SFB 837:  Interaction Modelling in Mechanised Tunnelling

• Subject Area: Construction Engineering and Architecture ; Geosciences ; Materials Science and Engineering ; Mathematics
• Term: from 2010 to 2022
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 77309832

Mechanized tunneling is a highly automated construction process that has proven itself to be suitable for use in a wide range of different geological and hydrological conditions. Its application ranges from urban tunnels driven below sensitive structures with low ground cover to deep alpine tunnels characterized by large ground pressures and high overburdens. However, problems inherent in the mechanized tunneling process, such as its lack of adaptability to unexpected changes in geological conditions, uncertainties in a priori soil information and the complexity of machine-soil interactions present significant challenges in both the planning and construction of tunnels. As a result, tunnel boring machines only reach approx. 30% of their theoretical production capacity during typical tunnel drives. In response to the continuously expanding application range of mechanized tunneling to different geological conditions, the trend towards larger machine diameters, increasing safety requirements and the need to minimize tunneling-related risks, the project, an interdisciplinary team of scientists from civil- and mechanical engineering, computational mechanics and the geosciences, aims to explore and describe the dominant factors and essential processes and interactions that influence safety and efficiency in mechanized tunneling. During its first two research periods, the methods developed by the project based on the synthesis of computer-oriented modeling, experimental investiga-tions and digital planning, have proven extraordinarily successful in answering these questions. Circumstances that could previously only be described in simplified empirical manners can now be explained using well founded physics-based models, which open new perspectives for the better management and optimization of current design, construction and logistics processes.While research during the first two funding phases was focused on the tunneling in soft ground, the proposed research in the third funding period will additionally concentrate on tunneling in difficult geological conditions that today set the limits on the application range of mechanized tunneling. Among other topics, research will be concerned with understanding the as yet unexplored factors that control tunneling processes in expansive soils as well as with the design of novel deformation-tolerant tunnel linings to be used in such situations. From interdisciplinary research between material scientists and geophysicists, essential insights will be gained into the wear of excavation tools and the efficiency of excavation in such difficult geological conditions. Simulation and risk models for the excavation, advancement and logistics processes developed in the SFB 837 will enable improved, environmentally-friendly and low-risk planning and construction processes. These models will be ex-tended to enable real-time prognosis and to provide a platform for the interactive digital design of urban tunneling proj

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres

Current projects

• T02 - Simulations- und monitoring-basierte Echtzeitsteuerung maschineller Tunnelvortriebe (Project Heads Freitag, Steffen ;  Meschke, Günther )
• T03 - Simulation-based planning and steering of mechanized tunneling projects considering onsite and offsite logistics processes (Project Heads König, Markus ;  Thewes, Markus )

Completed projects

• A01 - Baugrunderkennung durch Analyse von Maschinendaten bei Schildvortrieben w¨ahrend des Vortriebs (Project Heads Alber, Michael ;  Thewes, Markus )
• A02 - Development of Effective Concepts for Tunnel Reconnaissance using Acoustic Methods (Project Heads Friederich, Wolfgang ;  Nestorovic, Tamara )
• A04 - Conditioning of the Support Medium and Face Support in Tunneling with Earth-Pressure-Balance-Shields (Project Head Thewes, Markus )
• A05 - Hydro-Mechanical Processes due to Mechanized Tunneling in Soft Clay Rock (Project Head Lavasan, Ph.D., Arash )
• A06 - Local transient face support within hydro-shields (Project Heads Baille, Wiebke ;  Schößer, Britta )
• B01 - Multi-Material Modular Lining Segments for Adaptive and Robust Tunnel Lining Systems (Project Heads Breitenbücher, Rolf ;  Mark, Peter )
• B02 - Damage Analyses and Concepts for Damage-Tolerant Tunnel Linings (Project Heads Meschke, Günther ;  Timothy, Jithender J. )
• B03 - Compressible Annular Gap Grouts for Squeezing Rock (Project Head Breitenbücher, Rolf )
• B04 - Annular gap grouting mortar: Hydro-chemo-mechanical modeling and space-resolved experimental investigations (Project Head Steeb, Holger )
• C01 - Process-Oriented Simulation Models for Mechanized Tunneling (Project Heads Freitag, Steffen ;  Meschke, Günther )
• C02 - System and Parameter Identification Methods for Ground Models in Mechanized Tunneling (Project Heads König, Markus ;  Mahmoudi, Elham )
• C03 - Process Simulation in Mechanized Tunneling: From Prognoses to Real-Time Steering Using Continuous Machine-Data-Based Model Updates (Project Heads König, Markus ;  Thewes, Markus )
• C04 - Simulation of Processes at the Cutting Wheel and in the Excavation Chamber (Project Heads Meschke, Günther ;  Vogel, Andreas )
• C05 - Characterization of the Interactions between Cutting Tools and Rock during Tunneling from a Metallurgical and Rock Physical Point of View (Project Heads Renner, Jörg ;  Röttger, Arne )
• C06 - Multiscale Modeling, Simulation and Optimization of Cutting Tools Regarding their Tribological Behavior (Project Heads Balzani, Daniel ;  Hackl, Klaus )
• C07 - Vibration-based Monitoring of Interactions at Cutting Wheel – Detecting Wear (Project Head Mueller, Inka )
• D01 - Interactive Exploration and Assessment of Tunnel Alignments (Project Heads König, Markus ;  Thewes, Markus )
• D03 - Model-based risk analysis for heterogeneous existing structures (Project Head Mark, Peter )
• MGK - Integrated Graduate School (Project Heads Freitag, Steffen ;  Meschke, Günther )
• Z - Central Tasks (Project Head Meschke, Günther )

• Applicant Institution: Ruhr-Universität Bochum
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Günther Meschke