10 Comments

Great article! We also have different shapes of TBM these days like the "double O" and square designs!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnelling_shield#/media/File:Shielded-machine.JPG

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I recently came across a very nice exploration of modern tunnel construction here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AV2NcyX7pk

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See also

https://petra.cc/

Petra has invented the first green trenchless multi-tool to bore through all geologies - including nightmare geologies like hard rock - at a variety of diameters, unlocking the ability to bore utility tunnels at scale.

Also

https://www.quaise.energy/

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An awesome article, thank you for all the time and effort you put into it! In Vancouver we currently have two tunnel-boring machines excavating twin subway tunnels (cut-and-cover was judged to be too disruptive), but I didn't know anything at all about the history of tunnel-boring machines. https://www.broadwaysubway.ca/construction/current-work/

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Статья наглядно показывает, что для мягких пород разработны конструкции туннельных комбайнов . Проблемы не решены для проходки в твердых, скальных породах, которые можно свободно решить если в рабочую части комбайна использовать УБС техноогию разрушения горных пород,, согласно патента США 7195086, которая обеспечит одновременное повышение проходки до двух раз, скорости ппроходки до 50%, увеличение часовой стойкости режущих элвеменов комбайна до 35% при уменшении твердосплавного вооружения комбайна до 7%

УБС технология основана на новых знаниях математического описания процесса разрушения крепких горных пород. Подробно см. linkedin.com/in/victorlytvynenko-bb7b272b4/recent-activity/all/.

Гл .контсруктор УБС технологии -Виктор Литвиненко

The article clearly shows that tunnel combine designs have been developed for soft rocks. The problems have not been solved for driving in hard, rocky rocks, which can be easily solved if the UBS technology for destroying rocks is used in the working part of the combine, according to US patent 7195086, which will provide a simultaneous increase in driving up to two times, the speed of driving up to 50%, an increase in the hourly resistance of the cutting elements of the combine up to 35% with a decrease in the hard-alloy weapon of the combine up to 7%. UBS technology is based on new knowledge of the mathematical description of the process of destruction of hard rocks. For details, see : linkedin.com/in/victorlytvynenko-bb7b272b4/recent-activity/all/.

Chief designer of UBS technology - Viktor Lytvynenko

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You'd need a lot of energy to heat the rock to melt it and to evaporate any water. You'd have to deal with various released volatiles and combustion side products. You'd need a tunneling machine that could work with molten rock. You'd have to pump out lava which means keeping it hot until can be dumped somewhere. You wouldn't want any humans near the cutting face. You'd have to come up with a shutdown procedure that doesn't leave the machine embedded in frozen rock.

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Great piece. Can you point me to the source for the 25% decompression deaths? Thanks!

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Great article.

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Typo -- subsistence should be subsidence.

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Why not melt the rock or soil?

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