A model for estimating the penetration of hard rock tunnel boring machine in practice

Saffet Yagiz; Aitolkyn Yazitova; Jafar Hassanpour

doi:10.68732/36882b399448b8bb

Paper contribution

A model for estimating the penetration of hard rock tunnel boring machine in practice

Saffet Yagiz; Aitolkyn Yazitova; Jafar Hassanpour

DOI: https://doi.org/10.68732/36882b399448b8bb
Proceedings: EUROCK 2026
Pages: 279-284
Submitted: 28 January 2026
Accepted: 15 June 2026
Published: 12 August 2026

Summary

Abstract

Assessing the rate of penetration (ROP) of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) is one of the most crucial quantity in rock excavation and bore-ability, since the ROP is a main essential input parameter in the scheduling and execution of mechanized tunnelling projects. Despite the advances in tunnelling, a reliable estimate of the ROP is still posing challenges. Hence, this research aims to develop a model to estimate TBM penetration rate in hard rocks based on intact rock, rock mass properties and also machine specifications. In this study 557 resulting datasets gathered from different tunnelling projects were utilized to predict the ROP using simple linear, linear multiple regression (LRM), and non-linear multiple regression (NLRM) analysis techniques. Firstly, rock fracture index (FI) is introduced as input and then the variety of multiple variable regressions were performed using the statistical software. It is found that the estimation of TBM penetration is both depend on intact rock strength and discontinuity properties in rock mass and TBM operational parameters. As a result, nonlinear multiple variable regression equations were developed and then, the best one is suggested with correlation coefficient of 0.82 is introduced for TBM tunnelling in practice.

Contributors

Authors

Saffet Yagiz Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan
Aitolkyn Yazitova Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan
Jafar Hassanpour University of Tehran, Iran

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Works cited

References

Equations
Outputs
Grahan (1976)
Farmer and Glossop (1980)
Cassinelli et al. (1982)
Hughes (1986)
Innaurato etal. (1991)
Rostami &Ozdemir (1993)
PR
Yagiz (2002)
PR
Gehring (1995)
NTNU (Bruland 1998)
(Barton 1999)
Bieniawski et al. (2007)
MPa
MPa
Yagiz (2008)
Hassanpour et al. (2011)
Goodarzi et.al. (2021)
Pourhashemi et al. (2021)
Xu etal. (2021)
Yazitova et al. (2025)
ROP
Note: ROP, penetration rate (m/h); Prev, penetration per revolution (mm/rev); RPM, cutterhead rotation speed (rev/min); Fn, cutter normal force (kN/c); σc, uniaxial compressive strength (MPa); σt, Brazilian tensile strength (MPa); BI, brittleness index; D, tunnel diameter (m); d, cutter radius or diameter (m); s, cutter spacing (m); q, quartz content; RQD, rock quality designation; RSR, rock structure rating; QTBM, rock mass quality rating for TBM driven tunnels; GSI, geological strength index; α, the angle between the tunnel axis and the joint plane; Jc, RMR joint condition partial rating; Jv, volumetric joint count; DPW, distance between the plane of weakness; q, quartz content; Kv, the intactness index of rock mass.

[1] Equations

[2] Outputs

[3] Grahan (1976)

[4] Farmer and Glossop (1980)

[5] Cassinelli et al. (1982)

[6] Hughes (1986)

[7] Innaurato etal. (1991)

[8] Rostami &Ozdemir (1993)

[9] PR

[10] Yagiz (2002)

[11] PR

[12] Gehring (1995)

[13] NTNU (Bruland 1998)

[14] (Barton 1999)

[15] Bieniawski et al. (2007)

[16] MPa

[17] MPa

[18] Yagiz (2008)

[19] Hassanpour et al. (2011)

[20] Goodarzi et.al. (2021)

[21] Pourhashemi et al. (2021)

[22] Xu etal. (2021)

[23] Yazitova et al. (2025)

[24] ROP

[25] Note: ROP, penetration rate (m/h); Prev, penetration per revolution (mm/rev); RPM, cutterhead rotation speed (rev/min); Fn, cutter normal force (kN/c); σc, uniaxial compressive strength (MPa); σt, Brazilian tensile strength (MPa); BI, brittleness index; D, tunnel diameter (m); d, cutter radius or diameter (m); s, cutter spacing (m); q, quartz content; RQD, rock quality designation; RSR, rock structure rating; QTBM, rock mass quality rating for TBM driven tunnels; GSI, geological strength index; α, the angle between the tunnel axis and the joint plane; Jc, RMR joint condition partial rating; Jv, volumetric joint count; DPW, distance between the plane of weakness; q, quartz content; Kv, the intactness index of rock mass.