The Current Status and Some Problems of Slurry Shield in China（中国泥水盾构使用现状及若干问题）

For recent ten years, the slurry shield tunnelling technology has been widely used in major underneath river/ocean tunnels and urban metro constructions in China. With the gradual maturity of the slurry shield technology, especially the large diameter slurry shield technology, the numbers of projects and shield machines have been among the highest in the world. However, great challenges arise during the construction of the slurry shield projects under complex geological conditions, such as the stability of the excavation face, cutting tool abrasion, opening the chamber and repairing the machine, slurry circulation with slag, and remanufacturing of the shield. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the development of slurry shield construction technology in China. Based on typical cases of slurry shield projects, this study analysed the main problems of the slurry shield in the construction process and summarised the current experiences and key technologies. Considering the actual situation of the slurry shield technology, this study clarifies its development direction in China, which is significant to promote the development of the slurry shield technology in the world.