Rock Mech. Rock Engng.

(1997) 30 (4), 237

Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering 9 Springer-Verlag 1997 Printed in Austria

Book Review

Tunnel Boring Machines. Trends in Design and Construction of Mechanized Tunnelling. Proceedings of the International Lecture Series TBM Tunnelling Trends Hagenberg, Austria, 14-15 Dec. 1995. 263 pp., Balkema, Rotterdam, Brookefield 1996. The 26 papers presented by authors from 8 countries at the conference on "TBM Tunnelling Trends" are divided up into the following topics (the number of papers in each are given in [ ]): TBM Drive - Technology [7], TBM Automation, Simulation and Quali~ Control [5], TBM Challenges [8], TBM Tunnel Lining~Segment Manufacturing [6]. The following papers were selected for special attention because of their high technical standard: S. and L. Babendererde give a comprehensive overview of the possibilities and limits of today's TBMs in soft and hard rock as well as their development trends. One frequently discussed development is that of semi- and fully-automatic tunnelling machines (M. Herrenknecht among others). This includes the fully-automatic production of lining segments together with a completely computerized quality control and the robot-controlled placement of the lining system in the tunnel. Worthy of mention is also the paper by T. Hanamura on the state of the art of TBM technology in Japan and present trends of technology innovation. Shield tunneling with continuous multiple circular sections, rotating shield technology, flexible shields (elliptical excavation), reaming TBMs for enlargement of existed tunnels and many others interesting developments are covered. The international EUREKA project "CONTUN" (papers by S. Strohhausl and N. Herwegh) is concerned with the development of TBMs for working under high overburden pressures. These machines have to be fitted with variable bore diameters and deformable shields. In order to allow deformations without overstressing the lining, deformable lining segments with a suitable sealing system in the joints is a further aim of the project. It will probably not be possible to apply the results of this study in engineering practice. This fact is borne out for example by the Yacumbu tunnel in Venezuela (S. L. Babendererde), which demonstrates the limited usefulness of the TBM method when large rock deformations occur during tunnel excavation. R. Zurkirchen, Zurich