FOREIGN EXPERIENCE OF THE USE OF V-TYPE DISC CUTTERS IN TUNNELING AS A REFERENCE POINT FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDIES IN RUSSIA

Abstract

Equipping of TBMs with rock cutting tools in the modern foreign practice of tunneling is based on the usage of CCS-type disc cutters. But there is also another type of tool for rock destruction when tunneling. It is a V-type disc cutter. As practice shows, in some situations it can provide greater work efficiency than a standard tool. Domestic research in this direction is mainly limited to the study of V-type tools of relatively small diameter for equipping roadheaders. Thus, this experience cannot be applied, if necessary, to the tunneling operations with TBM. Therefore, the studying of foreign experience on this issue is advisable. The paper analyzes studies conducted by foreign experts in the process of tunneling for various purposes in Turkey in the first decade of this century. These studies include the determination of a wide range of physical and technical properties of rocks, laboratory and field tests to determine the strength characteristics of the rock destruction process, comparison of laboratory, field and theoretical values of forces and energy performance of TBMs. As a result of the tests, it was found that the effectiveness of rock destruction is determined not only by their strength, but also by struc-tural and texture features. Differences were also observed when comparing laboratory experiments with field data, and comparing laboratory and full-scale force values on disc cutters in the process of rock destruction with theoretical values. In addition, the prospective areas of application of V-type disk cutters include the destruction of viscous non-abrasive rocks with a small amount of mineral inclusions or, with some reservations, the destruction of very hard and abrasive rocks. Not all conclusions made on the basis of the analysis performed coincide with the opinions of the authors of the initial studies, therefore, for a more complete understanding of the topic, it is recommended to read the literature (especially foreign literature) from the list of quoted sources.