Baiteng Tunnel on the Menghua Railway
Release time:
2025-12-24
Abstract
Construction unit: China Railway Fourth Bureau Group Co., Ltd.
Device Number: (Menghua No. Shield Tunneling Machine) China Railway Equipment
Cutting disc diameter: 10.95 meters
Tunneling length: 3043 meters
Project Features:
The world’s first horseshoe-shaped shield tunneling method was employed in this project. The tunnel is located on the fringe of the Maowusu Desert and primarily traverses loose geological formations such as sandy new loess and silt. The surrounding rock is mostly classified as Grade V and Grade VI, posing a high risk of collapse. Moreover, the tunnel must pass beneath major hazard sources including the Baomao Expressway, natural gas pipelines, and high-voltage power towers, presenting significant geological and construction challenges. To address these unique challenges associated with the unconventional shield design, an innovative approach was adopted: using reinforced open-cut sections to provide launching reaction forces, thereby replacing the traditional reaction frames. Additionally, the tunnel segments were designed using a “7+1” segmental configuration combined with an alternating odd-and-even ring joint assembly technique to ensure structural stability. The “Menghua” tunneling machine set new records, achieving a maximum daily advance of 19.6 meters and a maximum monthly advance of 308 meters. The entire tunnel was completed in just 440 days.
Year of commencement: October 2015
Year of completion: December 2017
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