The shield tunneling machine "Matucana", developed by China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC), recently began work for the construction of Santiago Metro Line 7 in Chile.
It marks the smooth progress to the construction phase of the first shield tunneling subway project undertaken by a Chinese firm in Chile, as well as the first subway construction in Chile to use the earth pressure-balanced Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) method.
Located in Santiago, the 27-kilometer-long metro line 7 is designed with 19 stations, connecting seven districts of the capital, Santiago.
The total length of the project is 7.9 kilometers, and the main works include 6.7 kilometers of shield tunnel construction, seven island stations, and shafts. Upon completion, it will only take 43 minutes to run the entire line, which can provide fast and convenient travel services for more than 1.36 million residents.
The project demands high maneuverability from the shield tunneling machine. In order to ensure the safe and efficient excavation of the tunnel over long distances, CRCC independently developed several core technologies.
With a total length of 105 meters and an excavation diameter of about 9.8 meters, the shield tunneling machine adopts a composite cutterhead design, capable of rotating and discharging debris in both forward and reverse directions. Additionally, the turning radius can be controlled by adjusting the stroke difference of each set of propulsion cylinders to meet the requirements.
The Santiago Metro Line 7 has been a key project of the Chilean government in recent years and has garnered attention from several Chilean dignitaries and local residents since its launch. CRCC has rooted itself in local development by undertaking various projects in healthcare, highway concession operations, among others, which has contributed to economic and trade cooperation between China and Chile.
(Executive editor: Zhu Zeya)
