TBM breakthrough into a secant pile reception shaft. When a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) is scheduled to break through into a secant pile or diaphragm wall reception shaft, careful consideration must be given to the design and preparation of the shaft. A critical aspect is the incorporation of a soft eye in the shaft wall, which is an area with specific reinforcement arrangement to facilitate the TBM's arrival. This soft eye is engineered to withstand the pressures of tunnelling while allowing th