Shield Machines

S-738, 746 - Constructional testing

Filder Tunnel, Stuttgart 21

  • Client: Deutsche Bahn AG
  • Manufacturer of tunnel boring machines: Herrenknecht AG
  • Total length: c. 2 x 9.5 km
    Shield diameter: c. 10.82 m
    Covering: max. 220 m
    Height difference: c. 155 m
    Inclination: up to 25 ‰
  • Time: 2013 - 2021
  • Building costs: c. 500 mill. EUR
  • Our scope: Calculating and checking of the construction of shield machines S-738 and S-746

SUSE, lead the way.

The twin-bore Filder Tunnel is part of German railways’ (Deutsche Bahn) large-scale Stuttgart 21 project. It connects Stuttgart’s main railway station with the Filder Plain and the airport.

The tunnel has a total length of c. 9.5 km. About half of its length is being excavated by the SUSE tunnel boring machines. SUSE is an abbreviation of "Stuttgart-Ulm schneller erreicht" (Stuttgart to Ulm reached faster). The shield diameter of the boring machines is 10.82 m and the eventual internal diameter of the tunnel will be 9.6 m.

The convertible multi-mode tunnel boring machines were manufactured by the firm Herrenknecht. Our task was to calculate and check the steel construction of shield machines S-738 and S-746 independently of the manufacturer. Our calculations were carried out using a 3D FEM model.

So SUSE is now digging its way through the earth, slowly but surely, so that Deutsche Bahn and its connection between Stuttgart and Ulm will soon be faster.

Unpredictable was yesterday.

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