TUNNEL BORING MACHINE AND TUNNEL BORING METHOD

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tunnel boring machine and a tunnel boring method, enabling a reliable boring operation by preventing the sliding section of a double-cylindrical structure from being clogged with sediment. SOLUTION: In the tunnel boring machine, the intermediate barrel shield 2 of a shield body 4 has the double-cylindrical structure composed of an inner shield 2A and an outer shield 2B, which are mutually slidable, and the shields 2A and 2B are slid for the purpose of excavating a natural ground with a cutter head 5 while expanding/contracting the shield body 4. The sediment is drawn in with water through a suction port 44 from a space P in the vicinity of the sliding section of the shields 2A and 2B.