Tunnel-Boring Machine Positioning during Microtunneling Operations through Integrating

Automated Data Collection with Real-Time Computing

Abstract:

This research aims to develop an automated and cost-effective solution to guide the advance
of a tunnel-boring machine (TBM) during microtunneling and pipe jacking operations. Pros
and cons of currently available TBM guidance systems are evaluated. A simplified TBM
guidance system is proposed based on integration of automated data collection with real-time
computing. The TBM's position in terms of point coordinates is continuously and
automatically surveyed by a robotic total station, thus making it feasible to derive any line
and level deviations from as-designed tunnel alignment in real time. Furthermore, given the
coordinates of three observation points on the TBM, the attitudes of the TBM, which are
described by three rotation angles of yaw, pitch, and roll, can be determined by a vector
observation algorithm. Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to assess errors of point
positioning and attitude determination by the proposed solution. For concept proving and
application demonstration, a hardware-software integrated prototype system was developed
in house and validation experiments were successfully conducted in terms of: (1) automated
surveying of multiple targets; (2) attitude determination for a moving object that mimicked a
working TBM; and (3) field installation and testing based on an ongoing project.
Nonlinear Finite-Element-Based Investigation of the Effect of Bedding Thickness on Buried
Concrete Pipe

The pipe-soil interaction is studied by using the finite-element software ABAQUS/CAE Version 6.5-1
as a symmetric model of embankment installation to study the effect of bedding property and
thickness on pipe-soil interaction with increase in the height of fill. A three-dimensional (3D) finite-
element method (FEM) model of the concrete pipe and surrounding soil is developed. The FEM
model is capable of simulating material, geometric, and contact nonlinearities which employs a
nonlinear incremental solution algorithm. Several different element types and mesh sizes were
tested to obtain the optimum converged mesh. These elements include eight-noded linear brick
(C3D8R) and six-noded linear triangular prism (C3D6) for modeling of the concrete pipe and
surrounding soil. The behavior of the 3D model is investigated by varying the pipe diameter, backfill
height, bedding thickness, and bedding material. Three material constitutive relationships of soil
involving in the model are gravelly sand and sandy silt. To study the effect of bedding thickness on
the pipe wall, due to the increment of backfill soil depth, contact elements were employed in the
interface between each two regions. The lateral boundaries and model length were also studied for
the converged solution. A parametric study was conducted to study the effects of bedding
thicknesses. The results showed that the increase in bedding thickness reduces tensile stress at
crown, spring line, and especially invert of the pipe wall depending on the material property. This
means the change in material property and compaction level has a greater effect on the reduction of
tensile stresses than the effect from the variation of bedding thicknesses. Also, materials with lower
bedding stiffness (high deformability characteristics) cause greater reduction in induced stresses.
This study shows that for commonly used bedding material (coarse grained gravelly sand), the effect
of the increase in bedding thickness has a minimal effect on stress reduction of the pipes studied.