Development for prediction system of TBM tunnel face ahead using probe drilling equipment and drilled hole imaging equipment

In the construction of a TBM tunnel, it is very important to acquire accurate information of the excavated rock mass for an efficient and safe work. In this study, we developed the prediction system of TBM tunnel face ahead using probe drilling equipment and drilled hole imaging equipment to predict rock mass conditions of the tunnel face ahead. The prediction system consists of the probe drilling equipment, drilled hole imaging equipment and analysis software. The probe drilling equipment has been developed to be applicable to both non-coring and coring. Also the probe drilling equipment can obtain the drilling parameters such as feed pressure, torque pressure, rotation speed, drilling speed and so on. The drilli ng index is converted to the drilling index RMR through the correlation between a drilling index and core RMR. The developed system verification was carried out through a slope and tunnel field application. From the field application result, the non-coring is four times faster than a coring and the drilling index RMR and core RMR are similar in the distribution range. This system is expected to predict the rock mass conditions of the TBM tunnel face ahead very quickly and efficiently.