A study on institutional improvements for optimal shield TBM selection and its application to power cable tunnels

Jung Joo Kim; Hee Hwan Ryu; Dong Joon Youn; Won Gyu Hwang; Kyung Jin Kim; Suk Jae Lee

doi:10.9711/KTAJ.2026.28.1.041

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2026 Vol.28, Issue 1 Preview Page Next Page

Research Paper

A study on institutional improvements for optimal shield TBM selection and its application to power cable tunnels 최적 쉴드TBM 장비선정을 위한 제도개선 및 전력구 터널 적용 연구

31 January 2026. pp. 41-62

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Abstract

With the increasing national electricity demand and the implementation of the energy highway policy, the construction of power cable tunnels is expanding, and shield tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are being widely adopted as a core construction method in densely populated urban areas and sections with significant surface-use constraints. This study aims to enhance the selection process of shield TBMs applied to power cable tunnels by strengthening the design procedures at the basic and detailed design stages and clearly reflecting the derived basic design specifications in the project specifications (bidding documents). In addition, a TBM selection committee was established to determine optimal machine performance through the collection and coordination of opinions from various stakeholders, including the client, designers, and manufacturers. The proposed process was applied to a large-scale transmission line construction project, through which the basic design specifications for 15 shield TBMs were clearly defined in the project specifications considering site-specific ground conditions. As a result, design-stage requirements were effectively conveyed to the manufacturing stage, leading to improvements in drive unit torque, cutterhead rotation speed, and sealing performance to approximately 122–237% of the design specifications. Furthermore, through coordination from the Equipment Selection Committee, the drive unit power drive unit performance reached, an average of approximately 104% of the design specifications across all tunnel sections, demonstrating a significant contribution to meeting the target construction schedule.

Keywords

Power cable tunnel

Shield TBM

TBM basic design

Construction specifications

TBM selection committee

국가 전력수요 증가와 에너지 고속도로 정책 추진에 따라 전력구 터널 건설이 확대되고 있으며, 쉴드TBM은 대도시 밀집지역과 지상 이용 제약이 큰 구간에서 핵심 공법으로 활용되고 있다. 본 연구는 전력구 터널에 투입되는 쉴드TBM 장비의 선정 프로세스를 강화하기 위해 기본 및 실시설계 단계에서의 설계 프로세스를 강화하고, 도출된 기본설계 사양을 공사시방서(입찰내역서)에 명확히 반영하도록 하였다. 장비선정위원회를 운영하여 발주기관, 설계기관, 제작기관 등 다양한 관계기관의 의견을 수렴함으로써 최적의 장비 성능을 결정하도록 하였다. 이를 대규모 송전선로 건설사업에 적용한 결과, 현장 지반조건을 고려한 15개소 쉴드TBM의 기본설계 사양을 공사시방서에 구체적으로 제시할 수 있었으며, 설계단계 요구사항이 제작단계에 효과적으로 전달되어 구동부 토크, 커터헤드 회전수 및 씰 성능이 설계사양 대비 전반적으로 122–237% 수준으로 향상되었다. 또한, 장비선정위원회 내 협의를 통해 구동부 동력성능은 모든 터널구간에서 설계사양 대비 평균 104% 수준을 만족하여, 목표 공사기간 달성에 긍정적인 효과를 기대할 수 있다.

키워드

전력구 터널

쉴드TBM

TBM 기본설계

공사시방서

장비선정위원회

References

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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 : 28
No :1
Pages :41-62
Received Date : 2025-12-31
Revised Date : 2026-01-19
Accepted Date : 2026-01-22
DOI :https://doi.org/10.9711/KTAJ.2026.28.1.041

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

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