Summary Readers Response Draft #2

-

Tunnels in the past were utilized for purposes such as irrigation, drainage, and water transportation system as well as communication routes to ameliorate the underground habitats. The Leonard (2022) webpage titled, “Innovation at the end of the tunnel”, informs readers about the rising need for underground infrastructures brought on by population pressure and urbanization. This underground infrastructure includes functions such as sanitation, logistics, and transportation. To meet these demands, modern tunnel-boring machines were introduced to meet these needs. As mentioned in another webpage by Trenchlesspedia, (2020, para. 2), tunnel-boring machines are referred to as “mole(s)” and are designed to bore circular tunnels through all types of earth, from sandy soil to hard rocks. The recently completed construction of the Thomson - East Coast Line (TEL) in Singapore is an excellent example of how this technology is being extensively utilized (Wong, 2019).

 

Tunnels have traditionally been excavated through the drilling and blasting method, which uses explosives to break up rocks (Engineering Channel, 2023). Tunnel-boring machines, on the other hand, offer benefits such as rapid construction time and safe operations, which allowed them to be widely used in underground space development and tunnelling projects (Gong, Yin, Ma, & Jian Zhao, 2016). In my opinion, modern tunnel-boring technology prevails over traditional tunnelling methodologies, such as drilling and blasting. This is because, despite its high initial cost, it is superior in terms of operational safety and building efficiency.

 

Modern tunnel-boring technology increases building efficiency by allowing for faster construction of building infrastructure. Land Transport Authority (LTA) project director Henry Foo stated that tunnel-boring machines save time, and manpower and are less disruptive (Tan, 2016).  Land Transport Authority (LTA, 2022, para 6) contends that the type of ground influences the speed of tunnelling. A tunnel-boring machine (TBM) can squeeze through 20 meters of marine clay in the same amount of time that it would take to cut through a 4-meter rock, which is approximately half the length of a bus. This process is being compared to "pushing toothpaste through a tube." This demonstrates that tunnel boring technology increases productivity and hence allows for faster infrastructure completion.

 

Another benefit of tunnel–boring technology is the ability for operational safety to take place during the construction of infrastructures. The utilization of TBMs increases safety by minimizing disturbances to the environment (Mining Technology, 2022) In addition when compared to conventional drilling and blasting methodologies, a TBM has the advantages of speed, efficiency, quality assurance, and high-level safety (Zhang, et al., 2022). However, the tunnel-boring machine must have enough support to exert pressure on the face, so it must be stable to prevent gripper shoe supports from sinking and collapsing or detachment from the smallest lining (Mapfre, 2019). This demonstrated that the tunnel boring machine was used with caution and that safety was prioritized. In addition, the tunnel-boring machine is used in a controlled working environment and is supported by supports while in use, suggesting that tunnel-boring machine activities are safe.

 

Despite the many benefits of the tunnel boring machine (TBM), it has its drawbacks – one of which is the high initial cost of tunnel boring technology. TBM tunnelling is typically not economical for short tunnel runs due to the lengthy procurement and assembly time, coupled with the high initial cost of acquiring a machine, for tunnels that are less than a mile long (“Summary memorandum: tunnel construction study”, 2018, pg. 18, para. 4). Furthermore, if a specific excavation length is not obtained, the comparatively high initial cost of deploying the TBM results in poor economic feasibility (Kong, et al., 2021). In Singapore, the TBM construction method costs four times higher than cut -the and-cover method (Tan, 2016). Thus, this implies that TBMs require more cost for this method to be used since it requires more effort to work in a controlled environment such as narrow spaces. TBMs, on the other hand, are more cost-effective in the long run. TBMs of today are larger in diameter, have more refined excavation technologies, and are more expensive than earlier generations of equipment. However, new machines can recurrently excavate faster, with less risk and surface settlement, saving money in the long run (Clark & Ramsey, 2017). In addition, TBMs are costly to build and can be difficult to transport. The longer the tunnel, the lower the relative cost of tunnel boring machines versus traditional methods. Tunnelling with TBMs is significantly more effective and results in shorter delivery times, assuming they function properly. As a result, having a shorter construction delivery time will result in lower overall project costs.

 

In conclusion, the advantages of using tunnel-boring technology over conventional techniques make it a preferable choice for tunnel construction. The continuous use of TBMs in construction necessitates a recognition that technological improvement is essential to enabling these TBM machines to work more cost-effectively and efficiently. Therefore, for these machines to stay relevant and significant to the construction industry, more thorough research and modifications must be made. 


