteristics, in particular, are highly complex and difficult to interpret in a theoretical context, and thus experimental research is required. The aim of the present study is to assess the stability of a double-deck tunnel's middle slab of the Collapse Prevention Level and Seismic Category 1 with regard to the presence of vibration-damping Rubber Bearings. In vibration table tests, the ratio of similitude was set to 1/4. Linings and vibrating platforms were fixed during scaled model tests to represent the integrated behavior of the ground and the applied models. In doing so, it was possible to minimize relative behavior. The standard TBM cross-section for the virtual double-deck tunnel was selected as a test subject. The level of ground motion exerted on the bedrock was set to 0.154 g (artificial seismic wave, Collapse Prevention Level and Seismic Category 1). A seismic wave with the maximum acceleration of 0.154 g was applied to the vibration table input (bedrock) to analyze resultant amplification in the models. As a result, the seismic stability of the middle slab was evaluated and analyzed with respect to the presence of vibration-damping rubber bearings. It was confirmed that the presence of vibration-damping rubber bearings improved its earthquake acceleration damping performance by up to 40%.