Spatial localization technology and motion characteristics analysis of muck particles during EPB shield tunneling

The motion characteristics of soil particles ahead of the cutterhead and within the soil chamber are crucial for predicting muck flow patterns and identifying potential stagnation zones in earth pressure balance (EPB) shield tunneling. A theoretical basis for optimized cutterhead and soil chamber design can be established through systematic analysis of these particle motion characteristics, ultimately enhancing cutting efficiency and muck flow guidance. However, direct observation of particle movement is hindered by the opacity of geomaterials. To address this, magnetic positioning technology was innovatively applied to model EPB tunneling experiments in this study. A spatial positioning system for soil particles and a corresponding model tunneling apparatus were developed, and experiments were conducted. This research achieved, for the first time, visualization of soil particle trajectories during model EPB tunneling, providing preliminary insights into particle movement behavior. The study offers a novel technical approach and experimental data to support a deeper understanding of particle dynamics, optimized cutterhead design, and improved soil chamber configurations.