China's domestically developed tunnel-boring equipment has achieved a localization rate of 60 percent.
2013-08-26
The prototype slurry balance tunneling machine "Jin Yue," developed and built by five organizations including Shanghai Urban Construction Tunneling Co., Ltd., boasts full independent intellectual property rights and a diameter of 11.22 meters. It was successfully deployed in the Dapu Road twin-tunnel project—a key infrastructure supporting the Shanghai World Expo—and completed the 1,472-meter-long tunneling task flawlessly. During construction, the "Jin Yue" slurry balance shield machine operated smoothly, showcasing the exceptional maneuverability and precision of domestically produced shield equipment, especially when it came to protecting nearby structures and navigating ultra-small-radius tunneling sections.
The prototype slurry balance tunneling machine "Jin Yue," developed and built by five organizations including Shanghai Urban Construction Tunneling Co., Ltd., boasts full independent intellectual property rights and a diameter of 11.22 meters. It was successfully deployed in the Dapu Road twin-tunnel project—a key infrastructure supporting the Shanghai World Expo—and completed the 1,472-meter-long tunneling task. Throughout the construction process, the "Jin Yue" operated smoothly, showcasing the exceptional maneuverability and precision of domestically produced tunneling equipment, particularly in protecting nearby structures and navigating ultra-small-radius tunnels.
As a key R&D project under China’s 11th Five-Year Plan, the research on "Key Technologies and Prototype Development for Slurry Balance Tunnel Boring Machines" has narrowed the gap between China and global leaders in tunneling equipment technology. It has also filled the domestic technological void in the design and manufacturing of large-diameter slurry balance TBMs, finally breaking China’s longstanding reliance on imported equipment for this critical area.
According to reports, importing a single 11-meter-diameter slurry shield typically costs around 160 million yuan. However, through research on key technologies for large-diameter slurry balance shields, the localization rate has reached 68.33%. Developing such a shield domestically now costs about 120 million yuan—representing a 25% reduction in costs compared to imports.
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Technical Review of Slurry Pressure Balance Shield
Abstract: Slurry Pressure Balance Shield (SPB) represents a core type of closed‑face shield machine, which is widely adopted in tunnel engineering projects constructed in strata with high groundwater pressure and high permeability. This paper illustrates the working principle of SPB shields. Two major technical routes are classified according to pressure regulation modes: the direct‑control type (Japanese design) and the indirect air‑cushion control type (German design). A comparison is conducted regarding control logic, pressure stability and stratum adaptability between the two machine types. The excavation‑face stabilization mechanism governed by the coupling effect between filter cake and slurry pressure is analyzed. Technical comparison with Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) shields is also performed, providing references for shield machine type selection and construction‑technology research. 【This article is compiled for popular science purposes in the industry. Part of the technical data refers to publicly available professional literature.】
Main Composition and Technical Characteristics of Earth Pressure Balance Shield Machine
Abstract: The earth pressure balance (EPB) shield is mainstream equipment for urban tunnel construction. This article sorts out the composition and technical features of core systems of the EPB shield, including cutterhead, soil conditioning, muck‑removal conveying, grouting & sealing, guidance and monitoring. It analyzes component functions and selection points under various working conditions for industry‑wide technical exchange. 【This article is compiled for popular science purposes in the industry. Part of the technical data refers to publicly available professional literature.】
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