Numerical Study of the Rock Fragmentation by Three TBM Cutters

Based on the mesoscopic damage theory and the finite element method, a numerical code RFPA was applied to investigate the rock fragmentation by three TBM cutters loaded one after another in different time interval. The whole process of crack initiation and propagation was successfully simulated by the cutters loaded with different step intervals. The time interval of the disc cutters has significant influence on the fracture patterns and the rock breaking efficiency. The simulated results show that there are three types of breakage mode of the rock subjected to compression by the cutters.