Abstract:

The article describes the types of shield TBMs and hard rock TBMs available at present, recommends some new trends to which attentions should be paid during the design and boring construction of the shield TBMs, states that different types of shield TBMs and different cutterhead structures should be selected for different geological conditions, defines the determination of the diameters of the shield TBMs for highway tunnels, and discusses on the selection of the types of hard rock TBMs and the pattern of the tunnel reinforcement.

Key words: geological conditionshield , rock TBM ype selection