Dual Dielectric-Loaded Converging Waveguide Antenna

Synergistically expands rock damage zone

Employs dual dielectric-loaded converging waveguide antennas to overcome the limited coverage of single-waveguide preconditioning in hard rock tunneling, synergistically enlarging the microwave-induced damage zone.

Ren, Junnan · Yan, Qixiang · Daihui, Chen · Wei, Jiangtao

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology 2026

Advantages

Larger coverage

Dual-waveguide synergistic action effectively expands the microwave-induced damage zone, overcoming the limited coverage of single-waveguide systems.

Tunable fragmentation

By adjusting waveguide spacing, smaller spacings promote block-type fragmentation, while larger spacings produce non-penetrating fractures of varying lengths, allowing flexible control of rock breakage.

No mechanical cutters

Microwave-assisted rock fragmentation induces damage through volumetric heating and thermal stress, reducing cutter wear in hard rock tunneling.

Applications

• Hard rock tunnel boring：Integrate into TBM cutterheads for microwave preconditioning to expand damage zones and reduce cutter wear.
• Microwave-assisted rock breaking：Use volumetric heating and thermal stress to efficiently break hard rock, replacing traditional mechanical methods.