{
  "abstract": "Weakly cemented sandstone (WCS) in western China is rich in clay minerals. Water‑induced softening tends to induce rotation failure of TBM central hobs, which further causes eccentric tip damage and edge chipping and remarkably reduces tunnelling efficiency. Aiming at the poorly understood sliding‑contact mechanism of central hobs under rotation‑failure conditions in WCS strata, steel‑needle scratching tests combined with XRD and SEM micro‑characterization were carried out to investigate the apparent morphological evolution of hob tips, and a corresponding empirical correlation was fitted. The results show that water saturation may promote softening of clay cement, trigger the generation of rock slag and give rise to secondary interfacial abrasion. Measured data from WCS scratching tests indicate that the relative apparent‑diameter variation of the 0.4 mm needle for water‑saturated specimens is 1.53 times that of the 1.0 mm needle, and the geometric variation of the 0.4 mm needle increases by 45%‑57% compared with dry conditions. With correction terms of equivalent blade width and water content incorporated, the empirical correlation reproduces tip‑morphology variation trends that are generally consistent with field observations of domestic TBM projects. Based on scaled steel‑needle tests, this study reveals the corresponding evolution law of tip‑contact responses for TBM central hobs under rotation‑failure conditions in Cretaceous WCS strata, and can provide experimental basis and theoretical references for hob structural design, cutter‑head layout and tunnelling‑parameter optimization for such strata. This mechanistic analysis relies on quasi‑static scratching tests and focuses on sliding‑contact behaviours at the tool‑rock interface. Its engineering application should be comprehensively evaluated combined with in‑situ dynamic tunnelling conditions.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China",
    "School of Intelligent Construction and Hydraulic Engineering, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou, China",
    "Anhui Provincial Highway Construction Low Carbon Materials Engineering Research Center, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou, China"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Qing Yang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Shuchen Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Xiuwei Wang"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3951f7xh2nad1.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0354108",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "3951f7xh2nad1",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0354108",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2205|Tunneling and Rock Mechanics"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Earth sciences/Mineralogy/Minerals/Quartz"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Earth sciences/Mineralogy/Mud"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Engineering and technology/Mechanical engineering/Tribology/Friction"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Engineering and technology/Technology development/Prototypes"
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    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Materials science/Metallurgy/Alloys/Steel"
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    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Materials science/Tribology/Friction"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Mathematics/Geometry/Radii"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Physics/Classical mechanics/Damage mechanics/Deformation"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Physics/Classical mechanics/Deformation"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Microscopy/Electron microscopy/Scanning electron microscopy"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214277656",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0354108&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-25",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3951f7xh2nad1.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0354108",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0354108"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "plos:materials science",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    },
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "plos:mineralogy",
      "subfield": "geology-geochemistry"
    },
    {
      "field": "mathematics",
      "origin": "plos:geometry",
      "subfield": "geometry-topology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Failure wear mechanism and blade width effect of TBM center cutter rotation in water-bearing weakly cemented sandstone",
  "title_text": "Failure wear mechanism and blade width effect of TBM center cutter rotation in water-bearing weakly cemented sandstone",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3951f7xh2nad1",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}