On Modeling of Micro-Tunneling Machine and Its Numerical Solution

Abstract

We study a mathematical model of a micro-tunneling machine which is used for the conduit instollation for communication cables. By using this tunneling machine, a flexible pilot pipe is thrusted into a ground and hence the total length of the inserted pipe becomes a function of time. Furthermore, the thrust force generated by a hydraulic jack is stochastically perturbed. The transverse displacement of the inserted pipe is firstly shown to be governed by a hyperbolic equation with free boundary by using the Hamilton principle. Secondly, two digital simulation examples are demonstrated for checking the buckling phenomena to the inserted pipe.