@article {10.3844/ajeassp.2009.416.420, article_type = {journal}, title = {Analysis of the Tunnel Boring Machine Advancement on the Bologna-Florence Railway Link }, author = {Cardu, M. and Oreste, P. and Cicala, T.}, volume = {2}, number = {2}, year = {2009}, month = {Sep}, pages = {416-420}, doi = {10.3844/ajeassp.2009.416.420}, url = {https://thescipub.com/abstract/ajeassp.2009.416.420}, abstract = {Problem statement: The high-velocity railway link between Bologna and Firenze (Italy) is today under construction and several tunnels have to be excavated for this purpose, some of these using TBMs. A small diameter tunnel, named Cunicolo ginori, was realized by TBM parallel to a large railway tunnel (Vaglia), at the distance of only 35 m. Approach: The Vaglia tunnel had been excavated by conventional methods and provided, thanks to a detailed survey and a systematic geotechnical monitoring (rock quality evaluation and convergence measurements) the characterization data of the crossed rock mass; moreover the TBM performance data in Cunicolo ginori were continuously monitored. A tunnel stretch, 587 m long, was recorded and the analysis of the data from both surveys allowed to correlate the geomechanical parameters of the rock-mass to the TBM performances (net advancement rate, thrust, specific energy). Results: Based on this large amount of data a new system to predict the net TBM advancement rate for a tunnel in rock masses of known geological and geomechanical characteristics was then developed. Also the Utilization Coefficient (CU) can be correlated to the rock quality Indices: The net advance rate and the utilization coefficient provide a mean to foresee the gross advancement rate and to evaluate the suitability of a machine for the excavation of a tunnel. Conclusion: In this study, an analysis had been carried out on about 587 m of a service tunnel, excavated by a TBM in a flysch formation.}, journal = {American Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences}, publisher = {Science Publications} }