In the last few decades, rectangle earth pressure balance shield machine have been introduced as primary tunneling tools in soft soil excavation around the world. This paper presents research on the performance of the rectangle shield machine. Analytical studies have been carried out to establish the relation between rectangle shield machine design key parameters, such as segments support, tail thickness and soil layer harness, and the strength, stiffness and buckling analysis of the shell structure. The results of these are presented. And the results show that good stiffness, displacement and stability capacities have been achieved.