China’s latest intelligent shield tunnelling technology has been successfully applied in the Chongtai Yangtze River Tunnel, a key project for the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu High Speed Railway.
After working for more than 2,000m, the shield tunnel intelligent construction V2.0 system was integrated into the Pioneer shield machine, significantly improving the efficiency and quality of the construction.
Designed for speeds of 350km/h, the Chongtai Yangtze River Tunnel is the world’s fastest underwater tunnel. It covers 14.25km in total, including a 13.20km-long shield section.
Managed by Shanghai-Hangzhou High-Speed Railway Passenger Transport Co, Ltd. and constructed by China Railway Tunnel Group (CRTG), the tunnel features a single-bore double-track design, with a shield diameter of 15.4m and an outer diameter of the tunnel segments of 14.8m, making it the world’s largest diameter high-speed rail shield tunnel.
Located at the deepest point of the Yangtze River with a maximum water pressure of 0.9 Mpa, the tunnel connects Chongming District in Shanghai with Taicang City in Jiangsu Province.
With a single-headed excavation distance of 11.325km, the longest in the world, the construction of the tunnel has involved the development and application of nine major intelligent construction technologies, including intelligent perception, design, prefabrication, excavation, installation, construction, environmental control, transportation, and management. An intelligent factory has been established for the automated production of shield tunnel segments and arc segments, marking China’s first arc segment production line.
The fully intelligent Pioneer shield machine has now excavated more than 2,600m and is crossing the Yangtze River knifefish germplasm resource protection area with autonomous, safe, and stable “attended but unmanned” operation.
The Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu High Speed Railway is a vital part of China’s “eight vertical and eight horizontal” high-speed railway network. The completion of the Chongtai Yangtze River Tunnel will enable high-speed trains to cross the Yangtze River without slowing down for the first time, creating a new fast channel between the Shanghai metropolitan area and the Nanjing metropolitan area.
The project is crucial for implementing the national “Belt and Road” initiative, optimising the railway network layout along the Yangtze River, and promoting integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta.
