Tunnel Boring Machine Selection in Railway Project

Tunnelling was an approach used to excavate and construct tunnel. Most engineers agree that tunnel length, tunnel cross section, tunnel depth, geotechnical condition and level of water table were the most probable factor governs the selection of tunnel boring machine or tunnelling approach. The main purpose of this case study was examining and selecting tunnel boring machine for specified railway project for specified area. The studies use Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) for further analysis weight and compare the factors and alternatives. In order to undertake proper tunnelling; data collected by engineers on factors govern tunnel boring machine selection can be used as raw input for the analysis of weight of effective factor and influences stability factor. Weight of effective factor for TPM Gripper and Road Header in line with factor of govern tunnel boring machine selection was (0.145, 0.187, 0.187, 0.287, 0.217) and (0.22, 0.194, 0.152, 0.205, 0.229) respectively. Total sum of influences of suitability rating for TBM Gripper and Road Header were 7.0165 and 6.942 respectively. Machine with maximum value of influences of suitability rating was selected for tunnelling. As a result; TBM Gripper with 7.0165 influences of suitability rating considered as tunnel boring machine for the project area.