Journal of South China University of Technology(Natural Science Edition) ›› 2024, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (5): 71-83.doi: 10.12141/j.issn.1000-565X.230385

• Architecture & Civil Engineering • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Formation Factor Analysis and Evaluation Model Construction of Mud Cake on EPB Cutterhead

DING Xiaobin1,2(), YANG Huitai1(), SHI Yu1   

  1. 1.School of Civil Engineering and Transportation,South China University of Technology,Guangzhou 510640,Guangdong,China
    2.South China Institute of Geotechnical Engineering,Guangzhou 510640,Guangdong,China
  • Received:2023-06-05 Online:2024-05-25 Published:2023-09-08
  • Contact: 杨辉泰(2000-),男,硕士,主要从事地下工程与结构研究。 E-mail:2641804764@qq.com
  • About author:丁小彬(1984-),男,博士,副教授,主要从事岩土工程、地下工程等研究。
  • Supported by:
    the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41827807)

Abstract:

Focusing on individual factors,the current research on the mud cake formation of earth pressure balance (EPB) tunnel boring machines (TBMs) lacks a comprehensive and quantitative evaluation standard and can’t meet the predictive needs of TBM mud cake in engineering. Addressing these issues, this paper systematically summarized 23 key factors contributing to the formation of mud cake of EPB TBMs from three aspects: geological conditions, TBM selection, and construction factors. The mud cake risk during the excavation process of EPB TBMs was classified into four levels: high, medium, low, and no risk. Simultaneously, the paper proposed a quantitative standard for mud cake risk factors and constructed a risk evaluation model for the mud cake of EPB TBMs utilizing the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Based on excavation data from the Ma-Chuang section, right tunnel of Line 14 of the Guangzhou Metro, the mud cake risk levels for different tunnel rings during TBM excavation were calculated, validating the predictive performance of the mud cake risk evaluation model. Research results indicate that among the 23 influencing factors in the mud cake risk evaluation model, the plasticity index, cutterhead torque, liquidity index, and total thrust have the highest impact weights, while the startup torque has the lowest impact weight. The mud cake risk evaluation model demonstrates excellent predictive performance, with the calculated mud cake risk variation curve closely matching on-site construction conditions. Changes in TBM excavation parameters effectively reflect the formation of mud cakes during excavation, with total thrust being the most sensitive, followed by cutterhead torque, chamber pressure, advance speed, and screw conveyor speed in decreasing order of sensitivity. The research results can be applied to the evaluation and analysis of mud cake formation by EPB TBM cutterheads in similar engineering projects.

Key words: earth pressure balance shield, mud cake, quantitative analysis, evaluation model

CLC Number: