Abstract: The rock cutting process of the disc cutters on the hard rock TBM is a complex motion process, the disc cutters not only need revolution, but also need rotation around its own axis. In the cutting rock process, forces on disc cutters are important basis of cutterhead design and propulsion system design. For the complexity of analysis and calculation of the rock fragmentation process, the multi-body dynamics method of the ABAQUS software is applied to establish the revolving cutting rock FEA model. In the finite element model, the infinite element is used as the infinite transmitting boundary condition to prevent unexpected failure induced by reflected stress wave, and to exclude the scale effect associated with the finite dimensions of the rock model. In the process of research, the cutters spacing and phase angle in the rotary cutting are studied while the analysis cutters forces. The results show that for the chosen rock type the optimal cutter spacing is 60 mm, the rolling force is minimum and the broken rock mass is the largest while the specific energy is the least. The phase difference is 120 degrees for the chosen rock type. This study laid a foundation for the cutter layout design.

Key words: cutter spacing, cutters’ forces, hard rock tunnel boring machine, phase angle, rotary cutting rock