Abstract: The construction of vertical shafts of intercity railways posts adverse impact on surrounding environment with low working efficiency. To address these, a novel vertical shaft boring technology using vertical machinery method is explored based on three-dimensional numerical simulation and field monitoring results. A case study is conducted on an intercity railway project in Guangzhou, China. Emphasis is placed on the stress and deformation behavior of surrounding strata and supporting structures, as well as the interaction mechanisms considering sequential excavation of adjacent shafts. The results indicate: (1) Ground settlement caused by vertical shaft excavation using the vertical machinery method is closely related to lithology. The maximum settlement in weak strata (miscellaneous fill soil and silty clay) at 5 m depth reaches 6.7 mm. After excavation proceeded into the fully weathered granite layer (buried at 12 m), settlement decreases significantly. (2) In open caisson construction using prefabricated lining segments with a steel cutting edge ring, the stress distribution in the segments remains stable, with maximum compressive and tensile stresses of －118 kN/m² and 79 kN/m², respectively. (3) For adjacent vertical shafts, the peak vertical stress and horizontal displacement of the strata in the subsequently excavated shaft are greater than in the single-shaft case, while the maximum settlement is reduced by 70%. By optimizing the excavation and support process and dynamically controlling the construction sequence, the duration of the subsequent shaft excavation is shortened by 60%. These findings demonstrate that a reasonable construction sequence can effectively mitigate stratum disturbance, thereby providing a practical solution for the mechanized construction of intercity railway vertical shafts in residential areas.

Key words: vertical shaft boring machine, vertical machinery method, numerical simulation, automatic monitoring, mechanical effects