TECHNICAL | TBM TUNNELING
TAKING STEPS TO SPEED FORWARD
Herrenknecht has won a major award for its new TBM continuous tunneling system, has other advanced systems in operation, and is also developing automation for segment production
Among technological innovations from Herrenknecht recently are its TBM continuous tunneling system, which won a major award at Bauma, and the work it has underway to develop automated segment production for concrete tunnel lining rings. The company says a key outcome of the continuous
tunneling system is saving time in the total excavation and ring building cycle and, consequently, in the larger construction operation and time required on a tunnel project. Computerized systems play a bigger role to support TBM operators and tunneling performance could be increased by up to a factor of 1.6. At the last Bauma, in Munich, in October 2022, the
company received the Innovation Award in the Machine Technology category for its development of the new system. Then, Herrenknecht CEO, Martin Herrenknecht, said: “Continuous tunneling is the next significant innovation step in mechanized tunneling.”
Another innovation is for concrete segment
manufacture where R&D efforts have been underway over the last few years. The aim of the R&D is to introduce more automation
into the production process, including some use of robots alongside static molds on production lines, and also integration of artificial intelligence with camera- based observation systems and other sensors.
TBM CONTINUOUS TUNNELING Soft ground TBM tunneling has been based on sequential steps of excavation and then ring building, only one activity able to take place at a time. This is a stop-and-go process, says Herrenknecht – where excavation has to pause and can only resume after the segmental ring had been fully installed. The shield pushes off the edges of the completed ring. And the sequence is repeated.
Right:
The continuous tunneling system aims to reduce cycle time by managing thrust cylinders to allow simultaneous excavation and ring building ALL IMAGES COURTESY HERRENKNECHT
34 | Spring 2023
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