Abstract: In tunneling in China, steel ribs are normally installed by hand. The stateofart of the application of steel rib installing machine in tunneling both in China and abroad is presented. The development of the new type of steel rib installing machine on basis of the underpan of excavator is introduced. The concept and the key technical problems to be solved in the development of the new type of steel rib installing machine are discussed. Persistent improvement and batch manufacture of the new type of steel rib installing machine is proposed. The paper can provide reference for the optimization and improvement of the technical performance of the steel rib installing machine, and especially for the domestic development of other similar machines.

Key words: tunneling, new type of steel rib installing machine, stability, commissioning 