DL E&C Applies Korea's Largest TBM Equipment at GTX-A Construction Site

TBM equipment introduced by DL E&C at the construction site of Section 5 of the Metropolitan Area Express Railway (GTX)-A line private investment project.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] DL E&C announced on the 15th that it is applying the largest-scale TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) equipment in Korea to the construction site of the metropolitan area wide-area rapid transit (GTX)-A line private investment project.

The TBM method is not the conventional blasting method of drilling tunnels, but a method of penetrating tunnels using advanced tunnel excavation equipment. The cylindrical steel excavation equipment head rotates, crushing rock and other materials into small pieces and advancing to quickly bore the tunnel.

By applying the TBM method, the processes from tunnel excavation to rock and soil removal and reinforcement can be mechanized and automated, making it very efficient. Another advantage is that it reduces noise and vibration compared to blasting methods while maximizing stability.

DL E&C adopted the TBM method suitable for each construction site environment in some sections of GTX-A sections 5 and 6, which it is responsible for constructing.

First, DL E&C applied the ‘Gripper TBM’ method to the 4,265m section passing through Gwanghwamun, City Hall, and Sungnyemun in downtown Seoul in GTX-A section 5. The Gripper TBM can minimize excavation impact on major cultural assets such as Gwanghwamun and Namdaemun through low-vibration mechanized construction.

In particular, DL E&C is the first to apply the Gripper TBM method in domestic double-track railway construction. The excavation diameter of the Gripper TBM equipment introduced in this section reaches 11.6m, making it the largest in Korea and the third largest in the world.

Additionally, DL E&C applied the ‘Shield TBM’ equipment to the 1,314m section under the Han River in GTX-A section 6. The Shield TBM method advances while immediately installing pre-made tunnel wall segments during excavation.

Considering that the rock layer under the Han River is weak and must withstand high water pressure during excavation, DL E&C chose the Shield TBM method, which enables stable excavation. The equipment applied in this section also uses the largest excavation diameter (8.2m) among Shield TBMs introduced in Korea.

DL E&C plans to safely and promptly complete the GTX-A line based on its TBM construction experience accumulated not only domestically but also overseas, including Singapore. It also intends to enhance its global order competitiveness based on its TBM know-how.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.