A Test System for Microwave-Assisted Dual-Mode Mechanical Cutting of Hard Rock Under True Triaxial Compression

Abstract This paper introduces a test system for microwave-assisted dual-mode mechanical cutting of hard rock under true triaxial compression. The test system was developed by Northeastern University, China, to simulate the cutting and breaking of hard rock by a tunnel boring machine (TBM). The test system is mainly composed of a dual-mode mechanical cutting subsystem, a true triaxial loading subsystem and a high-power microwave presplitting subsystem. The system performs dual-mode cutting under true triaxial stress, applies a single sensor to monitor the three-dimensional force of the cutter head, and integrates the reduction in the vibration and resistance to torsion during the cutting process. Mechanical cutting tests of basalt under different amounts of microwave irradiation and true triaxial stress conditions were conducted in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, China. The results showed that microwave radiation presplitting effectively improved the efficiency of mechanical rock breaking. However, after 180 s of microwave irradiation, true triaxial high stress inhibited the mechanical breaking of basalt in terms of the overall excavation depth. During the tests, each system performed stably. The test results verified the reliability of the test system.