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What is the name of the machine that digs the subway?

2025-10-17 10:50:19 mechanical

What is the name of the machine that digs subways? Revealing the "Steel Behemoth" in Tunnel Engineering

During the subway construction process, a piece of equipment called the "steel beast" was responsible for the important task of digging tunnels. This kind of machine is not only technologically advanced, but also extremely efficient. It is the core equipment of modern urban rail transit construction. This article will take you through the name of this machine, its working principle, and the topics related to subway construction that have recently been hotly discussed on the Internet.

1. What is the name of the machine that digs subways?

What is the name of the machine that digs the subway?

The main equipment for digging subway tunnels is called"Shield boring machine"(Tunnel Boring Machine, TBM for short). The shield machine is a highly automated tunnel excavation equipment that integrates mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, sensing and other technologies. It can efficiently and safely complete tunnel excavation, support and lining operations underground.

2. Working principle of shield machine

The working principle of the shield machine can be briefly summarized as the following steps:

1.The front cutterhead rotates to cut soil: The shield machine's cutterhead is equipped with multiple cutters, which rotate to cut the soil or rock in front.

2.Screw conveyor discharge: The cut soil is transported to the rear through a screw conveyor, and then transported out of the tunnel through the transportation system.

3.Synchronous lining: While tunneling, the TBM automatically assembles precast concrete segments to form the permanent lining of the tunnel.

4.Hydraulic propulsion system: The shield machine is pushed forward through the hydraulic cylinder.

3. Comparison of shield machine types

typeApplicable geologyFeatures
Earth pressure balance shield machinesoft soil layerMaintain excavation surface stability by controlling soil chamber pressure
Mud water balance shield machineaquiferUse mud to support the excavation surface, suitable for high water pressure environments
Hard Rock Shield Machinerock formationsEquipped with high-strength hobs to break hard rocks
Compound shield machinevariable strataIt has multiple functions and can adapt to complex geological conditions.

4. The subway construction topic that has been hotly discussed on the Internet recently

In the past 10 days, discussions about subway construction and TBMs have mainly focused on the following aspects:

topicheat indexMain content
China independently develops ultra-large diameter shield machine95my country has successfully developed a super-large shield machine with a diameter of 16 meters, setting a world record
Subway construction drives employment87Subway projects have started in many places, creating a large number of jobs
Green construction technology82New shield machine adopts energy-saving technology to reduce construction noise
Subway line planning controversy78Subway line planning in some cities sparks discussion among residents
Intelligent shield machine application75Artificial intelligence technology begins to be applied to shield machine control systems

5. Current status of shield machine technology development in China

After years of development, China's shield machine manufacturing technology has reached the world's advanced level. At present, domestic shield machines not only meet domestic demand, but are also exported to many countries and regions. The following are several milestones in the development of China's TBM in recent years:

1.2008: The first domestic compound shield machine comes off the production line, breaking the foreign technology monopoly

2.2015: Domestic super-large-diameter shield machine was successfully developed

3.2018: The first intelligent shield machine was put into use

4.2022: Domestic shield machine export volume ranks first in the world

6. Environmental protection considerations in subway construction

With the improvement of environmental awareness, modern subway construction pays more and more attention to environmental protection. The new shield machine was designed with a number of environmentally friendly technologies in mind:

1.Noise reduction technology: Use sound insulation materials and vibration reduction devices to control construction noise below 60 decibels

2.Waste treatment: Establish a special slag treatment system to realize resource utilization

3.Energy saving design: Optimize the power system and reduce energy consumption by 15-20% compared with traditional equipment.

4.groundwater protection: Adopt advanced water-stop technology to reduce the impact on groundwater levels

7. Future development trends

Looking to the future, shield machine technology will develop in the following directions:

1.Intelligent: Apply more AI technology to achieve autonomous decision-making and remote control

2.Modular: The design is more flexible and can quickly adapt to different geological conditions.

3.Greening: Further improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental footprint

4.Oversize: Develop a shield machine with a larger diameter to meet special engineering needs

Conclusion: From "steel earthworm" to "intelligent behemoth", the advancement of shield machine technology has witnessed the rapid development of China's infrastructure. With the continuous innovation of technology, future subway construction will be more efficient, safer and environmentally friendly, providing stronger support for urban development.

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