Tunnel boring machines (TBMs) play an important role in modern infrastructure construction. As engineering conditions become increasingly complex, traditional hard rock TBMs and slurry balance TBMs are difficult to cope with the changing geological environment. The birth of hybrid TBMs provides a more flexible and efficient solution for tunnel excavation projects. It combines the advantages of two types of TBMs and can freely switch working modes under different geological conditions such as hard rock and soft rock, greatly improving construction efficiency and safety. Let's take a closer look at the technical characteristics, advantages and wide application scenarios of hybrid TBMs.

　　I. Core features of hybrid TBMs

　　The design concept of hybrid TBMs is to combine the advantages of hard rock TBMs and slurry balance TBMs, and achieve high adaptability to a variety of geological conditions through innovative modular design. The following are its main features:

　　1. Multifunctional cutting head: Equipped with an adjustable cutting head, it can freely switch working modes between hard rock and soft soil to ensure efficient and safe crossing of different geological layers.

　　2. Flexible propulsion system: With highly adaptable main drive and propulsion mechanism, it can maintain stable excavation speed and direction control even in complex underground environments.

　　3. Efficient support mechanism: With intelligent control system, it can automatically adjust the support strength according to the real-time monitored geological data, effectively maintaining the safety and stability of the tunnel structure.

　　4. Accurate guidance control: Integrating advanced navigation and positioning technology to ensure that the tunnel is excavated accurately along the predetermined route, reduce deviations and heavy work, and improve overall engineering efficiency.

　　II. Scope of application and application scenarios

　　Due to its excellent performance, the composite TBM has shown irreplaceable value in the following fields:

　　1. Complex and changeable geological conditions

　　In tunnel projects with frequently changing geological conditions, such as projects that need to cross multiple rock formations or water-bearing formations, the composite TBM can quickly switch working modes according to different geology, greatly reducing the difficulty of construction.

　　2. Projects with alternating hard and soft rock

　　Some tunnel projects involve frequent switching between hard and soft rock, such as crossing mountains or mixed geological layers under cities. The composite TBM can easily cope with this challenge with its flexible cutting head design and propulsion system.

　　3. Construction that requires rapid adaptation to geological changes

　　In some specific tunnel projects, due to tight construction schedules or high uncertainty in geological conditions, the composite TBM can quickly adjust its working mode to ensure that the project progress is not delayed and improve construction efficiency. The strong environmental adaptability and flexibility of the composite TBM make it one of the preferred solutions.

　　The composite TBM has become an important tool in the field of tunneling with its high flexibility, strong geological adaptability and intelligent control system. Its emergence not only improves the efficiency of tunnel construction, but also provides a safer and more reliable solution for projects facing complex geological conditions.