The Effect of Tunnel Diameter and Project Area on The Productivity of Tunnel Boring Machines

There has been an increasing trend in tunnel construction for the transportation of people, goods, and liquids. In order to ensure the success of a tunneling project, it is imperative for tunneling contractors to possess adequate information regarding the scope of work, project features, and characteristics of the ground in order to calculate the advance rate of a tunnel boring machine (TBM). The primary aim of this paper is to investigate tunneling case studies and literature in order to assess TBM productivity from the perspective of ground conditions, tunnel diameter, and project duration. The project data has been tabulated and the results are presented in this paper. The methodology employed for conducting the literature review utilized databases including ProQuest, Engineering Village, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and ASCE Library. Additionally, research was conducted on Tunnels and Tunneling International magazine, as well as websites of Tunnel Boring Machine manufacturers. The paper's findings indicate that conducting thorough ground investigations, such as utilizing pilot tunnels, can enhance the efficiency of tunnel construction operations. Various factors affecting productivity in construction projects include the compressive strength of rocks or hard ground, rock abrasivity, tunnel diameter, location of the project (urban or rural), and other variables identified in this study.

The Effect of Tunnel Diameter and Project Area on The Productivity of Tunnel Boring Machines Keywords:

Tunnel boring machine , Productivity factors , Tunneling project