The　first　Underground　Research　Laboratory　(URL)　of　geological　disposal　of　highlevel　radioactive　waste　(HLW)　in　China　will　be　constructed　in　coming　years　and　the　TBM　method　is　proposed　for　URL　excavation.　This　paper　aims　to　perform　TBM　performance　prediction　for　URL　project　by　using　linear　cutting　test　with　large　granite　samples　taken　from　URL　site.　Three　kinds　of　19＇　cutters　with　different　tip　widths　were　tested　to　study　the　influence　of　cutter　shape　on　cutter　force,　allowable　maximum　penetration　and　rock　boreability.　Based　on　the　cutting　test,　the　cutter　selection　was　suggested　and　then　the　prediction　of　TBM　advance　rate　was　performed.　The　study　shows　that　cutter　shape　has　significant　influence　on　the　allowable　maximum　penetration.　A　good　advance　rate　of　259m　per　month　could　be　achieved　as　predicted　for　extremely　hard　rock　mass　of　URL　site,　which　proves　that　TBM　method　is　feasible　for　the　URL　project.　©　2020　ISRM.