What Does Face Access Mean?
Face access can be defined as the provision provided in the foremost part or face of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) to allow personnel overseeing the construction project to access the face. This access is typically through the cutting chamber that houses the blades.
MIcrotunnel boring machines (MTBM) may allow only limited personnel access to the face through the pipe string. Trenchless technology has made it possible to dig through difficult terrain without the need for excavation. However, for certain unforeseeable problems, tunnel face access is essential to determine the cause of the problem and prevent loss of time and damage to the tunnel boring machine (TBM).
