Development of Discharged Soil Measuring Device for Shield Tunneling Machines

Abstract

It is very important to know the volume of discharged soil for more adequate excavating control of the shield tunneling machines . In confined soil shields and mechanical shields, excavated soil is discharged by belt conveyors and muck cars, so it has been difficult to evaluate the discharged soil volume . In this study we have developed a discharged soil, measuring system to evaluate the volume of discharged soil in real time . This system is equipped with ( 1) an ultrasonic sensor or (2) light section microscope with laser to measure the cross -sectional area of transported soil on a belt conveyor . Using this system, it is possible to evaluate the volume of discharged soil with good accuracy in a very humid environment like a shield tunneling machine . This system is effective not only for volume measurement of soil flow but also for volume measurement of granular material such as coal , and powder such as flour on belt conveyor systems.

Flow analysis in right-angled pipes with different geometric shapes and parameters for sludge discharge in slime shield machines measured using a CFD-DEM method

“…At present, significant advancements have been achieved in the research and development of shield tunneling machines by scientists and engineers around the world. For example, Huo et al [1] and Li et al [2] analyzed the mechanical properties of the cutterhead of the shield machine， and optimized the cutterhead to significantly reduce the equivalent stress and deformation of the cutterhead; Shi et al [3] analyzed the torque of cutterhead of the EPB shield machine, and found that the cutter opening and earth pressure are two important factors affecting torque of the cutter; Qi et al [4] studied the rock breaking process of the cutter of the road header, and determined the optimal knife spacing of the rock; Moeinossadat et al [5] , Zhu、Li [6] and Li et al [7] studied the surface subsidence caused by shield tunneling, and proposed effective methods for predicting surface settlement; Ooishi et al [8] developed a shield bulldozer measuring device to facilitate accurate measurement of the discharged muck; Shi et al [9][10] and Yang et al [11] analyzed the energy conservation of the shield machine system to reduce the energy loss of the shield machine; Yang et al [12][13] ，Wang et al [14][15] ， Zhang et al [16] and Zhao et al [17] studied the dynamics of the shield thruster system which is helpful for the in-depth study of the dynamic characteristics of the shield thrust system;…”