42065 Tunnel Boring Machines and Trenchless Technologies
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Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate and Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): 120 credit points of completed study in Bachelor's Degree owned by FEIT OR 120 credit points of completed study in Bachelor's Honours Embedded Degree owned by FEIT OR 120 credit points of completed study in Bachelor's Combined Degree owned by FEIT OR 120 credit points of completed study in Bachelor's Combined Honours Degree owned by FEIT OR 120 credit points of completed study in Bachelor's Combined Degree co-owned by FEIT OR 120 credit points of completed study in Bachelor's Combined Honours Degree co-owned by FEIT
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Recommended studies:
Engineering Geology, Soil Mechanics, Solid Mechanics, and Geotechnical Engineering
Description
This subject provides an overview and history of tunnel boring machines (TBMs), types of TBMs and TBM cutting tools, the role of TBMs in various tunnel excavation methods in hard and soft grounds and difficult ground conditions, tunnel support during excavation by TBM, tunnel lining, chemicals, and grouts for TBM tunnelling, constraints of urban tunnelling and cutter wear prognosis are discussed and studied.
The second part of this subject provides an overview of small infrastructure and trenchless technologies for gas, water, and sewer pipes, electrical cables and ducts, different types of trenchless techniques, depending on the geology and geotechnics, boring techniques and bore fluids, equipment selection, potential problems in microtunneling, review of renovation of existing pipelines, and new development trends and techniques in trenchless technology.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Apply fundamental and advanced knowledge of tunnel boring machines and trenchless technologies to underground structures and tunnels. (D.1) |
|---|---|
| 2. | Justify appropriate techniques for tunnel boring machines and trenchless technologies, considering the project application, and ground condition. (C.1) |
| 3. | Manage and eliminate risks and hazards in underground structures by improving safety and identifying constraints and uncertainties. (B.1) |
| 4. | Reflect on lessons learned in the context of student’s own professional practice and industry. (F.1) |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):
- Socially Responsible: FEIT graduates identify, engage, and influence stakeholders, and apply expert judgment establishing and managing constraints, conflicts and uncertainties within a hazards and risk framework to define system requirements and interactivity. (B.1)
- Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design thinking and decision-making methodologies in new contexts or to novel problems, to explore, test, analyse and synthesise complex ideas, theories or concepts. (C.1)
- Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply theoretical, conceptual, software and physical tools and advanced discipline knowledge to research, evaluate and predict future performance of systems characterised by complexity. (D.1)
- Reflective: FEIT graduates critically self-review their own and others' performance with a high level of responsibility to improve and practice competently for the benefit of professional practice and society. (F.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
The teaching and learning strategies in this subject include lectures, collaborative learning approaches, group project, quizzes, and report. this subject includes both online and face to face learning approaches by asking students to review the pre-lecture materials and notes and then attend the face-to-face sessions including the interactive lecture and discussion on the topics in the collaborative learning environment. Industry professionals will also present and deliver lectures in several sessions to share their case studies and provide information on practical aspects of work. The group project will focus on collaborative learning, teamwork, discussion, engineering judgement, research, and problem-solving skills. The constructive feedback will be provided to students during the semester to address the comments before submitting the final report/project. The materials for lectures and formative quiz questions will be posted on Canvas for students. Also, students are required to attend the tutorial sessions to solve questions and to receive feedback. The main focus of this subject will be on interactive learning, understanding the practical aspect of tunnelling and underground engineering for TBM and trenchless technologies and constructive assessment tasks to improve the learning experience.
Content (topics)
This subject covers the following content areas:
- Principles of underground structures using tunnel boring machines (TBM)
- An overview and history of TBMs, types of TBMs and TBM cutting tools
- The role of TBMs in various tunnel excavation methods in hard and soft grounds and difficult ground conditions – fault zones, squeezing, rock bursts, high water pressure
- Assessment of applicability of TBMs and selection of TBM for a project
- Geological investigations and impact of geological/geotechnical factors on TBM operations
- Operating principle, components, applicability, case studies for Gripper TBM / Main Beam TBM / Open TBM, Single Shield TBM, Double Shield TBM, Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) TBM, Slurry Shield TBM, and Hybrid/Crossover/Multi-mode/Variable Density TBMs
- Tunnel support during excavation by TBM
- Tunnel lining
- Chemicals and grouts for TBM tunnelling
- Constraints of urban tunnelling and cutter wear prognosis
- Speeding up a TBM Project
- An overview of small infrastructure & trenchless technologies (gas, water, and sewers), cables and ducts.
- Various types of trenchless technique including:
- Horizontal Directional Drilling?
- Auger Boring?
- Pipe jacking
- Microtunneling?
- Geology and geotechnics in relation to boring techniques and bore fluids
- Equipment selection for Microtunneling
- Potential problems in Microtunneling and shaft construction
- Renovation of existing pipelines
- New development trends and techniques
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Evaluation and application of TBMs around the world considering the rock mass analysis and field consideration
| Intent: | Evaluation and application of TBMs around the world considering the rock mass analysis and field consideration. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1, C.1, D.1 and F.1 |
| Type: | Project |
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed |
| Weight: | 60% |
| Length: | 20 pages (7000 words) |
Assessment task 2: Selection of suitable trenchless technology techniques considering Geology and geotechnics
| Intent: | Selection of suitable trenchless technology techniques considering Geology and geotechnics |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1, C.1, D.1 and F.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 15 pages (5000 words) |
Assessment task 3: Quizzes
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1 and 2 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 and D.1 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | Mandatory task that does not contribute to subject mark |
Minimum requirements
In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.
Required texts
A set of lecture notes covering the topics is provided to students on Canvas. Canvas will be used for announcements, links to resources and self-assessment quizzes.