ISSN 2096-4498

   CN 44-1745/U

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Tunnel Construction ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (5): 1109-1120.DOI: 10.3973/j.issn.2096-4498.2026.05.017

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Multi-Objective Optimization of a Large-Diameter Shield Cutterhead System and Tunneling Parameters in Complex Strata

WANG Yi, ZHENG Wenbao, LUO Gang, LIU Jianping   

  1. (The 2nd Engineering Co., Ltd. of China Railway Tunnel Group, Sanhe 065201, Hebei, China)
  • Online:2026-05-20 Published:2026-05-20

Abstract:

Super-large shield machines often encounter severe cutter wear, difficulty in the dynamic adjustment of tunneling parameters, and conflicts between tunneling efficiency and equipment lifespan when performing long-distance tunneling in composite strata with high water pressure and significant burial depth. To address these challenges, this study focuses on the Chongtai Yangtze River Tunnel of the Shanghai-Nanjing-Hefei High-speed Railway and proposes an integrated technical scheme that includes cutterhead system optimization, wear-state monitoring, and intelligent control of tunneling parameters. For structural design, a high-rigidity cutterhead framework featuring six main beams and six auxiliary beams is developed. A three-dimensional full-coverage cutter system is configured with 41 atmospheric-pressure replaceable ripping cutters and 54 atmospheric-pressure replaceable cutters. In addition, monitoring facilities for cutterhead and cutter wear are installed to enhance wear resistance and maintainability under complex geological conditions. In terms of control strategy, an adaptive multi-objective genetic algorithm (AMOGA) model is produced that incorporates key parameters, including total thrust, cutterhead rotation speed, slurry pressure, and slurry flow rate, into a unified optimization framework. Dynamic crossover, dynamic mutation, and a risk index-based weight adjustment mechanism are introduced to achieve coordinated optimization between tunneling efficiency and the lifespan of key components. Comparative analysis is performed using Rings 0-130 and 131-250 as the baseline and intelligent tunneling application sections, respectively. The results indicate the following: (1) AMO-GA significantly improves the advance rate and enhances control quality during tunneling. The response time for parameter adjustment is reduced from over 30 min under manual decision-making to within 90 s. The torque fluctuation range is reduced from ±35% to ±12%, the cutter wear per hundred meters decreases from 1.2 mm to 0.6 mm, the replacement mileage interval of sealing parts is extended from 3 km to 8 km, and the slurry recycling rate increases from 65% to 88%. (2) The average service life of cutters increases by over 50%, the maximum daily advance reaches 28 m, the average monthly advance is approximately 700 m, and annual maintenance costs are reduced by 62.5%. The proposed technical system effectively enhances parameter response capabilities, loadmatching performance, and the service stability of key components during shield tunneling in composite strata.

Key words: composite stratum, shield tunnel, cutterhead, tunneling parameters, adaptive multi-objective genetic algorithm