Impact of Tunnel Boring Machine Advance Rate for Pipeline Construction Projects

Advance rate (AR) estimation is a crucial factor at the conceptual phase of a pipeline project for preliminary estimation of tunnel boring machines’ (TBMs’) usage. The primary objective of this paper is to develop order of magnitude performance charts for advance rate of TBMs that can be used with limited information about the pipeline progress at the conceptual phase. The secondary objective of this paper is to evaluate factors that impact TBM progress in applications of tunneling for pipeline construction projects. Statistical analysis was used to produce an advance rate chart. The results were tested with use of case studies. The results of this paper showed that the highest amount of overestimation for case studies considered by these performance charts was 16%. The outcome of this paper can assist in prediction of tunnel boring machine’s advance rate at the conceptual stage of a pipeline project based on ground conditions and diameter of the pipe.