References

Bhavyasahni. (2023, January 5). IoT innovation: Leading companies in tunnel boring machines for the mining industry. Mining Technology. https://www.mining-technology.com/data-insights/innovators-tunnel-boring-machines-mining-2/

 

Clark, G., & Ramsey, M. (2017, October 18). Tunnelingonline.com. tunnelingonline.com https://tunnelingonline.com/advanced-technologies-help-overcome-tunneling-challenges-save-time-money/

 

Engineering Channel. (2021, April 6). Tunnel boring machine. https://engineering-channel.com/tunnel-boring-machine/

 

Gong, Q., Yin, L., Ma, H., & Zhao, J. (2016). TBM tunnelling under adverse geological conditions: An overview. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 57, 4-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2016.04.002

 

Innovation at the end of the tunnel. (2022, January 26). Leonard, foresight and Innovation by VINCI. https://leonard.vinci.com/en/innovation-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/

 

Kong, S., Choi, S., Shim, S., Lee, H., Oh, D., & Lee, S. (2021). Stability evaluation of TBM pilot tunnels to rear blasting using the protection shield. Applied Sciences, 11(4), 1759. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11041759


LTA.What lies beneath: Meet LTA's digging machine. (2022, January 28). Land Transport Authority (LTA). https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/who_we_are/statistics_and_publications/Connect/TBMs.html

 

MAPFRE Global Risks. (2019, May 7). Tunnel construction: Design for latest generation tunnel boring machines. https://www.mapfreglobalrisks.com/en/risks-insurance-management/article/tunnel-construction-rational-design-for-latest-generation-tunnel-boring-machines/

 

Tan, C. (2016, June 15). New tunnel-boring machine makes cutting corners perfectly sound. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/new-tunnel-boring-machine-makes-cutting-corners-perfectly-sound

 

What is a tunnel boring machine (TBM)? - Definition from Trenchlesspedia. (2017, March 23). Trenchlesspedia - Trenchless Solutions Through Education. https://www.trenchlesspedia.com/definition/2572/tunnel-boring-machine-tbm

 

Wong, K. Y. (2019, November 23). Tunnelling for Thomson-east coast line completed on schedule. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/tunnelling-for-thomson-east-coast-line-completed-on-schedule

 

Zhang, Z., Wang, B., Wang, X., He, Y., Wang, H., & Zhao, S. (2022). Safety-risk assessment for TBM construction of hydraulic tunnel based on fuzzy evidence reasoning. Processes, 10(12), 2597. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10122597

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

WEEK 2: FORMAL INTRODUCTORY LETTER

-
Dear Professor Brad, My name is Moong Yen Jee and I am writing to introduce myself to you. I am currently pursuing a degree in civil engineering at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). I earned a diploma in civil engineering with business from Singapore Polytechnic (SP). The fact that I can speak Cantonese well is an intriguing truth about me. Since young, mathematics has been my favourite subject as I have always found the calculation of numbers, logical equations, and solving mathematical problems to be fascinating. My interest in finding creative answers to issues stems from the idea of merging math and logic, is what inspired me to pursue engineering. I made the decision to continue my engineering studies because I was interested in the structural side of engineering and was motivated by my father, who has been employed in the field for a long time, after observing the positive effects he had on those around him. One of my communication strengths is the ability to rea...
Read more

TASK 3: THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR ENGINEERS

-
“I contend that we (engineers) are undervalued because of our widespread inability to explain what we do to the general public (and why it is so important). It is one of the hardest goals to accomplish, to be able to boil down difficult concepts into a short and easily understood presentation or elevator pitch.” Marybeth Miceli, President, Miceli Infrastructure Consulting, USA (2011) According to Marybeth Miceli, the work of engineers is often unappreciated, and deemed insignificant, as engineers themselves struggles to bring across their scope of work and ideas clearly to the general masses. This is compounded when such condense, complex descriptions are not properly translated into simple, brief and understandable presentation or persuasive speeches that can spark the interest of listeners. In my opinion, I agree with Marybeth Miceli to a major extent that the engineers' work is often unrecognized among the general masses. This is exacerbated with the lack of understanding, discu...
Read more

Critical Reflection

-
Module Learning The UCS1001 module, which lasted 13 weeks, was really enlightening and eye-opening in that it allowed me to learn new knowledge that improved my writing and presenting skills and prepared me with many useful and important skills for the future. I set myself the dual goals of improving both my technical writing and public speaking skills at the start of this program, and I am glad to say that I was able to do so with the support of everyone around me, especially my professor. Being frequently chosen by my peers to express my ideas during sharing sessions gave me a lot of opportunities to present and speak in front of the class, which was a huge blessing for me. The numerous rounds of delivery increased my confidence and courage to speak in unforeseen situations. I was exposed to new concepts like the Paul-Elder framework, which taught me how to explore materials from a range of perspectives and enhanced my research skills, which helped to improve my articulation and prof...
Read more