Record Rewritten! Chinese-made Largest Diameter (16.64 -m) Shield Machine ‘Jianghai’ Rolls off at CRCHI

A super-large diameter shield machine

On October 31, 2024, a super-large diameter shield machine with a maximum excavation diameter of 16.64 meters rolled off the production line in Changsha, Hunan. It will be used in the construction of the world's longest underwater highway shield machine tunnel – the Haitai Yangtze River Tunnel. This follows the domestic first 16-meter class super-large diameter shield machine "Jinghua," as CRCHI surpasses itself and sets a new record, creating Chinese-made largest diameter shield machine developed independently to date, marking a new breakthrough in the development of super-large diameter shield machines.

This shield machine, named Jianghai, is about 145 meters long and weighs approximately 5,000 tons. Jianghai is named by integrating the two concepts of crossing the Yangtze River and being adjacent to the sea in the Haitai Yangtze River Tunnel project. Its cutter head is painted with blue waves moving forward, symbolizing that the shield machine will gather strength to dive and traverse the rivers and seas.

The Haitai Yangtze River Tunnel is located in the Yangtze River estuary area of Jiangsu Province, starting from Haimen District in Nantong in the north and ending in Taicang City in Suzhou in the south. The total length of the project line is 39.07 kilometers, with the cross-river tunnel being 11.185 kilometers long. It is designed with a two-way six-lane highway standard, with a design speed of 100 kilometers per hour. The tunnel section is 9,315 meters long, with a maximum excavation diameter of 16.64 meters. Along the route, it needs to pass through complex geological belts such as silty clay, silty clay interbedded with silt and fine sand, with a maximum burial depth of about 75 meters, and the highest water pressure reaching 7.5 bars. It features ultra-long distance, an ultra-large diameter, ultra-high-water pressure, ultra-deep burial, and complex working conditions.

Jianghai will complete the ultra-long-distance single-headed tunneling underwater in the Yangtze River, especially when crossing the Yangtze River and the dikes on both sides, the settlement requirement is controlled within one centimeter. The construction is very difficult, and the geological exploration coverage in the river is limited, with many uncontrollable and unknown areas.

The ultra-16.64-meter large diameter means that the shield machine cutter head requires a large torque for excavation, and the main drive bearing load is large. The 7.5 bar ultra-high water pressure requires high pressure-bearing capacity for components such as the main drive seal and the tail seal.

How to ensure the continuous tunneling of the entire machine for 9,315 meters in the complex environment at the bottom of the river while maintaining high-performance load is the main challenge faced by the R&D team. In response to the construction risks and difficulties of the project, the R&D team has made purposed designs on key parts such as the cutter head and the main drive through research. It is equipped with a soft soil cutter head with accessible cutter head and alloy cutters that are large, hard, widely covered, and wear-resistant. The main drive is equipped with a telescopic function that can sense the overall force of the cutter head, effectively avoiding abnormal force on the cutter head caused by overload of the main bearing under special circumstances, facilitating cutter change operations, and assisting the cutter head to break out. It is equipped with a main drive status monitoring system to continuously monitor the operating status of the main drive.

At the same time, the shield body size and structural thickness are designed according to local conditions, the oil cylinder specifications are increased, the slurry circulation system and grouting system are optimized, etc., to enhance the overall performance of the machine, and a smart assembly system for segment connection components is configured to meet the construction requirements.

The Haitai Yangtze River Tunnel is a key construction project and is planned to be completed in 2028. After completion, it can effectively divert the traffic of the Suzhou-Nantong Yangtze River Bridge, which is of great significance for optimizing the layout of the Yangtze River mainstream crossing channels.

NBM&CW - DECEMBER 2024

No comments yet, Be the first one to comment on this.

×

Terms & Condition

By checking this, you agree with the following:
  1. To accept full responsibility for the comment that you submit.
  2. To use this function only for lawful purposes.
  3. Not to post defamatory, abusive, offensive, racist, sexist, threatening, vulgar, obscene, hateful or otherwise inappropriate comments, or to post comments which will constitute a criminal offense or give rise to civil liability.
  4. Not to post or make available any material which is protected by copyright, trade mark or other proprietary right without the express permission of the owner of the copyright, trade mark or any other proprietary right.
  5. To evaluate for yourself the accuracy of any opinion, advice or other content.
CRCHI Large Diameter Open-type Rock TBM Rolls off Assembly Line for South-to-North Water Diversion Project

CRCHI Large Diameter Open-type Rock TBM Rolls off Assembly Line for South-to-North Water Diversion Project

On November 22, 2024, the open-type rock TBM with an excavation diameter of 11.93 meters (the largest of its kind in China), rolled off the assembly line of China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Corporation Limited (CRCHI).

Read more ...

India's Tunnelling Landscape: Advancements, Challenges & Future Outlook

India's Tunnelling Landscape: Advancements, Challenges & Future Outlook

Tunnelling has played a crucial role in shaping India's infrastructure landscape. From the early hand-drilled techniques employed during railway construction in the 1800s to the state-of-the-art technology driving modern metro projects

Read more ...

Minister of Road Transport & Highways: India’s Ambitious Tunnelling Plans

Minister of Road Transport & Highways: India’s Ambitious Tunnelling Plans

Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, emphasizes the importance of robust infrastructure for economic growth and outlines the government's ambitious plans for investing in high-quality tunnels, bridges, and roads.

Read more ...

L&T: Potential of Tunnelling for India's Economic Growth

L&T: Potential of Tunnelling for India's Economic Growth

Bhavani Koneru, FICCI Transport Infrastructure Committee Member & Executive Vice President and Head – Urban Transit SBG, Larsen & Toubro, highlights the immense potential of tunnelling for enhancing connectivity and boosting economic activity

Read more ...

