The Yellow River in Jinan, China, is set to host a remarkable engineering feat, thanks to a new tunnel boring machine (TBM) from Herrenknecht.
- The TBM, named Shanhe, is designed to build a significant two-storey road tunnel with three lanes in each direction.
- This massive TBM is specifically built to tackle the challenging conditions presented by the Yellow River’s geology and high groundwater pressure.
- Shanhe boasts an impressive 17.5-metre diameter, making it one of the largest machines of its kind ever constructed.
- The project, led by China Railway 14th Bureau Group Company, is set to commence tunnelling late in 2024.
The Yellow River in Jinan, China, is set to host a remarkable engineering feat, thanks to a new tunnel boring machine (TBM) from Herrenknecht. This project involves creating a two-storey road tunnel with three lanes in both directions, representing a significant advancement in tunnelling technology. Named Shanhe, the TBM has been accorded all due ceremony and is anticipated to become an integral component of Jinan’s infrastructure.
The TBM, named Shanhe, is designed to build a significant two-storey road tunnel with three lanes in each direction. Herrenknecht developed and delivered a Mixshield TBM specifically engineered to meet the unique geological challenges beneath the Yellow River. This machine is distinguished by its ability to maintain structural integrity and operational efficiency under substantial water pressure conditions, as it constructs the tunnel tube meant for bidirectional traffic.
This massive TBM is specifically built to tackle the challenging conditions presented by the Yellow River’s geology and high groundwater pressure. The Mixshield technology, characterising this TBM, employs an innovative air-cushion management system that stabilises pressure within the excavation chamber. This sophisticated methodology enables control of heterogeneous geologies and high water pressures encountered in such daunting tunnelling projects.
Shanhe boasts an impressive 17.5-metre diameter, making it one of the largest machines of its kind ever constructed. Only a few machines globally, including a herculean TBM deployed in 2015 in Hong Kong, share such dimensions. This scale facilitates the construction of a singular tunnel accommodating both traffic directions, underscoring the monumental nature of the engineering challenge.
The project, led by China Railway 14th Bureau Group Company, is set to commence tunnelling late in 2024. Jinan Urban Construction Group acts as the client, overseeing the project. Shanhe’s assembly on-site will soon make way for its inaugural operations, further exemplifying innovation in engineering required to keep pace with modern infrastructure demands.
The delivery and deployment of the Shanhe TBM marks a pivotal advancement in engineering for challenging tunnelling projects worldwide.
