Analysis of the Influencing Factors and Prediction of the Service Life of a Shield Machine Cutter: A Case Study of the Guangfo East Ring Tunnel in Guangdong, China

The cutter wear of a shield machine is severe in highly abrasive strata. The inspection and replacement of cutters takes up a high proportion of time during construction. It is necessary to investigate the rule of cutter wear and the influence of various related factors on cutter wear. Based on the cutter wear data of the Guangfo East Ring Tunnel in China, the characteristics of cutter wear are analyzed. Abnormal wear failure accounts for 23.28% of the total number of cutter changes. The influence of factors such as total thrust of the shield machine, cutter head torque, soil chamber pressure, cutter penetration, uniaxial compressive strength of strata, and earth pressure on cutter life are explored. There is a significant negative correlation between the cutter life and uniaxial compressive strength or thrust of rock strata. Parameters that have a negative correlation with the cutter life include total thrust of the shield machine, cutter head torque, and uniaxial compressive strength of the rock strata. Based on the theory of the response surface model, a cutter life prediction model under the siltstone condition is established. The uniform wear prediction model of the front disc cutter is established and proved.