5 October, 2025 / 0 Comments
Dr. Ebrahim Farrokh Presented at “Integrated Tunnel Design 2025” Conference
On September 25, 2025, Dr. Ebrahim Farrokh, Member of Research & Development at TSM and Associate Professor at Amirkabir University of Technology, participated and presented in the prestigious conference "Integrated Tunnel Design 2025: Engineering Safe, Resilient, and Efficient Underground Spaces". The event was organized by the Tunnel Association of India (TAI), Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP), and the Tunnel Association of India - Young Members (TAIym).
Dr. Farrokh’s presentation focused on the essential aspects of TBM Cutterhead Design, covering a range of technical topics crucial to advancing tunnel boring machine (TBM) design and performance. The talk drew attention to innovative principles and practical applications that can enhance the effectiveness and safety of tunneling projects.
Key Topics Covered in Dr. Farrokh's Presentation:
- Design Principles of the Cutterhead
Understanding key parameters such as P, S/P, and others to optimize cutterhead performance.
- Gauge Cutter Layout Design
Insights into the design of both single-disc and double-disc cutter layouts, optimizing angular spacing for maximum efficiency.
- Head Balance and Cutter Box Conflict
Practical techniques for balancing the cutterhead and resolving conflicts within the cutter box, particularly in the gauge area.
- Flowcharts and Design Steps
A step-by-step guide for checking the static balance of the cutterhead, with flowcharts to simplify the process for engineers.
- Specific Energy and the Spacing-to-Penetration Ratio
Examining the relationship between specific energy and the spacing-to-penetration ratio, and its effect on TBM efficiency.
- Design Application: Sewer Tunnel - Qatar
A real-world case study on the Sewer Tunnel-Qatar design, illustrating the application of these principles, including uniformly distributed lace design and layout optimization.
CUTTING TOOLS
