Efficiency evaluation of rock cutting by TBM disc cutter in closely jointed rock mass

Afrasiabi, Navid; Noroozi, Mehdi; Ramezanzadeh, Ahmad

doi:10.22044/jme.2025.16405.3201

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

¹ Faculty of Mining, Petroleum and Geophysics Engineering, Shahrood University of Technology

² Faculty of Mining, Petroleum and Geophysics Engineering, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood,Iran

³ Faculty of Mining, Petroleum and Geophysics Engineering, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran

10.22044/jme.2025.16405.3201

Abstract

In this research, the effect of geometric parameters of closely joints on rock cutting efficiency by TBM disc cutter is studied using PFC3D software. A validated numerical model of linear cutting machine test is developed and the efficiency of disc cutter is investigated on rock mass specimens with different joint configurations (possible combination of dip angles of 30, 60, 90 degrees with joint spacings of 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 cm). Numerical modeling results reveal that in general, the joint spacing has a greater effect on rock cutting efficiency than joint orientation. If the joint spacing is less than 10 cm, the role of the joint angle is reduced and the distances between the joints control the efficiency. When the joints are close together and have a spacing of less than 10 cm, particularly 3 to 5 cm, the best cutting efficiency can be achieved for a joint angle of 90 degrees. The cutting coefficient is decreased by increasing the joint spacing and the maximum CC occurs at a joint spacing of 5 cm. For joint spacing more than 10 cm, the joints with a 90 degrees dip angle have the greatest impact on the specific energy and reduce cutting efficiency. The best disc cutter efficiency and the minimum required normal force is achieved when joint spacing is more than 10 cm and the angle between the joints and advance direction of the disc cutter is 60 degrees. In the tunnel excavation process, with increasing joint spacing, the TBM machine thrust is more important than its torque. The findings of this research provide a basis for predicting TBM efficiency through joint characteristics.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Numerical Modelling

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Efficiency evaluation of rock cutting by TBM disc cutter in closely jointed rock mass

References

References

Volume 17, Issue 4July and August 2026Pages 1475-1491

Volume 17, Issue 4
July and August 2026
Pages 1475-1491