Super-large diameter slurry shield tunnel encountering boulder formation: Detection, treatment and data analysis

Boulders pose substantial challenges in coastal urban tunnel engineering. This study, for the first time, utilizes extensive closely spaced borehole data from 3486 drilling points obtained during actual tunnelling through boulder strata to evaluate the effectiveness of microtremor detection, analyze variations in operational parameters, and assess the efficiency of blasting treatment. Additionally, leveraging borehole data, a 3D reconstruction of the soil-boulder-bedrock stratum was developed, and the stratum content ratio at the excavation face was derived. A multivariate linear regression model was established to explore the relationship between boulder geology and construction parameters. The results demonstrated that microtremor surveys effectively identified boulder distributions by analyzing horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio curves and differences in surface wave phase velocity. Field drilling confirmed the high accuracy of microtremor predictions, particularly in areas with dense or thick boulder layers. Post-blasting secondary drilling revealed boulder fragments smaller than 30 cm, meeting the operational requirements for shield cutter and crusher systems. The presence of boulders was found to increase thrust, torque, and overturning moments, as well as cause abnormal cutter wear. Blasting significantly reduced the standard deviation of operational data, demonstrating its effectiveness in stabilizing tunnelling performance. Regression analysis showed a strong correlation between geological conditions and tunnelling parameters, with results indicating that blasting operations effectively mitigate the adverse impacts of boulders on shield tunnelling performance. This study aims to provide valuable insights and references for future engineering projects encountering similar complex geological conditions.