Numerical Simulation of Rock Fragmentation Process for TBM Cutters Based on Three-Dimensional Dynamic Fracturing Method

The rock breakage process is the interaction process between TBM and rock mass, which is affected by TBM specifications, such as thrust force, cutter tip width and profile, cutter spacing, RPM, and torque, and rock mass properties mainly including rock material strength, rock brittleness, joint spacing and orientation. In this study, based on the systematic study of the existed rock constitutive model achievements and introduction of rock breaking mechanism, main failure mode of rock in the breaking process of disc cutter is added and revised in order to meet the actual situation. The method of establishing finite element model of disc cutter breaking process using ANSYS AUTODYN-3D software is introduced. After the dynamic simulation, we can obtain that geotechnical interface disturbance insulted by disc cutter. Based on plenty of experiments, it confirms reliability of numerical methods and provides a method to study cutting performance for different geological conditions.