ABSTRACT
The ENTPE EPBS model (geometric scale between 1/4 and 1/20) allows to reproduce the main features of this excavation method: excavation of soil by the cutter head (diameter: 0,55 m), face confinement by excavated material contained in the working chamber, immediate radial confinement by the cylindrical steel shield tail (Cf. Figure 1). Note that an uniform surcharge q may be applied on ground surface by means of air chambers.
