Screw Conveyor Device for Laboratory Tests on Conditioned Soil for EPB Tunneling Operations
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 133, Issue 12
Abstract
Earth pressure balanced (EPB) full face tunneling machines have experienced a remarkable increase in the number of applications throughout the world due to both mechanical developments and a more effective use of additives to condition the ground. Conditioning modifies the mechanical and hydraulic properties of a soil by making it suitable for the pressure control in the bulk chamber and extraction with the screw conveyor. The extraction system plays a fundamental role during the EPB operations particularly for a correct application of the face pressure. Despite the extensive use of the EPB technique, little knowledge exists concerning the understanding of the behavior of conditioned soil, particularly for noncohesive ground (sand and gravel). This paper presents and describes a prototype laboratory device, which simulates the extraction of the ground from a pressurized tank with a screw conveyor. The results of a preliminary test program carried out on a medium sized sand show that the prototype device is efficient in verifying the effects of foam for an optimal use in EPB conditioning.
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Acknowledgments
The writers would like to thank the MAPEI Company for the technical and financial support for this research. Special thanks are due to Professor S. Pelizza for his suggestions and his guide and to Dr. D. Gallina and Dr. L. Borio who cooperated in the execution of the tests during their MSc thesis work. The writers have contributed equally to the development of this research.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 133 • Issue 12 • December 2007
Pages: 1622 - 1625
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Feb 7, 2006
Accepted: Jun 15, 2007
Published online: Dec 1, 2007
Published in print: Dec 2007
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