Abstract:

The key of the design of the slurry circulation systems of slurry shields is the selection of the slurry feeding/discharging pumps. The flow rates and lifts of the pumps shall be larger than the minimum flow rates and lifts under the critical flow rates and shall be smaller than the flow rates and lifts under the maximum boring advance rates. In the paper, the flow rates and lifts under critical flow rates and maximum boring advance rates are calculated as per empirical formulas on basis of the actual conditions of Wuhan Yangtze River Crossing Tunnel Project. In this way, proper slurry feeding/discharging pumps are selected. Furthermore, the maximum boring advance rates under different feeding slurry densities that the slurry circulation systems can guarantee are analyzed on basis of the actual construction conditions.