Prof. Nuh Bilgin's Lecture on Cutting Tools and TBM Performance Assessment

Prof. Nuh Bilgin's Lecture of Cutting Tools and TBM Performance assessment

On 26th and 27th March '14, we had a special lecture by Prof. Nuh Bilgin as a part of Second Module of Tunnelling and TBM course and also as a part of ITACET Training seminar being organized in Politecnico di Torino. Prof. Bilgin explained us the mechanics of Rock cutting and different types of Rock cutters used in Roadheaders and TBM. With the help of example case studies, cutting forces (FC & FN) were calculated for different types of cutters. 

Different methods for assessing the performance of mechanical excavators (Roadheaders & High energy impact hammer) were discussed using numerical examples. A good example for the calculation and comparison between excavation rate of Roadheaders, High energy impact hammers and Drill & Blast method can be studied in his paper on Istanbul Kadikoy–Kartal metro tunnels [1]. Types of tools used in TBM and principles of Disc cutters were discussed in detail with numerical examples for V type disc cutters and CSS disk cutters. Case Study of Tuzla-Dragos Sewerage Tunnel was considered for explanation. Prof. Bilgin’s paper on performance prediction of TBM gives further insights and details of the above exercise [2], [3]. The above paper presents prediction model based on Earth Mechanics Institute (ESM) of Colorado School of Mines (CSM). This method is based on full-scale laboratory cutting tests. Prof. Bilgin also introduced another prediction model developed by University of Torenthiem and Norwegian Institute of Technology, which is an empirical model based on database accumulated over time. 

Another study covering 262 different types of TBM and statistically analyzed data presents relationship between TBM diameter, TBM thrust, cutterhead torque, TBM weight, number of disc cutters and maximum rotational speed of cutterhead [4]. 

Numerical examples were taken from the book: Mechanical Excavation in Mining & Civil Industries (link here).

References:

[1] I. Ocak and N. Bilgin, “Comparative studies on the performance of a roadheader, impact hammer and drilling and blasting method in the excavation of metro station tunnels in Istanbul,” Tunn. Undergr. Sp. Technol., vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 181–187, Mar. 2010. 

[2] N. Bilgin, C. Feridunoglu, D. Tumac, CINAR, M, and L. ÖZYOL, “TBM cutting performance in Istanbul,” T T Int., no. FEV, pp. 17–19, 2006. 

[3] N. Bilgin, C. Balci, H. Tuncdemir, S. Eskikaya, M. Akgul, and M. Algan, “The performance prediction of a TBM in difficult ground condition,” AFTES, Journees d’Etudes Int. Paris, pp. 25–28, 1999. 

[4] U. Ates, N. Bilgin, and H. Copur, “Estimating torque, thrust and other design parameters of different type TBMs with some criticism to TBMs used in Turkish tunneling projects,” Tunn. Undergr. Sp. Technol., vol. 40, pp. 46–63, Feb. 2014. 

Some of the research papers of Prof. Bilgin could be accessed here.