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Scope of Application for Single-Arm and Double-Arm Rock-Drilling Rigs and Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs)
Release time:
2026-09-24
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Summary:
In tunnel and underground engineering construction, the drill-and-blast method (D&B) and the tunnel boring machine method (TBM) represent the two principal technological approaches. Among these, the rock‑drilling rig stands as the core equipment for mechanized drill-and-blast operations, and its technological advancement and practical application have exerted a profound influence on China’s tunnel‑construction sector.
From a mechanical standpoint, a rock‑drilling rig is a broader concept, referring to machinery that uses a carriage frame to mount a rock‑drilling machine for drilling operations. Single‑arm rock‑drilling rigs typically feature one drilling arm and are suited for tunneling in small to medium cross‑sections, auxiliary drilling, and flexible hole placement during multi‑stage construction transitions. Double‑curved‑arm rock‑drilling rigs are equipped with two drilling arms; their distinctive curved‑arm design enables arch excavation and three‑dimensional intersecting drilling, making them ideal for heavy‑duty applications in large‑cross‑section tunnel construction. Both types of equipment operate on the drill-and‑blast principle: hydraulic rock‑drilling machines transmit impact energy and rotational torque to the drill bit, creating blast holes in the face rock, which are then loaded with explosives and detonated to fragment and excavate the rock.
The operating principle of a tunnel boring machine (TBM) differs fundamentally from that of the drill-and-blast method. The TBM employs disc cutters mounted on the cutterhead to apply crushing pressure to the rock face, causing the rock to fracture under shear and tensile stresses. As the cutterhead rotates one full revolution, it completes the cutting and breaking of the entire cross-section, enabling continuous execution of multiple operations—including excavation, muck removal, and support—thus representing a tunneling technique characterized by a higher degree of continuity and factory‑like production.
I. Scope of Application for Single-Arm Rock Drilling Rigs
The primary advantages of a single-boom rock‑drilling rig are its compact size and high maneuverability, enabling it to meet the operational requirements of small- and medium‑section roadways as well as complex method‑change scenarios.
Cross‑section dimensions and roadway types. Single‑arm rock‑drilling rigs are generally suited for tunneling operations with cross‑sections ranging from 2 × 2 m to 6.5 × 6.2 m. The DW1‑24 tire‑mounted single‑arm rig, when operating in a 2.8 × 3 m section under rock hardness of F6–F8, achieves an efficiency approximately three times higher than that of pneumatic pick drilling. Sandvik’s DD212 narrow‑vein rock‑drilling rig covers roadway cross‑sections from 6 m² to 25 m² and is specifically designed for narrow‑vein mining. This equipment also demonstrates excellent performance in a 3.4 × 3.2 m section with rock hardness of F8–F10.
Rock hardness and drilling performance. The single-boom rock‑drilling rig features a fully hydraulic drive system, achieving a drilling rate of 0.8–2 meters per minute, with hole diameters ranging from φ45 to 102 mm and depths of 3,405–4,000 mm. Equipped with high‑impact‑power hydraulic rock drills, this rig delivers drilling efficiency that is 2–4 times greater than that of pneumatic rock drills under comparable conditions. In a 2.6 × 2.6 m cross‑section of an F8‑grade gold‑mine roadway, the single‑boom rig drilled 30 holes, each 2.7 m deep, achieving a full‑face advance of 2.5 m.
Mobility and adaptability to multi‑task operations. In complex drilling tasks such as step‑by‑step excavation, radial anchor bolt holes, advance support holes, and toe‑locking holes, single‑arm rigs can be deployed in parallel, accommodating both two‑stage and three‑stage tunneling requirements. They are suitable for excavating and advancing tunnels and culverts in mining, water conservancy, railway, highway, and national defense applications, supporting a wide range of drilling operations including blast holes, anchor bolt holes, grouting holes, and advance support holes.
II. Scope of Application for the Double-Arm Rock-Drilling Rig
The hyperbolic-arm rock‑drilling rig, featuring a distinctive “Z‑shaped curved arm” design, incorporates bent hinge points on its two drilling arms, enabling the boom to operate below the horizontal plane. This capability facilitates invert excavation and three‑dimensional intersecting drilling, thereby overcoming the limitation of conventional rock‑drilling rigs that cannot perform invert construction.
Cross‑section dimensions and coverage capability. The hyperbolic‑arm rock‑drilling rig is primarily suited for tunneling and anchor‑bolt drilling in highway and railway tunnels, pumped‑storage power stations, hydropower plants, and underground caverns, with cross‑sections ranging from 30 to 154 m². Certain models accommodate cross‑sections of 36–176 m², offering a maximum working envelope of 16,000 × 11,000 mm and a coverage area of approximately 195 m², while allowing a minimum tunnel clearance of 6 m. The hyperbolic‑arm design significantly expands the working range—more than 40% greater than conventional boom systems—thereby substantially reducing the frequency of equipment repositioning during construction.
