• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.1199-1213
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• 2011

Slurry type shield would be very effective for the tunnelling in a sandy ground, but low slurry pressure could cause a tunnel face failure or a ground settlement in front of the tunnel face. Thus, the stability of tunnel face could be maintained by applying an excess slurry pressure that is larger than the active earth pressure. However, the slurry pressure should increase properly because an excessively high slurry pressure could cause the slurry flow out or the passive failure of the frontal ground. It is possible to apply the high slurry pressure without passive failure if a horizontal impermeable layer is located in the ground in front of the tunnel face, but its location, size, and effects are not clearly known yet. In this research, two-dimensional model tests were carried out in order to find out the effect of a horizontal impermeable layer for the slurry shield tunnelling in a saturated sandy ground. As results, larger slurry pressure could be applied to increase the stability of the tunnel face when the impermeable layer was located in the ground above the crown in front of the tunnel face. The most effective length of the impermeable grouting layer was 1.0~1.5D, and the location was 1.0D above the crown level. The safety factor could be suggested as the ratio of the maximum slurry pressure to the active earth pressure at the tunnel face. It could also be suggested that the slurry pressure in the magnitude of 3.5~4.0 times larger than the active earth pressure at the initial tunnel face could be applied if the impermeable layer was constructed at the optimal location.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.347-370
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• 2011

Slurry type shield would be very effective for the tunnelling in a sandy ground, when the slurry pressure would be properly adjusted. Low slurry pressure could cause a tunnel face failure or a ground settlement in front of the tunnel face. Thus, the stability of tunnel face could be maintained by applying an excess slurry pressure that is larger than the active earth pressure. However, the slurry pressure should increase properly because an excessively high slurry pressure could cause the slurry flow out or the passive failure of the frontal ground. It is possible to apply the high slurry pressure without passive failure if a horizontal impermeable layer is located in the ground in front of the tunnel face, but its location, size, and effects are not clearly known yet. In this research, two-dimensional model tests were carried out in order to find out the effect of a horizontal impermeable layer for the slurry shield tunnelling in a saturated sandy ground. In tests slurry pressure was increased until the slurry flowed out of the ground surface or the ground fails. Location and dimension of the impermeable layer were varied. As results, the maximum and the excess slurry pressure in sandy ground were linearly proportional to the cover depth. Larger slurry pressure could be applied to increase the stability of the tunnel face when the impermeable layer was located in the ground above the crown in front of the tunnel face. The most effective length of the impermeable grouting layer was 1.0 ~ 1.5D, and the location was 1.0D above the crown level. The safety factor could be suggested as the ratio of the maximum slurry pressure to the active earth pressure at the tunnel face. It could also be suggested that the slurry pressure in the magnitude of 3.5 ~4.0 times larger than the active earth pressure at the initial tunnel face could be applied if the impermeable layer was constructed at the optimal location.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2013

In this study, we carried out an experimental shield TBM excavation model test using a down-scale device in soft clay, to understand tunnel-face stability properties in relation to changes in slurry pressure. We performed five tests according to tunnel depth (0.5D, 0.75D, 1.0D, 1.25D, 1.5D), and compared theoretical tunnel-face pressure with model test results. The range in theoretical tunnel-face slurry pressure ($P_{min}{\leq}P_{slurry\;pressure}{\leq}P_{max}$), which is determined by earth pressure and water level, was very similar to the model test result. This result was due to the more isotropic condition of the soft clay ground, than of rocky ground.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.401-413
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• 2013

Slurry shield tunnelling ensures stability by pressurizing the tunnel face with the slurry contained in the chamber. It resists water and earth pressure in order to prevent the failure in the tunnel face during tunnel excavation. If the ground is relatively coarse, slurry can not clog the tunnel face and excessive slurry infiltration will occur. In this case chemical compounds or additives should be added to the slurry in order to improve the clogging phenomena at the tunnel face. In this study, the effect of the carbon dioxide gas as an additive to the slurry instead of chemical compounds on the capability of enhancing the clogging in the tunnel face is investigated. Bubbles arising from the carbonate-added slurry are trapped in the soil voids enhancing the clogging capability. This effect is studied in this paper by performing laboratory model tests simulating in-situ conditions, and by adopting the fine particle clogging theory. Tunnel face stability analysis was also performed and it was found that the effective size ($D_{10}$) of soils which can guarantee tunnel stability utilizing the carbonate-added slurry increased from 1.0 mm up to 2.6 mm. Moreover, Stability analysis showed that the tunnel face is stable if the ${\lambda}$(deposition coefficient) value is greater than $0.007sec^{-1}$.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.125-138
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• 2023

