Application of Demolition Robots in Subway Tunnel Construction

 

Subway tunnel construction is an underground construction project. The most basic construction requirements are to ensure the safety of pedestrians above ground, surrounding rock and soil, water quality, buildings and normal traffic flow of roads and pollution-free urban environment. Therefore, choosing scientific and efficient construction methods and combining engineering practice to take good technical measures control is very important.

Subway tunnels are tunnels for engineering structures buried in the ground. They are a form of underground space utilization by human beings. Tunnels can be classified into traffic tunnels, hydraulic tunnels, municipal tunnels and mining tunnels. They are built for utilizing the underground space and accommodating human needs and engineering structures. 

Transportation (traffic tunnels) - Provide underground passages for vehicles and pedestrians

Water transportation (hydraulic tunnels) - Built for transporting water

Municipal utilities (municipal tunnels) - Provide underground infrastructure for utilities like electricity, sewage,etc.

Mining activities (mining tunnels) - Excavated for extracting minerals and ores underground

There are three main methods for subway tunnel construction:

• Open excavation method
• Cover excavation method
  • Cover-excavation positive method
  • Cover-excavation reverse method
  • Cover-excavation semi-reverse method
• Blind excavation method
  • Drilling and blasting method
  • Shield method
  • Tunnel boring machine method
  • Mining method
  • Pipe jacking method
  • New Austrian Tunneling Method 

• Demolition Robots in Versatile Tunnel Construction  

Versatile demolition robots have a wide range of applications in tunnel construction. They are ideal equipment for excavating connecting passages, blind tunnel excavation and tunnel maintenance. They are often used to demolish temporary tunnel walls, excavate tunnels, excavate vertical shafts, assist in tunnel support, drainage and excavation of cable tunnels. They have huge advantages in places where large mechanical equipment cannot enter and drilling and blasting construction processes cannot be used. They are widely used in stepped tunnel construction, CD and CRD construction methods and frozen soil connecting road construction, suitable for mechanical excavation of rocks with different hardness.   

• Advantages of Demolition Robots in Tunnel Applications

1. High flexibility - Compact size allows access to narrow working areas. Wireless remote control allows safe operation from a distance.
2. Strong power - Powerful hydraulic systems can carry out heavy-duty breaking, excavating and handling operations.
3. Multi-functionality - Equipped with various attachments like hydraulic hammers, buckets, grabs, drills, etc. Capable of breaking, excavating, handling, transporting and other operations. Can assist in supporting and grouting in addition to excavation.
4. High efficiency - Automated operation improves productivity. Can complete workload of multiple human workers. Suitable for complex working conditions, reducing downtime.
5. Safety - Remote operation protects operators from potential hazards underground. Stable and rugged design ensures safe working under high-temperature and hazardous conditions 
6. Cost-effectiveness - Reduce reliance on human labor. Shorten project schedules with high work efficiency. Lower long-term costs

The versatile demolition robot is small in size but powerful, flexible and maneuverable. It can enter narrow working surfaces and dangerous sites for operation. It can work where large equipment cannot reach, improving work efficiency and reducing production costs. The excavation efficiency is equivalent to four times the weight of the excavator.   

The versatile demolition robot can carry hydraulic hammers, buckets, splitters, support beam grabbers, hydraulic drills, wet spray nozzles and other operations. In tunnel construction, it plays the role of "one machine, multiple functions". In addition to excavation, it can also assist in support and grouting.

In summary, demolition robots have significant applications in subway tunnel constructions. They effectively solve many difficulties and improve work efficiency and safety. The flexibility, strong power and versatility of demolition robots make them suitable for the complex working conditions of subway tunnel projects.