Evaluating rheological properties of excavated soil for EPB shield TBM with foam and polymer

Byeonghyun Hwang; Minkyu Kang; Kibeom Kwon; Jeonghun Yang; Hangseok Choi

doi:10.9711/KTAJ.2023.25.5.387

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2023 Vol.25, Issue 5 Preview Page

Research Paper

Evaluating rheological properties of excavated soil for EPB shield TBM with foam and polymer 폼과 폴리머를 활용한 EPB 쉴드 TBM 굴착토의 유동학적 특성 평가

30 September 2023. pp. 387-401

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Abstract

The Earth Pressure Balanced (EPB) Shield Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) is widely employed for constructing urban underground spaces due to its minimal vibration and low noise levels. The injection of additives offers several advantages, including maintaining shield chamber pressure, reducing shear strength, minimizing cutter wear, and decreasing the permeability of the excavated soil. This technique is known as soil conditioning and involves the application of additives such as foam, polymer, and bentonite slurry. In this study, weathered granite soil commonly encountered at domestic tunnel sites was used as a soil specimen. Foam and polymer were applied as additives to assess the rheological properties of conditioned soils. The workability was evaluated through slump tests, while the rheological properties were assessed through laboratory pressurized vane shear tests conducted under the same conditions. Specially, the polymer was applied under specific conditions with low workability with high slump values, with the aim of evaluating the impact of polymer application. The test results revealed that with an increase in the Foam Injection Ratio (FIR), the slump value also increased, while the torque, peak strength, yield stress, apparent viscosity, and thixotropic area decreased. Conversely, an increase in the Polymer Injection Ratio (PIR) led to results opposite to those of FIR. Additionally, a correlation between the slump value and yield stress was proposed. When comparing conditions with only foam applied to those with both foam and polymer applied, even with similar slump values, the yield stress was found to be lower in the latter conditions.

Keywords

EPB (Earth Pressure Balanced)

TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine)

Soil conditioning

Additives

Rheological properties

토압식(Earth Pressure Balanced, EPB) 쉴드 TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) 공법은 진동과 소음이 적어 도심지 지하공간 시공에 적극적으로 활용되고 있다. 이때 첨가제 주입은 막장압 유지, 전단강도 감소, 커터의 마모량 최소화, 굴착토의 투수계수 감소 등 다양한 효과를 보인다. 이러한 기술을 쏘일 컨디셔닝이라 하며, 일반적으로 첨가제로 폼, 폴리머, 벤토나이트 슬러리 등을 적용한다. 본 연구에서는 국내 터널 현장에서 빈번하게 조우하는 화강풍화토 시료에 대해 폼과 폴리머를 첨가제로 적용하여 유동학적 특성을 평가하였다. 슬럼프 시험을 통해 작업성(Workability)을 평가하고, 동일한 시험 조건에 대해 실내 가압 베인전단 시험을 수행하여 유동학적 특성을 평가하였다. 이때 슬럼프 값이 높아 작업성이 떨어지는 경우, 폴리머를 추가 적용하여 폴리머 적용이 유동학적 특성에 미치는 영향을 검토하였다. 시험 결과, 폼 주입비(Foam Injection Ratio, FIR)가 증가함에 따라 슬럼프 값은 증가한 반면 토크, 첨두강도 및 항복응력, 겉보기 점도, 틱소트로피 면적은 감소하였다. 하지만, 폴리머 주입비(Polymer Injection Ratio, PIR)는 폼 주입비와 상반되는 결과를 확인하였다. 시험결과 비교를 통해 슬럼프 값과 항복응력 간의 상관관계를 제시하였다. 그리고 폼 만을 적용한 조건과 폼과 폴리머 모두 적용한 조건을 비교한 결과, 유사한 슬럼프 값을 보이더라도 폼과 폴리머 모두 적용한 조건에서 더 낮은 항복응력이 도출되었다.

키워드

토압식

TBM

쏘일 컨디셔닝

첨가제

유동학적 특성

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Information

Publisher :Korean Tunneling and Underground Space Association
Publisher(Ko) :한국터널지하공간학회
Journal Title :Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
Journal Title(Ko) :한국터널지하공간학회 논문집
Volume : 25
No :5
Pages :387-401
Received Date : 2023-08-14
Revised Date : 2023-09-05
Accepted Date : 2023-09-05
DOI :https://doi.org/10.9711/KTAJ.2023.25.5.387

Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association ISSN:2233-8292(Print) 2287-4747(Online) 한국터널지하공간학회 논문집

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