BRO: Overcoming Challenges of Tunnelling in the Himalayan Region

BRO: Overcoming Challenges of Tunnelling in the Himalayan Region

Lt Gen Srinivasan discusses the unique challenges of tunnelling in the fragile Himalayan terrain and showcases success stories like the Atal Tunnel and the Sela Tunnel, highlighting the government's role in promoting tunnelling advancements. Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan, Director General, Border Roads Organization

Read more ...

Tracing the Evolution of Tunnelling in India

Tracing the Evolution of Tunnelling in India

Dinesh Chand Deshwal, Commissioner-Railway Safety (Northern Circle), Ministry of Civil Aviation, Govt of India, delves into the history of tunnelling in India, tracing its evolution from early hand-drilled techniques to modern

Read more ...

Sandvik Mining & Rock Technology India: Robust & Reliable Tunnelling Jumbos

Sandvik Mining & Rock Technology India: Robust & Reliable Tunnelling Jumbos

We are very optimistic about the growth in the Tunnelling sector - be it tunnelling in Roads, Railways, Hydro, or Border Roads. We see a potential market of 40-50 machines year on year in the next 5-6 years, but the market is still price sensitive.

Read more ...

Megha Engineering: Challenges & Opportunities for Construction Contractors

Megha Engineering: Challenges & Opportunities for Construction Contractors

Harpal Singh, Joint Chief Operating Officer, Megha Engineering and Infrastructures, highlights the practical challenges faced by construction contractors, including political interference and unskilled labor, and emphasizes the need for

Read more ...

Sany: Excavators, Piling Rigs & Diaphragm Wall Grabs for Tunnelling

Sany: Excavators, Piling Rigs & Diaphragm Wall Grabs for Tunnelling

Sanjay Saxena, COO Sales, Marketing & Customer Support, SANY Heavy Industry India's, specialized products for tunnel construction includes advanced excavators, piling rigs, and diaphragm wall grabs for precise and efficient operation.

Read more ...

Role of Technology in Managing Geological Uncertainties in Tunnelling

Role of Technology in Managing Geological Uncertainties in Tunnelling

Colonel Parikshit Mehra, Tunnel Expert, emphasizes the critical role of technology in managing geological uncertainties and advocates integrating dynamic monitoring systems and data analysis to optimize tunnel support systems and ensure safety.

Read more ...

Manitou: Compact, Heavy-Duty, & Rotating Telehandlers for Tunnelling

Manitou: Compact, Heavy-Duty, & Rotating Telehandlers for Tunnelling

Manitou offers compact, heavy-duty, & rotating telehandlers with special custom attachments and increased lifting capacities for efficient tunnelling. Kulwinder Kumar, National Key Accounts Manager, Manitou

Read more ...

Lombardi Engineering India: Enhancing Collaboration & Project Management

Lombardi Engineering India: Enhancing Collaboration & Project Management

Rakesh Ravinder Pandita, Chief Executive officer, Lombardi Engineering India, stresses the importance of collaboration among stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle and introduces the concept of a Common Data Environment (CDE) and Building

Read more ...

Normet India: Shotcrete Machines, Concrete Pump & Accelerator Dosing System

Normet India: Shotcrete Machines, Concrete Pump & Accelerator Dosing System

Normet is the only manufacturer in the tunnelling industry that offers both the equipment and chemicals essential for tunnelling projects. Our extensive range of shotcrete machines is designed to efficiently spray concrete for various

Read more ...

Afcons Infrastructure: Lessons Learned From USBRL Project

Afcons Infrastructure: Lessons Learned From USBRL Project

KVVR Sarma, Vice President, Afcons Infrastructure, shares valuable insights from his experience in the USBRL Project and emphasizes the need for detailed geological investigations, real-time data analysis, and effective collaboration among stakeholders.

Read more ...

DMRC's Expertise in Tunnelling Projects

DMRC's Expertise in Tunnelling Projects

Rajiv Dhanker, Director - Project & Planning, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, highlights DMRC's extensive experience in tunnelling projects and their role in sharing knowledge and expertise with other agencies. He also discusses the challenges faced

Read more ...

Double Shield Hard CRCHI TBM Deployed at Akson Drainage Project Switzerland

Double Shield Hard CRCHI TBM Deployed at Akson Drainage Project Switzerland

On September 29th 2024, at the Ingenbohl construction site which is 70 kilometers away from Zurich, Switzerland, a new type of double shield hard TBM, which was designed and manufactured by China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Corporation

Read more ...

Design & Planning of Excavation Sequence & Blasting Techniques for Caverns

Design & Planning of Excavation Sequence & Blasting Techniques for Caverns

Dr. Rakesh Kumar Khali, Vice President- Operations (Tunnel & UG Works), and Naveen Bahuguna, Design Lead- Tunnel & Underground projects, G R Infraprojects Limited, present a selection of excavation sequences, control blasting

Read more ...

Squeezing Ground Conditions in Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Railway Tunnel Project

Squeezing Ground Conditions in Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Railway Tunnel Project

Mohammad Forooghi, Vishal Bansal, Majid Tajik, Soner Batuman & Pranshu Aggarwal at Turkish Engineering Consulting & Contracting -TUMAS India, and Sumit Jain, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, present evaluations, considerations, and exploration

Read more ...

To get latest updates on whatsapp, Save +91 93545 87773 and send us a 'Saved' message
Click Here to Subscribe to Our eNewsletter.