Estimation of the Specific Energy of TBM Using the Strain Energy of Rock Mass, Case Study: Amir-Kabir Water Transferring Tunnel of Iran

The specific energy (SE) is the most important parameter to estimate the energy consumption in tunnel boring machines (TBMs). It is defined as the amount of required energy to excavate a unit volume of rock mass which used to predict the performance of TBMs. Several models are used to estimate the SE based on different parameters such as the rock mass properties, disc cutter dimensions and cutting geometry. The aim of this work is to propose new relations between the SE and the strain energy of rock mass ( W ) using the geological mappings of rock mass and TBM operational parameters from Amir-Kabir Water Transferring Tunnel of Iran. W is an appropriate criterion to estimate SE because it is a function of different parameters such as rock mass behavior, pre and post failure properties and peak and residual strains. In this study, to increase the correlation coefficient of relation between the mentioned parameters, the rock mass is classified in two methods, in the first method according to the geological strength index (GSI) all data is classified in three classes such as weak, fair and good and in the second method using the drop to deformation modulus ratio ( η ) the classification of data is performed in three classes such as η < 0.05, 0.05 ≤ η < 10 and η ≥ 10. The results show that there are direct relations between both parameters. It is suggested to estimate SE in all rock mass classes using the proposed relations based on GSI classification.