Long tunnels of many kilometres are likely to pass through a range of geologies which may cause problems. The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by: drilling a first bore 10 along a first predetermined path, the first bore having a length of at least 25 m; drilling a plurality of second bores 20 along respective second predetermined paths, each substantially parallel to the first predetermined path in order to define a substantially prism-shape region therebetween; and excavating material within the substantially prism-shape region to form a tunnel. In this way, data from drilling the first bore 10 and the plurality of second bores 20 can be recorded and used to inform operators as to the types of material through which they will be excavating. Thus, a more complete view of the underlying geology can be achieved before beginning excavations.

A hard rock tunnel boring machine combining microwave heating with high pressure water cutting for assisting in rock breaking includes a tunnel boring machine body, a microwave heating assisted rock breaking system and a high pressure water cutting assisted rock breaking system, wherein the microwave heating assisted rock breaking system is arranged on the tunnel boring machine body, and is used for heating and cracking a rock; and the high pressure water cutting assisted rock breaking system is arranged on the tunnel boring machine body, and is used for performing hydraulic cutting on the rock. A rock breaking sequence lies in that the microwave heating assisted rock breaking system is used for heating and cracking the rock, then the high pressure water cutting assisted rock breaking system is used for performing hydraulic cutting on the rock, and finally, the tunnel boring machine body is used for squeezing and breaking the rock.

The present invention discloses a system and method for phased array sound wave advanced geological exploration for a shield tunneling machine. The system includes a phased array sound wave emitting and receiving apparatus, a probe automatic telescopic apparatus, an automatic protection and cleaning apparatus, and a signal processing and imaging system. Sonic probes are installed on a side wall of a main spoke, opposite to a rotation direction, of a cutterhead of the shield tunneling machine, on the basis of automatic detection of a telescopic state and a contact state, sonic array probes are enabled to make contact with a tunnel face by a hydraulic push rod, a focus sound wave is emitted by using a phased array emitting technology, and a reflected wave signal with front geological information reflected from the front of the tunnel face is received. A scanning direction of a sound wave beam is controlled and changed continuously through a host system, on the premise of obtaining a suspected abnormal body position, the suspected position is imaged in detail by using a focusing image till scanning of a whole two-dimensional section is completed, then the cutterhead is rotated to change an arrangement direction of an array to continue scanning of a next two-dimensional section, and finally three-dimensional geological exploration in front of the tunnel face is realized.

Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) are known that comprise a large metal cylindrical shield fronted by a rotating cutting wheel and containing a chamber where the excavated soil is deposited (and optionally mixed with slurry for extraction, depending on the type of geological/soil conditions). However, TBMs have various disadvantages including the stop-start nature of their tunnelling, and that a single TBM cannot easily transition between different rock/soil types (especially heavily fractured and sheared rock layers). The invention provides a tunnelling shield provided with jet grouting tools arranged to project from a leading edge thereof. In this way, the quality of the geological material into which the tunnel is being excavated may be improved dynamically as part of the excavation process.

Long tunnels of many kilometres are likely to pass through a range of geologies which may cause problems. The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by: drilling a first bore 10 along a first predetermined path, the first bore having a length of at least 25 m; drilling a plurality of second bores 20 along respective second predetermined paths, each substantially parallel to the first predetermined path in order to define a substantially prism-shape region therebetween; and excavating material within the substantially prism-shape region to form a tunnel. In this way, data from drilling the first bore 10 and the plurality of second bores 20 can be recorded and used to inform operators as to the types of material through which they will be excavating. Thus, a more complete view of the underlying geology can be achieved before beginning excavations.

Long tunnels of many kilometres are likely to pass through a range of geologies which may cause problems. The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by: drilling a first bore 10 along a first predetermined path, the first bore having a length of at least 25 m; drilling a plurality of second bores 20 along respective second predetermined paths, each substantially parallel to the first predetermined path in order to define a substantially prism-shape region therebetween; and excavating material within the substantially prism-shape region to form a tunnel. In this way, data from drilling the first bore 10 and the plurality of second bores 20 can be recorded and used to inform operators as to the types of material through which they will be excavating. Thus, a more complete view of the underlying geology can be achieved before beginning excavations.

A shield-carried noncontact frequency-domain electrical real-time advanced detection system and method. Noncontact electrodes are installed on a cutter head of a shield tunneling machine, current is emitted and received using capacitance coupling, the electrodes are connected to a host via a multi-way swivel joint, measured data is inversed and interpreted in real time, and the prediction result is transmitted to a control system of the shield tunneling machine so as to provide a technical support for safety construction of the shield tunneling machine; the noncontact electrodes are installed on the shield cutter head. Real-time advanced detection of geology in front of a tunnel face can be realized in the tunneling process, so that the requirement for quick tunneling construction is met, and the efficiency of advanced geological detection of the shield tunneling machine is improved; and an electrode system is only installed on the cutter head.

A barrier forming apparatus for forming a barrier between an exposed tunnel face (107) and a tunnel boring machine (100), the barrier being formed by the application to the tunnel face of a barrier mixture comprising two highly reactive first and second components. The barrier forming apparatus (10) includes a first reservoir (11) for storing the first component, a second reservoir (12) for storing the second component, and a plurality of applicators (13, 14 and 15). The barrier forming apparatus (10) also includes a third reservoir (56) that is used to store a clearing fluid and a piston flow divider (58) having an inlet (59) and three chambers having respective outlets, (61, 62 and 63) that are in fluid communication with a respective applicator (13, 14 and 15). The applicators are maintained in a state of readiness by a regular supply of clearing fluid passing there through.

A barrier forming apparatus for forming a barrier between an exposed tunnel face (107) and a tunnel boring machine (100), the barrier being formed by the application to the tunnel face of a barrier mixture comprising two highly reactive first and second components. The barrier forming apparatus (10) includes a first reservoir (11) for storing the first component, a second reservoir (12) for storing the second component, and a plurality of applicators (13, 14 and 15). The barrier forming apparatus (10) also includes a third reservoir (56) that is used to store a clearing fluid and a piston flow divider (58) having an inlet (59) and three chambers having respective outlets, (61, 62 and 63) that are in fluid communication with a respective applicator (13, 14 and 15). The applicators are maintained in a state of readiness by a regular supply of clearing fluid passing there through.

A hypergravity model test device for simulating a progressive failure of a shield tunnel face, including a model box, a shield tunnel model, a servo loading control system and a data acquisition system. The servo loading control system includes a servo motor, a planetary roller screw electric cylinder and a loading rod. The data acquisition system includes a displacement transducer, an axial force meter, a pore pressure transducer, an earth pressure transducer and an industrial camera. The servo loading control system is connected to an excavation plate through the loading rod to control the excavation plate to move back and forth along an axial direction of the shield tunnel model at a set speed to simulate failure of the shield tunnel face. A method for simulating a progressive failure of a shield tunnel face is also provided.