Calibration Techniques for Discrete Element Method Analysis in Soft Ground TBM Applications - RETC2021

Discrete Element Method (DEM) software has been successfully used to simulate various machine/soil interactions and provide insight for industries such as mining and bulk material processing. This paper will investigate typical calibration techniques used in particle models for DEM simulation and physical calibration experiments with soft ground TBM cutting tools to incorporate parameters such as tool drag forces that contribute to required TBM torque. With a well calibrated DEM model, it is expected that TBM simulation results will be more meaningful and provide better insight into TBM performance, power requirements, cutting tool placement, and overall cutter head design.