The excavation stability of tunnel is a key problem in tunneling engineering. A mechanical model is developed to determine the boundary curve of the plastic zone and the principal stress distribution of the surrounding rock of a circular tunnel under non-tectonic stress. Specifically, the effects of different influence factors on the shape of the plastic zone and the principal stress of the surrounding rock are quantitatively analyzed. Subsequently, the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion is utilized to determine the yield failure of the surrounding rock mass. Furthermore, technical approaches and control measures for supporting the surrounding rock are put forward. In particular, the "long and short" coordinated hierarchical support technology with "anchor cables (or long bolts) + bolts" as the main support strategy has been recommended. Finally, the proposed support technology is validated for several typical tunnels by the numerical simulation method. The results indicate that the stability of the surrounding rock of a circular tunnel can be improved by restraining the malignant extension of the plastic zone, improving the principal stress environment, and allowing uniform distribution of the plastic zone within the controllable range of the support system. These results are helpful for optimization of support technology to stabilize the surrounding rock of a circular tunnel under non-tectonic stresses.
Floor heave is a typical tunnel issue in tunnelling engineering. To gain deep insights into the deformation mechanism and failure processes of floor heave at the bottom of a tunnel in layered rock, biaxial step-loading tests were conducted on rock samples (including schist and sandstone) with and without prefabricated invert arches. The failure processes of the samples were observed by the three-dimensional digital image correlation technique (3D-DIC) during the test. The test results showed that the deformation evolution processes of the floor heave of the sample included the following steps: (1) crack initiation at the interlayer weak planes; (2) separation of the rock matrix into platy structures along the bedding planes and flexures; and (3) fracture and uplift of the platy structures in the middle part. As the stress redistributes on the bottom plate of the sample, and stress concentration zones shift toward locations far away from the arching surface, the deformation evolution shows a similar variation trend with the stress. Continuous buckling fracturing takes place progressively from the vicinity of the arch surface to certain distant regions. Based on the test results, the key location of internal surrounding rock deformation was determined, and the mechanism of floor heave was clarified. The schist sample SC-BI-10 began to experience floor heave at 1064.4 s, and the deformation curve (the relationship between Y and U) showed a convex shape in the range of 0–20 mm in the Y-coordinate. The displacement reached its maximum value at y = 11.7 mm, corresponding to the position where the rock slab was broken. In addition, the influence of the interlayer properties and cover depth of rocks on bottom uplift was also studied. The design of tunnel supports and the monitoring and prevention of floor heave can benefit from this study.
Abstract The permeability evolution of rock is essential in geotechnical engineering, which is related to seepage. A permeability evolution model, which is based on the wing crack propagation model and Darcy’s law, is created for rock after dynamic load testing with confining pressures. It is assumed that permeability has two types: isotropic initial permeability and anisotropic microcrack-induced permeability. In this model, the wing crack length is associated with the absorption energy per unit volume of the rock specimen under dynamic loads, in accordance with the surface energy theory. Assuming that the initial crack families are evenly distributed, the contribution of each crack family to permeability in different directions is investigated. In this study, an expression of permeability, which is related to axial stress, confining pressure, and absorbed energy per unit volume, is obtained. Two groups of dynamic load testing with confining pressures of sandstone are conducted using a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar technique. In group A, the incident energy is a variable, whereas in group B, the confining pressure is a variable. After the dynamic load testing, the permeability of the sandstone specimens is measured using the pulse decay method on MTS 815. Owing to the limitations on the test equipment, only the permeability in the direction of the dynamic load is measured. The permeability obtained from the dynamic load testing is in good agreement with the permeability calculated by the model. In this model, the anisotropy of rock permeability is theoretically studied. The minimum microcrack-induced permeability in all directions is about 0.65 of the maximum permeability value. In summary, the model discussed here enables the prediction of the permeability of the rocks under dynamic impact and establishes the relationship between macro-mechanical parameters and micro-mechanical parameters. In addition, it provides a new idea for the research on the anisotropy of rock permeability.
Deep rock engineering is in a high pre-stressed state before excavation. In this research, a method to calculate the release of strain energy caused by excavation in pre-stressed rock is proposed. The normal stress release after excavation leads to a reduction in strain energy in rock specimens. The influence of excavation height and width on strain energy release is inconsistent under vertical loading. When the height of the hole is 1 mm, the strain energy release is large, and the increase in height of hole leads to a slow increase in the strain energy release. When the width of the hole is 1 mm, the strain energy release is very small, and the increase in the width of the hole leads to an increasingly faster release of strain energy. This strain energy release exponentially increases with the increase in the lateral pressure coefficient, showing a trend in the second power of the lateral pressure coefficient. Moreover, the tunnel failure caused by excavation under high stress is obtained by a numerical calculation. The failure modes of the deep tunnel model are strain rockbursts caused by tangential stress concentrations and spalling caused by normal stress release, which is also observed in the failure mode of the actual tunnel.
