Xianglong Blasts Through Mixed GroundThe 4.5-meter Xianglong tunnel boring machine was developed by Tsinghua University and Wuhan-based CRSIC. Its cutting head retracts behind the shield, exposing built-in drills.
The drills bore holes several meters into the rock. Low-power, high-speed charges create microcracks without throwing debris or producing a strong shockwave. The shield absorbs what does fly back, then the head returns to crush and clear the broken rock.
The system targets mixed geology, where standard machines struggle when soft ground turns into rock. Chinese state media says it raises boring speed by 30%, while the shield diameter can be adjusted for different lining segments.
@tech
