Investigation and comparison of common TBM performance prognosis models using the actual data from the second lot of Zagros

Different methods have been introduced for estimating the performance of tunneling boring machines (TBMs) for each area; therefore, their use in other projects may lead to errors in different geological conditions. Therefore, it is necessary for each project to use models that have similar geological conditions with the project. In this paper, using the actual machine data in the Zagros Water conveyance Tunneling Project, the machine's performance has been predicted by conventional models. Then, the results obtained from the common models including the empirical models of NTNU, Palmestrom (1995) and the theoretical model of CSM compared with the results obtained from Hassnpour et al. (2009, 2011) model, which has been developed based on data from projects with similar geological conditions, and the differences between them are quantitatively explained. The results of this study indicate that the empirical model of Hassanpour et al., due to the compatibility of the database with internal projects, shows the results closer to reality than the other models. Then, empirical models of NTNU and RMi provide more reliable results than CSM model due to consideration of different geological parameters, especially rock masses.