China has reportedly manufactured the world's largest double-shield tunnel boring machine by excavation diameter. The massive 3,500-ton complex, named "Yuexi," is intended for the construction of an 18.4-kilometer highway tunnel in Sichuan Province.

According to official statements, the giant machine rolled off the production line in late September in Chengdu, the administrative capital of Sichuan Province. The unit reaches a total length of 220 meters with an excavation diameter of 13.01 meters. This reported record specifically applies to the category of double-shield complexes rather than all existing boring machinery.

The project was jointly developed by the infrastructure firm Shudao Investment Group and the specialized tunneling equipment manufacturer China Railway Engineering Equipment Group. The machine utilizes a rotating cutter head to crush rock formations, while its dual-shield design is claimed to adapt to various geological conditions, including fractured and solid rock formations.

The front section of the "Yuexi" machine is fitted with 83 disk cutters, each measuring about 48 centimeters in diameter, designed to pulverize rock as hydraulic systems propel the assembly forward. The complex reportedly performs multiple simultaneous operations, including excavation, installation of precast concrete tunnel lining segments, and muck removal.

Furthermore, the machinery is equipped with integrated drilling and geological prospecting systems, purportedly allowing operators to assess ahead-of-face rock conditions before reaching them. An automated laser guidance system is utilized to maintain high precision along the excavation path. The deployment is expected to achieve significantly higher efficiency compared to traditional drill-and-blast methods.

Source: kun.uz