Use of full face slurry shield for pipe jacking in Hong Kong's reclaimed land

Abstract

Pipe jacking has become a popular method in drainage construction in Hong Kong. However, the varied ground conditions encountered in reclaimed land may pose severe problems to pipe jacking operation. This paper presents the experience of using the full face slurry shield for pipe jacking in a reclaimed area. The study shows that the full face slurry shield with a rock cutting head performs satisfactorily. To ensure the machine can work effectively in all ground conditions, other factors need to be considered including the rock cutting head being worn away, the hitting of underground structures, the sustainability of jacked pipes alignment, the associated ground settlement and the damage to the jacked pipes caused by the jacking pressure.