In a significant leap for infrastructure development, China has unveiled its largest tunnel-boring machine, the Jianghai, boasting a diameter of 16.64 meters.
This engineering marvel weighs in at approximately 5,000 metric tons and extends 145 meters in length.
The machine, born from the collaborative efforts of China Railway Construction Heavy Industry (CRCHI) and the China Railway 14th Bureau Group, marks a pivotal achievement in the industrialization of large-diameter tunnel boring machines.
Nicknamed after the Chinese words for ‘river and ocean,’ Jianghai is set to play a critical role in an ambitious construction project — a massive tunnel beneath the Yangtze River in Jiangsu Province.
This 24-mile highway project aims to connect Nantong City and Taicang City, with its completion targeted for 2028.
The machine’s cutter head has a diameter comparable to a multi-story building, underscoring the scale of this engineering feat.
It is capable of progressing at a rate of 12 to 16 meters per day, and the entire tunneling effort beneath the Yangtze River is expected to take about two and a half years.
This tunnel, spanning approximately 11.2 kilometers beneath the river, will delve to depths of 75 meters, necessitating precision within 1 centimeter to ensure the river’s dam integrity.
Overcoming natural challenges such as soft soil and silt, Jianghai is engineered to operate efficiently under conditions that would make traditional tunneling methods unfeasible.
An intelligent database integrated within the machine logs historical data on tunneling issues, allowing it to offer suggestions to operators during similar future challenges.
Wang Jun, a senior official with Jiangsu’s transport project bureau, emphasized that Jianghai represents a crucial step forward for Jiangsu’s highway project and stands as a milestone for China’s manufacturing sector.
The cutting-edge technology affirms the nation’s leadership in advanced tunnel construction methods.
Alongside the Jianghai, recent innovations like the cutting-edge boring and blasting machine—developed by China Railway Science & Industry Group with Tsinghua University’s National Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering—highlight China’s expertise in tunneling.
This machine, which uses alternative drilling and blasting methods, highlights the country’s capability to tackle extreme geological and environmental challenges.
The tunnel-boring prowess epitomized by Jianghai also finds applications beyond traditional infrastructure.
From hydropower projects and mining to water conservancy, the enhanced efficiency of such machines underscores the transformative potential of modern engineering solutions.