• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.321-329
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• 2022

Tunnel site where high water pressure is applied, such as subsea tunnel, generally selects the shield TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) to maintain the tunnel excavation face. The shield TBM has cutters installed, and the cutters wear out during the process of excavation, so it should be checked and replaced regularly. This is called CHI (Cutterhead Intervention). The conventional CHI under high water pressure is very disadvantageous in terms of safety and economics because humans perform work in response to high water pressure and huge water inflow in the chamber. To overcome this disadvantage, this study proposes a new method to dramatically reduce water pressure and water ingress by injecting an appropriate grout solution into the front of the tunnel face through the shield TBM chamber, called New Face Grouting Method (NFGM). The tunnel model tests were performed to determine the characteristics, injection volume, and curing time of grout solution to be applied to the NFGM. Model test apparatus was composed of a pressure soil tank, a model shield TBM, a grout tank, and an air compressor to measure the amount of water inflow into the chamber. The model tests were conducted by changing the injection amount of the grout solution, the curing time after the grout injection, and the water/cement ratio of grout solution. From an economic point of view, the results showed that the injection volume of 1.0 L, curing time of 6 hours, and water/cement ratio of the grout solution between 1.5 and 2.0 are the most economical. It can be concluded that this study has presented a method to economically perform the CHI under the high water pressure.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.477-486
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• 2024

The process of inspecting and replacing cutting tools in a shield tunnel boring machine (TBM) is called cutterhead intervention (CHI) (Farrokh and Kim 2018). Since CHI is performed by a worker who enters the chamber in TBM, the worker is directly exposed to high water pressure and huge water inflow, especially in areas with high ground water levels, causing health problems for the worker and shortening of available working hours (Kindwall 1990). Ham et al. (2022) proposed a method of reducing the water pressure and water inflow by injecting a grout solution into the ground through the shield TBM chamber, and named it the new face grouting method (NFGM). In this study, the TBM mechanical characteristics including the injection pressure of the grout solution and the cutterhead rotation speed were determined for the best performance of the NFGM. To find the appropriate injection pressure, the water inflow volume according to the injection pressure change was measured by using a water inflow test apparatus. A model torque test apparatus was manufactured to find the appropriate cutterhead rotation speed by investigating the change in the status of the grout solution according to the rotation speed change. In addition, to prove the validity of this study, comprehensive water inflow tests were carried out. The results of the tests showed that the injection pressure equal to overburden pressure + (0.10 ~ 0.15) MPa and the cutterhead rotation speed of 0.8 to 1.0 RPM are the most appropriate. In the actual construction site, it is recommended to select an appropriate value within the proposed range while considering the economic feasibility and workability.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.25.2-38
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• 1995

the Effect of steel pipe reinforced multi-step grouting(SPRG) technique to inrove the ground far ahead of the excavation face was investigated by means of numerical analysis. It was found taht the nonlinear 3-D FEM program performed well to evaluate the usefulness of the SPRG technique in soft ground tunnelling, and about 20% of settlement control in this particular case possible. Therefore in urban subway tunnel construction, the New Austirial Tunnelling Method can be satisfactorily applied even in poor ground conditon with aid of the SPRG technique.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1993.03a
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• pp.41-48
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• 1993

The 2nd phase of Seoul Subway, Lines 5,6,7 and 8, is in progress. To reduce the surface traffic congestion during construction the greater part of the system has been engineered by bored tunnelling. The current tunnelling methodology is based on the New Austrian Tunnelling Method. Serveral collapses have been reported to date. Most of the collapses took place in the area forwed with soft ground. The modes and causes of the collapses were progressive failures in the unsupported surface and sliding failures due to the unfavourable joint direction. The major causes turned out to be the weakness of ground and the sudden influx of ground water from the surface. Some measures to prevent the failures are also presented. To ensure the safe tunnelling ghrough the soft ground the unsupported excavation area has to be minimized and closed as early as possible. Additional support measures such as supporting core, sealing shotcrete, forepoling, spread footing, face rock bolting and grouting should be employed as well depend on ground conditions.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.13 no.6 s.58
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• pp.192-203
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• 2009

In the new Seoul-Busan high speed railroad construction specially in area of city center passage the roadbed establishment is recommended the staibility for the existing subway tunnel segments of Busan subway 1st and 2nd lines regarding the appearance condition, a quality condition and the durability of the objective facility, and it evaluates the numerical analysis using MIDAS/GTS which leads the stability of the objective facility and investigatesd tunnels. Fundamental issues in tunneling under high groundwater table are discussed and the effect of groundwater on tunnel excavation was examined using a 3D stress-pore pressure coupled Finite-Element Method. Based on the results the interaction mechanism between the tunnelling and groundwater is identified. In the both of 1st and 2nd Line the maximum sinkage, unequal sinkage and the lining stress from numerical analysis are within permission and the damage degree is appearing to be disregarded. But it enforces necessary Pre-grouting in order to minimize an actual tunnel face conduct and when the tunnel is excavated it is also necessary to minimize the outflow possibility.