Strains, modulus of deformation and failure in rock masses

1979 ◽  
pp. 102-160
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Meng Wang ◽  
Jia-wen Zhou ◽  
An-chi Shi ◽  
Jin-qi Han ◽  
Hai-bo Li

The stability of the surrounding rock masses of underground powerhouses is always emphasized during the construction period. With the general trends toward large-scale, complex geological conditions and the rapid construction progress of underground powerhouses, deformation and failure issues of the surrounding rock mass can emerge, putting the safety of construction and operation in jeopardy and causing enormous economic loss. To solve these problems, an understanding of the origins and key affecting factors is required. Based on domestic large-scale underground powerhouse cases in the past two decades, key factors affecting the deformation and failure of the surrounding rock mass are summarized in this paper. Among these factors, the two most fundamental factors are the rock mass properties and in situ stress, which impart tremendous impacts on surrounding rock mass stability in a number of cases. Excavation is a prerequisite of surrounding rock mass failure and support that is classified as part of the construction process and plays a pivotal role in preventing and arresting deformation and failure. Additionally, the layout and structure of the powerhouse are consequential. The interrelation and interaction of these factors are discussed at the end of this paper. The results can hopefully advance the understanding of the deformation and failure of surrounding rock masses and provide a reference for design and construction with respect to hydroelectric underground powerhouses.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y L Wang ◽  
D S Liu ◽  
K Li ◽  
X M Hu ◽  
D Chen

The mechanical characteristics and failure modes of low-strength rock sample with various fissure dip angles were investigated by conventional uniaxial compression test and three-dimensional (3D) crack reconstruction. The results indicated that compared with high-strength rock masses, cracks had different influences on the low-strength rock mass mechanical deformation features. Thereinto, the dip angle of fissures can cause post-peak failure stage of stress-strain curve change from swift decline to multi-step down, showing obvious ductility deformation and failure characteristics. Peak strength and elastic modulus owned an anti-S-shaped growth tendency with the growth of fissure dip angle, which was positively correlated and greatest subtle to the fissure dip angle α < 21° and α > 66.5°. The axial peak strain reduced first and enlarged rapidly with growing fissure dip angle, suggesting a V-shaped change trend. Increasing the fissure dip angle will change the sample failure mode, experienced complete tensile failure to tensile-shear composite failure, and ultimately to typical shear failure. Also, the crack start angle decreased with enlarging fissure dip angle, larger than that the high-strength rock mass fissure dip angle. The above research findings can complement and improve the study of fissured rock masses.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2758
Author(s):  
Gang Liu ◽  
Fengshan Ma ◽  
Haijun Zhao ◽  
Guang Li ◽  
Jiayuan Cao ◽  
...  

Cracks are critical for the deformation and failure of rock masses, but the effects of real cracks are rarely considered when evaluating the stability and safety of practical engineering. This paper presents a study on the application of fractures in the Sanshandao Gold Mine. Field investigation and statistical analysis methods were adopted to obtain the distribution laws of the cracks. Laboratory tests, MATLAB programming, and simulation using the software, GDEM (Gdem Technology, Beijing, China, Co., Ltd.), were employed to study the mechanical behaviors of rock masses with real fractures after excavation. The main results are as follows: (1) Three sets of highly discrete cracks were developed in the study area. Their inclination and dip can be approximately considered to follow a Gaussian distribution or uniform distribution. They had close ties to the three faults developed in the mining area. (2) Compared with the model that did not consider cracks and the model processed by the equivalence idea, the surrounding rock deformation caused by excavation of the model that considered real cracks was larger than that of the former and smaller than that of the latter. However, its influence range was larger than that of the other two models. The results show that it is reasonable to use three sets of discrete cracks to characterize the fracture distribution of the surrounding rock. In the evaluation of roadway stability, it is not advisable to use the equivalence method to deal with all the cracks. Considering a part of the cracks that are compatible with the size of the calculation model, a relatively accurate evaluation can be obtained in terms of the deformation, failure, and permeability changes of the surrounding rock.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chong Zhang ◽  
Zhechao Wang ◽  
Qi Wang

The deformation and failure characteristics of deep rock masses are the focus of this study on deep rock mass engineering. The study identifies the deformation and failure characteristics of a deep cavern under different ground stress conditions using model test and theoretical analysis methods. First, the similarity theory for model tests is introduced, and then the scale factors used in the present study are calculated according to the Froude criterion. Based on the study objectives, the details of the study methods (the similarity coefficient, the loading conditions, the test steps, etc.) are introduced. Finally, the failure characteristics of the deep cavern and the strain distribution characteristics surrounding the caverns under different ground stress conditions are identified using the model test. It was found that compared with shallow rock masses the rock masses of the deep cavern have a much greater tensile range, which reaches 1.5 times the diameter of the cavern under the conditions established in the present study. Under different ground stress conditions, there are differences in failure characteristics and the reasons of the differences were analyzed. The implication of the test results on the design of support system for deep caverns was presented.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Ding-ping Xu ◽  
Gong-kai Gu ◽  
Liang-peng Wan ◽  
Dong-fang Chen ◽  
Shu-ling Huang

The mechanical behaviours of layered rock mass exhibit significant differences in the directions parallel and vertical to the bedding planes. The deformation and failure of a layered rock mass has remarkable weak-plane dependence, which brings a major challenge to the control of the stability of the surrounding rock mass in underground openings. In this study, a layered rock mass is firstly regarded as a composite material composed of interlayered rocks and bedding planes. Then, based on the Mohr–Coulomb and maximum tensile stress criteria, an index of point safety factor for a layered rock mass is established considering the mechanical properties of interlayered rocks and bedding planes. The safety of the artificial layered rock mass specimens in the triaxial test is evaluated using this index. The results show that the distribution of this index is in good agreement with the macroscopic failed zone of the rock specimen, indicating that this index is feasible for characterizing the macroscopic failure of rock masses. Finally, the index is adopted to evaluate the stability of the midpartition between the #3 and #4 diversion tunnels at the right bank of the Wudongde hydropower station before and after its reinforcement. The results indicate that there is a yielded zone where the point safety factor is less than 1.0 in the unreinforced midpartition of the collapsed tunnel section, and it is nearly connected. If it is not reinforced in time, collapse cut-through of the entire midpartition may occur and then endanger the overall stability of the tunnel. After the emergency reinforcement measure with two-ended anchored piles and concrete backfill, the safety of the midpartition is significantly improved. In this case, the safety factor is much larger than 1.0, indicating that the adoption of this emergency reinforcement measure is effective.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y L Wang ◽  
D S Liu ◽  
K Li ◽  
D Chen ◽  
X M Hu

The mechanical characteristics and failure modes of low-strength rock sample with various crack dip angles and numbers were investigated by conventional uniaxial compression test and three-dimensional (3D) crack reconstruction. The results indicated that compared with high-strength rock masses, cracks had different influences on the low-strength rock mass mechanical deformation features. Thereinto, the number of fissures can cause post-peak failure stage of stress-strain curve change from swift decline to multi-step down and horizontally extended decline, respectively, showing obvious ductility and ductile-flow deformation and failure characteristics. Due to the structural effect, only under the condition of fissure α < 90°, the modulus of peak strength and elastic modulus lowered with the enhancement of fissure number and had a negative correlation. As the number of fissures increased, the axial peak strain increased first and then decreased, demonstrating a reversed V-shaped change trend. Fissure number can fully affect the crack propagation law only in the case of vertical fissures. The above research findings can complement and improve the study of fissured rock masses.


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