Glossary.

Scraper tools are special excavation tools with a blade which is equipped with hard metal parts. They are attached with screws and can be replaced from the rear. Scraper tools are used in mixed soils.

General term for the construction of pipelines from the coastline into the open sea.

Unit for segment storage and transfer to the erector.

Production hall for the manufacture of the precast concrete segmental lining. Usually close to the construction site in order to shorten the transport distances and to ensure smooth supply of the segments.

Lining rings are made up of a number of segments which are assembled together to form a complete ring in the tailskin of the TBM. The segments are usually made of precast concrete and transported to the place where they will be positioned

Use of settlement tanks or separation plants where the excavation material can settle. The slurry water is collected and returned to the slurry circuit (AVN).

The separation plant is used for the separation of solids and liquids in order to prepare a transport medium which is fed back into the slurry circuit and in order to prepare the extracted solids for disposal. The separation of the solid particles of excavated material from the transport medium takes place in a separation plant in stages which correspond to the grain size of the excavated material being handled. It is based on artificially created centrifugal forces.

Sinking of the ground surface due to loosening and disturbance of the natural layering around the void (stress redistribution).

Single-leaf shaft construction method precast concrete segments to complete the watertight final construction of the shaft during the shaft sinking process. The water tightness of the excavation shaft, the quality of the segments and the time required for construction with precast segments are basis for the required shaft construction.

Unit to bore down shafts in a mechanized procedure.

Cylinder shaped steel construction. Within the protection of the shield segment lining takes place. Consists of a front shield, center shield and tailskin.

General term for the mechanized production of vertical shafts.

In the excavation chamber, the excavated ground is mixed with bentonite suspension which serves as transport medium in the hydraulic slurry system. Slurry pumps (centrifugal pumps) transport the suspension via the slurry line to the separation plant. The separated bentonite suspension is fed back into the circuit via the feed line.

Special cutting tools equipped with a hard metal disks. The soft ground tools are tightened to the support and can be changed from the rear. Soft ground tools are used in heterogeneous ground.

This term describes the treatment of soils with additives, such as bentonite, tensides and polymers for the systematic modification of properties, such as consistency. It is used in tunnelling, in particular with the EPB technology.

Seismic Softground Probing: System for the early detection of boulders. The system visualizes density contrasts and allows the TBM operator to identify boulders up to 40 meters ahead of the cutting wheel, e.g. in sandy or clayey soils.

Crusher for blocks and boulders installed in front of the grid and the suction pipe of hydroshield slurry lines to avoid blockages of the slurry lines.

Sinking of the ground surface due to loosening and disturbance of the natural layering around the void (stress redistribution).

Creation of an over-pressure in the excavation chamber in order to compensate for the existing earth and/or (ground) water pressure.

Mixture of substances consisting of a liquid and the fine particles of solid substances suspended in it. Serves as support medium and/or slurry water for mechanized tunnelling.