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Tunnel boring machines

Solutions for hard rock

Background Tunnel boring machines

Tunneling: background

Huge drilling machines, known as drill jumbos, bore holes in the rock with special drill rods. These bore holes are filled with explosives and detonators and then sealed securely. Usually the explosive in the center of the blasting area is detonated first to blast out a hole. A short time later the charges near the center and the outer charges are exploded. High-performance ventilators prevent the spread of poisonous blasting gases.

Mankind developed techniques for driving tunnels The tunneling method of drill and blast or mechathrough obstructions 5 000 years ago. The first of nised using the tunnel boring machine is dependall tunnel constructions were underground water ent on the individual project conditions. The geosupply and drainage tunnels. In 2 500 BC Queen Semiramis is said to have had a one-kilometer-long logical rock quality, the tunnel profile and length combined with the location of the project are just tunnel built under the Euphrates from the Royal Palace to the Temple of Baal in Babylon. In 700 BC a few of the criteria, and the method of selection is very unique. the water supply tunnels in Jerusalem, excavated using only hammers and chisels, reached a total Tunnel boring machines of all types length of 540 meters and a volume of 20 000 m2. Aker Wirth manufactures and supplies tunnel And, in 36 BC the Roman Emperor Octavian built boring machines for mechanised tunnel driving in the first road tunnels near Naples that are still in various types of projects. Aker Wirth machines are use today. used in tunnel boring projects all over the world The modern world we live in would be very different and for the excavation of a wide variety of tunnels without these underground structures. They are of from small diameter drainage tunnels to pressure great importance in the densely populated regions tunnels for hydroelectric power plants, cable tunnels, rail and road tunnels. of the world. And the necessity and demand for these highly technical, specialised constructions is rising as the worlds population continues to grow. Blasting or boring? Tunneling by drill and blast is still a popular and well respected technique in tunnel construction. For centuries, explosives have been helping miners and tunnel builders to excavate, first with gunpowder, and more recently with nitroglycerine and dynamite. Nowadays, modern explosives are used that minimise the impact to the environment during tunneling.

Mechanised tunneling Tunnel boring machines

Mechanised tunneling with tunnel boring machines

Selection of the tunnel boring machine The selection of the appropriate tunnel boring machine is based on the geological strata through which the tunnel has to be excavated. Whether tunneling is required through hard rock, soft ground or varying formations, Aker Wirth will determine the type of machine needed for the job. Geological surveys are conducted, and the results are the basis of tunnel planning. Tunnel boring machines are industrial production units The tunneling process includes a large number of varied activities and, while the tunnel boring machine is the most important part of the project, it cannot work alone. Modern tunnel boring machines are industrial production plants that must be managed and controlled. This includes experienced management, sophisticated logistics and modern, just-in-time systems of large-scale mass production.

Product portfolio Tunnel boring machines

Hard rock tunneling solutions

Aker Wirth hard rock tunneling technique Our tunnel boring machines (TBM) for hard rock are classified into two types. Open hard rock TBM (known as Aker Wirth gripper TBM) is suited for boring in stable rock. The shielded hard rock TBM is suited for tunneling in varying rock formations that alternate between stable and unstable formations. Special types of TBM of this category are machines for the enlargement of tunnels, Aker Wirth reamer TBM (TBE) and for inclined tunneling.

Aker Wirth gripper TBM The Aker Wirth gripper TBMs are characterised by their unique X-type arrangement of the grippers providing the best support of the machine in the tunnel achieving the most accurate tunnel bore and minimising the impact to the tunnel walls from the boring process.

Aker Wirth Shield TBM The Aker Wirth Shielded hard rock TBM design is customised to the specific rock conditions and various technical solutions are available with respect to machines design. For example the shield design, the gripper arrangement, and the method of the muck discharge.

Research and development Tunnel boring machines

Research and development

Aker Wirth has over 40 years experience in the design and construction of tunneling machines. This provides a solid basis of further developing our technology and the features of our equipment.

Undercutting technology The principle of the undercutting technique is to overcome the tensile strength of the rock mass instead of the compressive strength for rock penetration. The ratio of these two geo-technical characteristics is about 1:10. For example, the tensile strength is about 10 % of the compressive strength. Consequently, undercutting requires less energy compared to cutting in the usual fashion. The two drawings above illustrate the two basic cutting principles. Innovation prize 2005 For the excavation of the Uetliberg Road Tunnel in Zurich, Aker Wirth combined the undercutting technique for hard rock boring with their well-proven reamer technology for large diameter tunneling. Aker Wirth designed and manufactured a new type of reamer-cutter head with a boring diameter of 14.40 m. The head was furnished with special Aker Wirth disc cutters for hard rock undercutting with a diameter of 560 mm. The result of the first worldwide application of this technique on a largediameter hard rock TBM was very positive and encouraging for the entire industry. Undercutting saves energy during the boring process and offers opportunities for the excavation of non-circular tunnel profiles. Aker Wirth was honored with an innovation prize for their development of this new tunnel boring technique. The cutter head for the Uetliberg reamer machine was furnished with disc cutters for undercutting. They were assembled on radial slides at an angle relative to the tunnel face providing for the undercutting approach to the rock mass. The cutter was furnished with less cutters in comparison to a conventional cutter head of the same diameter resulting in savings with respect to energy consumption and for disc cutter expenses. Another application of the undercutting technology currently being researched is the mobile tunneling machine which will provide for variation of the boring cross section and boring tight curves along the alignment.

Rock excavation with disc cutters Conventional

Rock excavation with disc cutters Undercutting method

Partner for the whole project Tunnel boring machines

Partner for the whole project

Aker Wirths portfolio in the tunneling industry is not limited to the supply of TBMs alone. The companys philosophy is to be a project partner for their clients and customers. Aker Wirth provides all the services and products necessary for the successful operation of a TBM on site.

Aker Wirth stands by their customers during assembly, start-up, operation and disassembly of TBMs on site. Our highly qualified field service engineers are wellknown and respected in the industry.

Aker Wirth provides all kinds of back-up systems for their TBM for material supply and muck haulage by train or by long-distance tunnel conveyor or by truck.

Partner for the whole project Tunnel boring machines

Aker Wirth TBMs are high quality machines. Aker Wirth provides their customers with full services and all of the machine components needed for change during overhaul and modification of new projects. Parts and components for Aker Wirth machines are available for the life of the product.

> Aker Wirth provides high quality disc cutters, developed and manufactured in-house for all types and kinds of TBM. >> Aker Wirth provides on-site warehouses including spares and wear parts for their TBMs to support the availability of the machines during operation.

Tunnel boring machines

Cover photo by Thomas Ernsting

Aker Wirth GmbH Klner Strasse 71 73 41812 Erkelenz Germany P: +49 2431 83-0 F: +49 2431 83-267 akerwirth.info@akersolutions.com www.akersolutions.com/akerwirth 2009 Aker Solutions All rights reserved

Reg. No. 133

Reg. No. 40135

TUN01-51000251.1-1009