Abstract: The rock-broken mechanism during the operation of the cutter head of TBM(tunnel boring machine) was analyzed to study the layout of cutters. A model of the cutters under the action of forces during TBM's working was therefore developed, thus proposing a scheme to improve the rock breakability of TBM's cutter head on which the cutters are lay out. Then, a nonlinear multi-objective mathematical model with complex constraints was developed, with an optimization program provided via an intelligent algorithm for the layout design of cutters on the tunnel shield/cutter head of a TBM. Exemplifying the cutter head of an EPB6.28 TBM, an optimized design was given to set up a prototype with digitized cutter head, to which a simulation was done for the verification of equilibrium of forces. Comparing analytically the cutter wear and equilibrium of forces between a previous and a newly designed cutter heads, the results showed digitally that the new one is more practicable than the previous one.