What is Tunnel Boring Machine?

A tunnel boring machine (TBM) is a massive, specialized construction device used to excavate tunnels for various purposes

Excavating Tunnels Using Tunnel Boring Machine in VR

A civil engineering education consists of many concepts vital and complex concepts. Along with that, you should even learn some tools used for various processes. One such is a tunnel boring machine.

The first tunnel boring machine was developed in 1845. However, today, students can explore it in virtual reality technology.

It is used for many underground applications. For example, it is used for excavating tunnels for underground railways.

In this blog, you will read about a VR experience to understand a tunnel boring machine.

First, let us understand the concept of a tunnel boring machine(TBM).

What is a Tunnel Boring Machine?

As said earlier, a TBM is used to excavate tunnels. Tunnels are required for various purposes.

For example, a tunnel boring machine is used for the following functions –

1. To tunnel Metro lines

2. To create underground road passages

3. To create underground sewage systems

It is used to create underground tunnels with a circular cross-section in various rock and soil strata. It has many machines. These many sophisticated machines are merged. Its sole purpose is tunneling.

In simple words, what a TBM can do is tie or merge all parts and elements tied together. As a result, it can tunnel under a city or townlet, and it will not even disturb anything going around.

What are the elements of a Tunnel Boring Machine?

There are four main parts of a TBM.

1. Cutterhead

2. Conveyor

3. Tunnel segment erector.

4. The extraction pipes

A cutter head has metal blades that cut rock to form a tunnel. Then, the excavation earth is moved to the conveyor. The conveyor then moves debris to extraction pipes.

Meanwhile, the segment erector works to provide a circular passage.

To control all the functions in TBM, there is a control center. It handles all the operations inside the TBM. Moreover, a TBM does not only dig a tunnel but also helps in building a tunnel wall.

Understanding the working of tunnel boring machine process control is one of the crucial concepts of VR engineering education. Now let us understand the basic principle of tunnel boring

Base working principle of a tunnel boring machine?

Fundamentally, in TBM, the rotating cutter is pushed against the rock near the area which is supposed to be cut. The blades then chip the stone and create a tunneling effect.

Learn about a Tunnel Boring Machine in iXR Labs’ VR

When you study tunnel boring machines in virtual reality, it is a virtual yet realistic experience. There are various modes of observing and studying TBM in iXR Lab's virtual reality lab.

Moreover, there are some sections. A user or student can choose any mode between guided mode, fly mode, or self-exploration mode.

With fly mode, you will be able to see the machine from a bird's eye. Therefore, you will see a TBM from the top view.

In addition, you can move the camera with VR controls to change the camera angle and focus on any particular part or area.

As the name suggests, the self-guided mode in iXR Labs’ VR TBM process will guide you about the parts, functioning, and working of the TBM. Moreover, you will be able to take a guided tour in a TBM.

The last one is the self-exploration mode. In this mode, a user can access any or every part of the tunnel boring machine. A user can use it while self-learning.

Now let us understand excavation using a tunnel boring machine in VR

See More:- Concrete Mixer

Excavating Tunnels using Tunnel Boring Machine

A TBM follows some typical steps to excavate a tunnel with TBM. Let us understand these steps.

1. In a TBM, first, the TBM machine is assembled at the launching shaft end.

2. Then, starts the main part of grinding the earth. TBM makes use of cutter blades for this step. To move the cutter heads, TBM uses hydraulic cylinders.

3. In this process, debris is collected. It can be removed with the help of the conveyor and the extraction system.

4. After finishing the digging or grinding process, TBM works on lining tunnel walls. The segment erector section helps this step.

5. Professional engineers control all these operations via the control center.

6. Once the tunneling is complete, TBM reaches the retrieve shaft to dismantle.

You can witness the working of each part in this process in iXR Labs’ VR module. Moreover, you can have glimpses of it in this video.

What are some applications of a TBM Machine?

Tunnel boring machines are required in many plants. Moreover, it has many uses in various application places.

For example, to create a tunnel for rail or metro lines or to build an underground sewage system.

Another application of TBM machine is in creating road tunnels. Especially when there is a requirement to build a road in hilly areas or mountains, a powerful TBM can play a vital role.

See More:- Cone Crusher