Construction method adaptability and the bench‑method approach. The articulated boom design accommodates two‑bench, three‑bench, and upper‑middle‑lower bench operations, addressing the limited cross‑sectional adaptability of conventional rock‑drilling rigs. It is suitable for highway tunnels, high-speed rail main tunnels, inclined shafts, cross passages, and pilot tunnels, enabling maximized mechanized productivity across all stages of rock‑drilling operations.
Drilling efficiency and intelligent automation. The drilling speed per hole is 5–6 times that of manual pneumatic drills, significantly boosting productivity. Equipped with a high‑frequency hydraulic hammer (with an impact frequency of up to 6,000 impacts per minute), drilling in hard rock is 25% faster while energy consumption is reduced by 10%. Dual‑arm coordinated control, enabled by a hydraulic synchronization system, allows the two arms to drill simultaneously or alternate operations, cutting single‑cycle cycle time by 30%. The fully computerized control system features automatic blast‑hole layout generation, automated equipment positioning, automated drilling, and automatic arch‑roof rock‑breaking, effectively managing excavation geometry and minimizing over‑ or under‑excavation.
III. Scope of Application for Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs)
A full-face tunnel boring machine (TBM) is a large, integrated mechanical–electrical–hydraulic underground construction device characterized by a high degree of technological sophistication. It is primarily used for tunnel excavation in rock‑dominated geological formations. Its fundamental distinction from the drill-and-blast method lies in its operating principle and scope of application: shield machines are suited to soil or soft‑rock tunnels, whereas TBMs are designed for medium‑to‑hard rock tunnels with relatively intact rock masses.
Applicable geological conditions. Open-type tunnel boring machines are suitable for medium-hard rock with uniaxial compressive strengths ranging from 10 to 260 MPa; they are easy to support and relatively straightforward to handle. Single-shield TBMs are primarily used in soft rock (5–60 MPa) that exhibits a certain degree of self‑stability, particularly in tunnels of moderate length. Dual-shield TBMs can leverage their advantage of rapid excavation under favorable geological conditions, and most of the world’s record‑breaking tunneling speeds have been achieved by dual-shield machines.
Adaptability to adverse geological conditions. TBM performance is limited under challenging geologic conditions such as extremely hard rock, rockbursts, large deformations in soft rock, fault‑fractured zones, and water or mud inflows. In water‑rich, highly fractured, and extremely soft ground, TBMs are prone to jamming; in high‑stress, extremely hard rock formations, they face the risk of rockbursts. Particularly hard rock can slow tunneling progress and accelerate equipment damage and component wear. During tunnel excavation, TBMs must contend with multiple challenges, including fault‑fractured zones and soft‑rock conditions. Under unfavorable geological conditions, the TBM’s advantages in excavation are significantly diminished, often forcing a suspension of operations and requiring a shift to drill-and-blast methods to complete the remaining section.
Applicable project scale. The primary advantage of TBMs lies in their capability for continuous tunneling, making them well suited to long‑length tunnel projects. For extra‑long tunnels, the drill-and-blast method is constrained by factors such as single‑heading excavation capacity and environmental protection requirements, thus increasingly necessitating the use of tunnel boring machines (TBMs). In the Qinling Railway Tunnel, under geological conditions characterized by hard rock with high quartz content, TBM construction proved extremely challenging, with frequent cutterhead tool changes and severe disc wear. Moreover, extended support periods and prolonged muck removal times—particularly in complex ground conditions—can significantly offset the tunneling speed advantages of TBMs, indicating that, compared with the drill-and-blast method, TBMs do not offer an absolute edge across all operating scenarios.
IV. Summary of Equipment Selection Recommendations for Three Categories
Selection Criteria: Single-Arm Rock Drilling Rig, Double-Arm Rock Drilling Rig, Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)
Working principle: Drill-and-blast method—drilling blast holes; drill-and-blast method—drilling blast holes and support holes; mechanical roller cutter rock cutting.
Applicable cross-sections: 2×2 m to 6.5×6.2 m; area: 30–176 m²; suitable for medium-hard rock and relatively long tunnels.
Tunneling method: drill-and-blast cyclic operation; drill-and-blast cyclic operation (with multiple bench levels possible); continuous tunneling and factory‑based operations.
Construction method adaptability: simultaneous multi‑machine jacking, auxiliary drilling; two‑stage and three‑stage excavation; inverted arch construction; continuous long‑distance tunneling in homogeneous geological conditions.
Geological adaptability: Medium-hard rock, complex variable cross-sections; medium-hard rock, large cross-sections using the bench method; medium-hard rock, intact strata (not suitable for fractured zones, water inflow, or extremely hard rock).
In practical equipment selection, it is recommended to comprehensively consider multiple factors, including project scale, cross-sectional dimensions, geological conditions, and construction schedule requirements, to ensure a well‑balanced match between equipment specifications and construction needs.
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