Risk management applicable to shield TBM tunnel: I. Risk factor analysis

Abstract

In general, risk management consists of a series of processes or steps including risk identification, risk analysis, risk evaluation, risk mitigation measures, and risk re-evaluation. In this paper, potential risk factors that occur in shield TBM tunnels were investigated based on many previous case studies and questionaries to tunnel experts. The risk factors were classified as geological, design or construction management features. Fault Tree was set up by dividing all feasible risks into four groups that associated with: cutter; machine confinement; mucking (driving) and segments. From the Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), 12 risk items were identified and the probability of failure of each chosen risk item was obtained.