JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS

JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS

The effect of rock chipping on the penetration rate of tunnel boring machine

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Seyed Sajjad Kararri 1
Mojtaba Heidari 1
Ebrahim Sharifi Teshnizi 2
1 Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
2 Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran
10.22034/irsrm.2023.210687
Abstract
Predicting the penetration rate of a tunnel boring machine (TBM) using geological characteristics of the tunnel route rocks has led to the development of empirical models of penetration rate. This study investigated the relationship between geological factors of rock chipping, including mineralogy, grain size, grain fabric, penetration rate, and rock mass classification systems. For this purpose, data from engineering geological units of the Abglas water transfer tunnel route near Naqadeh city have been used. The evaluation of rock-chipping factors has been carried out using simple regression, linear multiple regression, and nonlinear statistical methods. The best nonlinear multiple regression relationship between the chipping penetration rate (CP1) and the rock mass quality index (RQD) is established with a coefficient of determination of 0.816 and a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 8.821. Based on the proposed geotechnical limits, the highest penetration rate (more than 8 mm/rev) occurred at a chipping factor of less than 1500 and the lowest penetration rate (less than 3 mm/rev) occurred at a chipping factor of more than 4000. The results obtained in this study can help to predict the TBM penetration rates more accurately and reduce drilling costs and time.
Keywords
Tunnel boring machine
Rock chipping
Mineralogy
Grain size
Grain fabric
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JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS
Volume 7, Issue 1
Spring 2023
Pages 23-43