Abstract: The route of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Access MRT Construction Project at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport section almost excavated by shield machine, and the main strata of this section is gravel. The shield tunnel is about 7.2 km long and it is the longest one in Taiwan at present. Disk cutters is used to break gravel, which size is over 70 cm long and 60 cm wide, in the construction of CU02A bid section of Airport Access MRT Construction Project. Smaller gravel excavated by other cutters is allowed to enter the chamber. This paper describes the design consideration and the wear of cutters, and the problems and solutions during construction. 

Key words: shield tunnel, gravel strata, cutter