Rock　stress　problems　induced　by　overburden　or　anisotropic　stresses　are　significant　to　the　TBM　tunneling.　In　this　paper,　the　effect　of　different　confining　stressed　conditions　on　TBM　performance　are　investigated　by　using　full-scale　cutting　tests　with　large　intact　granite　specimens　(1000　mm　x　1000　mm　x　600　mm).　In　these　tests,　the　effects　of　confining　stresses　on　the　normal　force,　rolling　force,　the　cutting　coefficient　and　specific　energy　are　analyzed.　It　is　found　that　the　confining　stress　has　significant　impact　on　the　normal　force　and　rolling　force.　Specifically,　for　the　same　cutting　spacing　and　penetration　depth,　the　normal　force　increases　with　increasing　confining　stress　due　to　enhancement　of　the　rock　resistance　strength;　meanwhile　the　rolling　force　decreases　gradually　with　increasing　confining　stress.　The　stress　deviation　between　two　confining　directions　affects　the　optimum　penetration　that　corresponds　to　small　specific　energy.　The　results　provide　better　understanding　of　the　effect　of　confining　stress　on　the　TBM　performance　and　also　recommend　some　guidelines　for　TBM　tunneling　under　stressed　geological　condition.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.