Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Bionic Design to Reduce Jacking Force for Trenchless Installations in Clay Soil

  • Published:
Journal of Bionic Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The application of trenchless technology is the trend of underground public facilities’ installation, replacement and repairing. As the soil-engaging component during penetrating bore, the working resistance of penetration head has remarkable effect on energy consumption of the whole working process. Some typical soil-digging animals, like pangolin and earthworm, they own special micro structures on their surface. It has been widely proved that some micro geometrical structures can effectively reduce adhesion resistance. Four kinds of bionic penetration heads were designed by imitating micro geometrical structures inspired by the soil animals. In this work, the real time jacking forces of the bionic penetration heads were measured and compared with a smooth penetration head (control group) without micro geometrical structures. The result indicated that the jacking forces of the bionic penetration heads were smaller than that of the smooth penetration head. This proved that the bionic penetration heads have the ability of reducing adhesion resistance. The vertical concave penetration head got the smallest jacking force, of which the average jacking force was 18.7% lower than that of the smooth penetration head. The interaction between soil and bionic surface of penetration head was discussed on the condition of wet friction. The bionic surface reduced the adhesion resistance by disturbing the soil and braking the continuous water film between soil and the surface of the penetration head.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Zayed T, Salman A, Basha I. The impact on environment of underground infrastructure utility work. Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, 2011, 7, 199–210.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Yan C W. Current status of trenchless industry in China and the prospect. Exploration Engineering (Rock & Soil Drilling and Tunneling), 2010, 10, 56–60. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Sofianos A I, Loukas P, Chantzakos C. Pipe jacking a sewer under Athens. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 2004, 19, 193–203.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Zaneldin E K. Trenchless construction: An emerging technology in United Arab Emirates. Tunnelling & Underground Space Technology, 2007, 22, 96–105.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bergeson W. Review of long drive microtunneling technology for use on large scale projects. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 2014, 39, 66–72.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Gerasimova V. Underground engineering and trenchless technologies at the defense of environment. Procedia engineering, 2016, 165, 1395–1401.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Danilov B B. Ways of improvement of the technologies and equipment for trenchless communications laying. Journal of Mining Science, 2007, 43, 171–176.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ren F J, Yan B B. Motion characteristics analysis and simulation of move-in-mud robot. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2008, 44, 62–66. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Tomczak E, Zielińska A. Example of sewerage system rehabilitation using trenchless technology. Ecological Chemistry and Engineering S, 2017, 24, 405–116.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Sim Y, Jin K N. Experimental analysis for the effect of integrated pipe-roof in trenchless method. Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, 2016, 18, 377–387.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kramer S R, McDonald W J, Thomson J C. An Introduction to Trenchless Technology. Springer Science & Business Media, Berlin, Germany, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Ma B S. A new developed subject: Trenchless technology. Exploration Engineering (Rock & Soil Drilling and Tunneling), 2005, 32, 164–168. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Barla M, Camusso M. A method to design microtunnelling installations in randomly cemented Torino alluvial soil. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 2013, 33, 73–81.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Cheng W C, Ni J C, Arulrajah A, Huang, H W. A simple approach for characterising tunnel bore conditions based upon pipe-jacking data. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 2018, 71, 494–504.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Reilly C C, Orr T L. Physical modelling of the effect of lubricants in pipe jacking. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 2017, 63, 44–53.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Shou K, Yen J, Liu M. On the frictional property of lubricants and its impact on jacking force and soil-pipe interaction of pipe-jacking. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 2010, 25, 469–477.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Namli M, Guler E. Effect of bentonite slurry pressure on interface friction of pipe jacking. Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice, 2017, 8, 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Bai J S, Ma B S, Zhou P, Jia Z X. Analysis and calculation of jacking force in the mudstone formation. Pipelines 2013: Pipelines and Trenchless Construction and Renewals—A Global Perspective, Fort Worth, USA, 2013, 905–914.

