C O L U M N
Rules of
Thumb
TBM data acquisition and interpretation
T
HE STORAGE AND
VISUALIZATION OF measured
values acquired by sensors and
recorders are crucial elements of
TBM tunnelling. All work performed by
the machine is documented and recorded
to allow for complete or partial tracing
of the tunnel construction in real-time
or after completion.
The purpose of a TBM data
acquisition system can be summarized
as the “acquisition, processing, storage,
display, and evaluation of all data
connected to the tunnelling machine.”
This information provides a vast
and complex set of data that allows
engineers and operators to further
dissect TBM operation that typically
cannot be ascertained from the real-time
information available in the field.
A TBM data acquisition system
continuously displays and visually
represents all measured data on the
Human-Machine Interface. Logging,
however, occurs only at specific times.
The average time period between
logs can be individually selected for
each measuring point, but generally
defaults to five or 10 seconds for most
parameters.
The operating phases of the TBM are
generally classified according to three
periods: advance, ring building, and
standstill. These three phases form a unit
called a “ring.” The data for each ring is
usually stored in separate consecutively
numbered files (depending on TBM
manufacturer).
An immediate correlation to the
respective construction phase can be
made based on the ring number, file
date and file time. The data acquisition
program automatically opens after each
system restart and loads all required
program components into memory. It
then acquires, stores, and visualizes the
available measured data.
Some of the most common
parameters/graphs representing the
general status of TBM operation are
ram extension, rate of advance, thrust
force, cutter head torque, face pressures,
40 | December ~ January 2020 | www.tunnelsandtunnelling.com
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Keivan Rafie
Keivan is lead tunnel engineer for Stantec,
and a columnist for Tunnels & Tunnelling
weight/volume of excavated material,
and grout volumes.
Of course, illustrating too many
parameters on one chart makes
interpretation more difficult, so there
must always be a compromise between
the amount of information given and
the clarity of the graphics. Here are few
examples:
■ Example 1, Face pressure graphs:
In successful pressurized operation,
face pressures should always be
maintained and monitored through
the data acquisition system. The
range of pressures in the chamber can
be assessed by information available
from pressure cells. The TBM operator
closely monitors excavated material
and adjusts the type and amount
of water, bentonite, polymers, and
foam to ensure that the material or
“air bubble” is properly forming a
plug to resist piezometric and ground
pressures.
■ Example 2, Information obtained
from the data acquisition system on
thrust, cutterhead torque, rotation per
minute and rate of advance can help
the operator achieve and optimize
higher advance rates in two ways:
First, a higher cutterhead rotation
speed, increases the distance that
cutters or rippers travel and thus their
work per unit time (millimetres per
minute). In this case, the cutterhead
torque will increase. An increase in
cutterhead torque can also result
from other factors such as poor
ground conditioning or high material
density in the excavation chamber.
Second, higher forward forces in
TBM cylinders make cutters and
rippers excavate more “intensively,”
thereby increasing the cut depth per
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cutterhead rotation. In this case, both
the TBM thrust force and its torque
will increase. The TBM thrust can also
be increased due to shield friction
with the ground or the TBM’s pulling
force due to its weight.
■ Example 3, The graphical
representation of the relationship
between TBM thrust force and
contact force of a cutterhead is
mainly used to identify any opposing
forces to the TBM other than the
excavation face. In general, the
TBM thrust is used to maintain EPB
pressure, push the material in the
chamber, pull the gantries, and make
up for frictional forces around the
shield.
The thrust leftover from propulsion
energy is consumed by the cutterhead in
the form of the contact force required
to cut through the ground. Because the
parameters other than contact force
are relatively constant during normal
TBM operation, TBM contact and thrust
forces are typically synchronized in
their fluctuations. Therefore, any major
change in the difference between these
two forces suggests a status change
in other parameters and in many cases
indicates an obstacle during operation.
These were just a few examples
of how you can interpret TBM data.
At the end of the day, the recipe
for success in TBM tunnelling is
proper engineering and monitoring,
combined with experienced operators.
Data acquisition cannot prevent
breakdowns from happening but allows
the rapid identification of the root
cause of a breakdown and the timely
implementation of corrective actions.
02/12/2019 11:29