To improve the understanding of infiltration characteristic of modified slurry and the support efficiency of filter cake in silty sand strata, the slurry infiltration (SI) and filter cake formation (FCF) were investigated in a laboratory apparatus. The water discharge and the excess pore pressure at different depths of silty sand strata were measured during SI. The relationship between permeability coefficient/thickness ratio of filter cake (k_c/ΔL) and effective slurry pressure conversion rate of filter cake (η) were analyzed. Moreover, the SI and FCF process as well as the modification mechanism of CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose) were clarified. The experimental results indicate the formation of only external filter cake in the silty sand strata. The slurry particles obtain thicker water membrane after being modified by CMC, which blocks partial water path in filter cake and decreases the water discharge significantly. The silty sand excavated from tunnel face also contributes to the water discharge reduction. The k_c of the external filter cake ranges from 3.83×10^-8 cm/s to 7.44×10^-8 cm/s. The η of the external filter cake is over 96%, which decreases with increasing k_c/ΔL. A silty sand content within 10% is suggested during construction to ensure the uniformity of the filter cake.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.265-281
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• 2022

A set of slurry shield test system capable of cutter cutting and slurry automatic circulation is used to investigate the deformation characteristics, the evolution characteristics of support resistance and the distribution and evolution process of earth pressure during excavating and collapsing of slurry shield tunneling in circular-gravel layer. The influence of cover-span ratio on surface subsidence, support resistance and failure mode of excavation face is also discussed. Three-dimensional numerical calculations are performed to verify the reliability of the test results. The results show that, with the decrease of the supporting force of the excavation face, the surface subsidence goes through four stages: insensitivity, slow growth, rapid growth and stability. The influence of shield excavation on the axial earth pressure of the front soil is greater than that of the vertical earth pressure. When the support resistance of the excavation face decreases to the critical value, the soil in front of the excavation face collapses. The shape of the collapse is similar to that of a bucket. The ultimate support resistance increase with the increase of the cover-span ratio, however, the angle between the bottom of the collapsed body and the direction of the tunnel excavation axis when the excavation face is damaged increase first and then becomes stable. The surface settlement value and the range of settlement trough decrease with the increase of cover-span ratio. The numerical results are basically consistent with the model test results.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.687-699
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• 2018

The construction of subsea tunnel differs from that of inland tunnel because of high water pressure due to sea water level and difficulties to reinforce the ground under construction. Therefore, it is very important to prevent trouble in advance when the subsea tunnel is constructed. In this paper, we established lots of databases about characteristics of geological and mechanical parameters on the construction of subsea tunnel using micro slurry TBM which depth is about 60 m. The correlation analysis is conducted to confirm the effect of thrust, torque and RPM among the excavation database on the net penetration rate. Also, An empirical formula is suggested to predict the net penetration rate through the correlation analysis between FPI (Field Penetration Index) and specific energy from the subsea tunnel excavation database.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.277-291
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• 2020

Shield TBM is a tunnelling method that has a wider range of applications in the poor ground condition compared to conventional tunnels (Drill and Blast). Currently, a 13.3 m large-diameter slurry shield TBM is preparing for construction to pass under the Han River. Shield TBM is divided into slurry and EPB shield TBM, and management items during construction are different depending on each characteristic. In this paper, the equipment type, origin, application case and trouble case were analyzed for slurry shield TBM, which is mainly constructed in soft ground. In addition, 2D and 3D model tests were conducted on the condition of soil depth for the possibility of slurry leakage into front of the equipment, with appropriate chamber pressure. Based on this paper, it proposed to provide basic and reference data for proper excavation surface pressure and chamber pressure during construction of slurry shield TBM under soft ground conditions, and proposed measures to minimize stability and environmental decline due to slurry ejection.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.599-615
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• 2022

In order to excavate underground tunnel most safely such as Han river, the slurry shield TBM method is applied to cope with face of high water pressure for many metro projects. In downtown subway project most of excavated soil is discharged externally whereas in road construction excavated soil is used as filling materials so it becomes important factor for success of the project. After excavated soil, weathered rock and soft rock are discharged with bentonite through discharge pipe to slurry treatment plant then those soils are separated in separation plant according to those size. Fine grained soil has been discarded together with filter cake but it is not toxic and can be mixed with coarse aggregate in proper ratio so this study is performed to find use of qualified filling material to meet quality standard. Therefore, in this study, legal standards and quality standards for the utilization of excavated soil of the slurry shield TBM method were examined and test was conducted to derive recycling way for filter cake and aggregate. And a plan for using it as a filling material for road construction was derived. Because bentonite is a clay composed of montmorillonite, and the excavated soil in the tunnel is also non-toxic, disposal of this material can waste social cost so it is expected to be helpful in the underground space development project that carries out the TBM project by recycling it as a valuable resource.