  19. Meskele T, Stuedlein A W. Static soil resistance to pipe ramming in granular soils. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 2014, 141, 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Saruev A L, Saruev L A, Vasenin S S. Development of small diameter pilot hole directional drilling for trenchless utility installation. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, IOP Publishing, Inst Nat Resources, Russia, 2016, 43, 1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Li G X. Advanced Soil Mechanics, 2nd ed, Tsinghua University Press, Beijing, China, 2016. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Wang E H, Cruse R M, Zhao Y S, Chen X W. Quantifying soil physical condition based on soil solid, liquid and gaseous phases. Soil and Tillage Research, 2015, 146, 4–9.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Burbaum U, Sass I. Physics of adhesion of soils to solid surfaces. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 2017, 76, 1097–1105.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Zhang C C, Ren L Q, Wang J, Zhang Y Z. Simulation on flow control for drag reduction of revolution body using bionic dimpled surface. Acta Armamentarii, 2009, 30, 1066–1072. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Soni P, Salokhe V M. Bio-inspired macro-morphologic surface modifications to reduce soil-tool adhesion, in: Bio-inspired Surfaces and Applications, Luo Y H ed., World Scientific, Singapore, 2016, 421–484.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Ma Y H, Ma S S, Jia H L, Liu Y C, Peng J, Gao Z H. Measurement and analysis on reducing adhesion and resistance of bionic ripple opener. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 2014, 30, 36–41. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Ren L Q, Deng S Q, Wang J C, Han Z W. Design principles of the non-smooth surface of bionic plow moldboard. Journal of Bionic Engineering, 2004, 1, 9–19.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Ma Y H, Tong J, Zhou J, Rong B J, Ren L Q. Geometric shape and performance of the scale of the pangolin. Journal of Chinese Electron Microscopy Society, 2008, 27, 336–340. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Tong J, Sun J Y, Chen D H, Zhang S J. Factors impacting nanoindentation testing results of the cuticle of dung beetle Copris ochus Motschulsky. Journal of Bionic Engineering, 2004, 1, 221–230.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Tong J, Ren L Q, Chen B C. Geometrical morphology, chemical constitution and wettability of body surfaces of soil animals. International Agricultural Engineering Journal, 1994, 3, 58–65.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Ren L Q, Cong Q, Chen B C, Wu L K, Li A Q, Jing D Z. A study on the adhesion reducing character of gemetric nonsmooth surface of typical animal. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Machinery, 1992, 2, 29–35. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Ren L Q, Tong J, Li J Q, Chen B C. Soil adhesion and biomimetics of soil-engaging components: A review. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research, 2001, 79, 239–263.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Li M, Chen D H, Zhang S J, Tong J. Biomimeitc design of a stubble-cutting disc using finite element analysis. Journal of Bionic Engineering, 2013, 10, 118–127.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Tong J, Moayad B Z, Ma Y H, Sun J Y, Chen D H, Jia H L, Ren L Q. Effects of biomimetic surface designs on furrow opener performance. Journal of Bionic Engineering, 2009, 6, 280–289.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Ma L F, Ma B S. Review and discussion on calculation method for jacking force in pipe jacking. Special Structures, 2019, 36, 25–35. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Ren L Q, Xu X B, Chen B C, Cui X X, Wang Y M, Zhang B L, Ge L H, Jin G P. Initial research on claw shapes of the typical soil animals. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Machinery, 1990, 2, 44–49. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Gill W R, Berg G E V. Soil Dynamics in Tillage and Traction. Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Washington D.C. USA, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Gu Y Q, Mou J G, Dai D S, Zheng S H, Jiang L F, Wu D H, Ren Y, Liu F Q. Characteristics on drag reduction of bionic jet surface based on earthworm’s back orifice jet. Acta Physica Sinica, 2015, 64, 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Wu K N, Zhao R. Soil texture classification and its application in China. Acta Pedologica Sinica, 2019, 56, 227–241. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Waldron L J. Soil viscoelasticity: Superposition tests. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 1964, 28, 323–328.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Fountaine E R. Investigations into the mechanism of soil adhesion. European Journal of Soil Science, 1954, 5, 251–263.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Ren L Q. Soil Adhesion Mechanics. China Machine Press, Beijing, China, 2011. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Found of China (Grant No. 51875245), the National Key R&D Program Projects (Grant No. 2016YFD0701102), the Science-Technology Development Plan Project of Jilin Province (20190303003SF and 20190303012SF), the Changchun Science and Technology Project of Changchun (Grant No. 18DY007), the Special Project of Industrial Technology Research and Development of Jilin Province (Grant No. 2018C036-2), the “13th Five-Year Plan” Scientific Research Foundation of the Education Department of Jilin Province (Grant Nos. JJKH20180225KJ and JJKH20190198KJ).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130022, China

    Donghui Chen, Xiao Yang, Taidong Dai & Zhiyong Chang

  2. Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Changchun, 130022, China

    Donghui Chen, Xiao Yang, Taidong Dai & Zhiyong Chang

  3. School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    Youhong Sun

  4. National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of In-situ Conversion, Drilling and Exploitation Technology for Oil Shale, Changchun, 130021, China

    Youhong Sun & Zhiyong Chang

Authors
  1. Donghui Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiao Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Taidong Dai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Youhong Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Zhiyong Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhiyong Chang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chen, D., Yang, X., Dai, T. et al. Bionic Design to Reduce Jacking Force for Trenchless Installations in Clay Soil. J Bionic Eng 17, 686–694 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42235-020-0066-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42235-020-0066-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation