An open-type TBM developed by China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Corporation Ltd (CRCHI) has broken through on South Korea’s Chuncheon–Sokcho Railway Tunnel Project – and set a monthly advance record.
During the excavation on Section 7 of the project, the TBM achieved a maximum daily advance of 24m, a maximum weekly advance of 114m, and a maximum monthly advance of 304m – nearly double the previous domestic record and a new construction benchmark for South Korea’s tunnelling industry.
The project owner had set a “Project 300” target of achieving a 300m monthly advance.
The TBM has a maximum excavation diameter of 9m, is approximately 120m long, weighs 1,651 tons, and has an installed power of 5,100kW.
During excavation, the machine encountered hard rock formations such as quartz porphyry, tuff, and granite, with rock compressive strengths reaching up to 280 MPa – roughly six to seven times that of ordinary concrete. To address such extreme geological challenges, CRCHI carried out targeted optimisation designs to ensure the TBM safely excavated 3.71km.
CRCHI says meeting the Project 300 target was a strong endorsement of the TBM’s stability, excavation efficiency, and on-site service capabilities.
Since equipment delivery, the CRCHI field service team adhered to a refined management approach, proactively co-ordinating with all parties, and ensuring the equipment’s reliable operation.
