Study on Forming Technology of TBM Disc Cutter Ring

Abstract

The tunnels and underground projects bring an unprecedented development of hard rock tunneling technology. The forming process and material properties of the 20 inch disc cutter ring has been studied by the finite element simulation and test methods. The effects of blank size, blank heating temperature, mold preheating temperature and friction coefficient on the forming load, minimum surface temperature and blank deformation uniformity of 20 inch cutter ring were analyzed. The results show the optimum combination of the forming process of the 20 inch disc cutter ring is when the blank height is 90 mm, the blank heating temperature is 1200 °C, the preheating temperature is 280 °C, and the friction coefficient is 0.2. Compression test and hardness test were carried out on the edge material of the cutter ring. The test results show that when the temperature exceeds 600 °C, the hardness and compressive strength of the cutter ring material will drop sharply. Therefore, the TBM should be properly cooled during construction. The research results in this paper can provide a basis for the optimization of TBM disc cutter ring processing technology and engineering applications.

Investigation of Disc Cutter Wear in Tunnel-Boring Machines (TBMs): Integration of Photogrammetry, Measurement with a Caliper, Weighing, and Macroscopic Visual Inspection

“…The wear of disc cutters leads to reduced tunneling efficiency. The cost and time required to replace worn disc cutters can account for up to 30% of the total cost and time when excavating in hard rock or rock with high levels of abrasion [5,37]. Therefore, investigating the wear of disc cutters enables better knowledge of the cutting processes and plays an important role in the optimization of TBM tunneling.…”

“…In recent studies in the literature, various strategies have been investigated to improve the performance and durability of disc cutters under different material and manufacturing conditions. Studies by Zhang et al [4] and Hu et al [5] focus on the design of disc cutters, their material composition, and processing techniques to improve wear resistance. These studies underline the influence of factors such as the diameter, shape, and material composition of disc cutters on wear resistance and provide valuable insights to optimize their performance in difficult operating environments.…”

“…They point out the advantages of remanufacturing technology in improving energy and material utilization, which ultimately increases cutting efficiency and reduces production costs. Hu et al [5] proposed the optimization of processing technology by analyzing factors such as blank size, heating temperature, preheating temperature, and the friction coefficient to determine optimal forming parameters. Their research discusses the importance of suitable heat treatment processes, such as high-temperature quenching and tempering, to improve the material properties and performance of disc cutters.…”