scholarly journals Sensitivity Analysis in the Estimation of Mechanical Parameters of Engineering Rock Mass Based on the Hoek–Brown Criterion

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Zhiqiang Li ◽  
Guofeng Liu ◽  
Shuqian Duan ◽  
Shufeng Pei ◽  
Changgen Yan

Geological strength index GSI, disturbance factor (D), material constant mi, and uniaxial compressive strength σci of the intact rock are essential input parameters IPs of the Hoek–Brown H−B criterion. Mechanical parameters MPs of the engineering rock mass, including elastic modulus E, cohesion c, and internal friction angle φ estimated by the H–B criterion, and the predicted excavation response of surrounding rock, including the displacement and excavation damage zone EDZ based on the MPs, are of high relevance with the four IPs of the H–B criterion. In this paper, the deep and huge underground cavern excavated in basalt from a hydropower station under construction in the southwest of China is used to analyse the sensitivity of the IPs on the MPs, the displacement, and EDZ of the surrounding rock mass. Firstly, the H–B criterion is applied to estimate the MPs, among which the IPs are obtained from a series of in situ and laboratory tests, including borehole camera observation, wave velocity test, uniaxial and triaxial compression tests, and so on. Secondly, the sensitivity relationships between IPs, MPs, and prediction results of displacement and EDZ are established and described quantitatively by the sensitivity factor (si). Results show that the MPs of the rock mass are more sensitive to GSI and D⋅GSI and σci are high-sensitivity parameters affecting the displacement and EDZ. Finally, the variations in the estimated MPs and associated prediction results concerning excavation response, which are caused by the uncertainties in the determination of the IPs, are further quantified. This study provides a straightforward assessment for the variability of the rock mass parameters estimated by the H–B criterion. It also gives a valuable reference to similar geotechnical engineering for the determination of rock mass parameters in the preliminary design.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Qingqiu Wang ◽  
Mo Xu ◽  
Yunhui Zhang ◽  
Xinyu Cen ◽  
Xingwang Chang

In order to obtain the accurate mechanical parameters of deep-buried coal goaf rock mass, the limitation of geological strength index (GSI) in concealed rock mass is analyzed. Based on the test result and analysis of the current normative standards, the classification indexes of rock mass structural are optimized based on discontinuity distance d and rock mass integrity index K v . The ratio of rock mass saturated strength to dry strength, η, is introduced, quantization formula of structural surface conditions is proposed, and the influence of groundwater and rock types is included in structural surface condition classification. The GSI system is improved to better suit all types of deep-buried and water-rich rock masses. Furthermore, the rock mass disturbance factor D’s quantitative formula is listed according to the Hoek–Brown (HB) criterion. Taking the goaf roof under railway as an example, the parameters of deep-buried rock mass are obtained based on the improved quantitative GSI system and HB criterion. This research provides a scientific reference for achieving geological parameters and engineering designing in goaf areas.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Qian-Cheng Sun ◽  
Hao-Sen Guo ◽  
Zhi-Hua Xu ◽  
Yue Liu ◽  
Xiao Xu

It is very important to accurately determine the depth of excavation damaged zone for underground engineering excavation and surrounding rock stability evaluation, and it can be measured by acoustic test, but there is no quantitative method for analysis of the results, and it relies heavily on the experience of engineers, which leads to the low reliability of the results and also limits the application of the acoustic method. According to substantial field test data and the feedback of surrounding rock support parameters, the boundary method is proposed to determine the depth of excavation damaged zone in surrounding rock based on the relation between the ultrasonic velocity of measured point and the background wave velocity of rock mass. When the method is applied to the columnar jointed rock mass of Baihetan and the deep-buried hard rock of Jinping, the excavation damaged zone was well judged. The results in the Baihetan project show that the proposed method of determining excavation damage zone by the acoustic test can well demonstrate the anisotropy characteristics of the columnar jointed rock mass, and the damage evolution characteristics of jointed rock mass at the same position can also be obtained accurately. Moreover, the method also can accurately reveal the damage evolution process of the deep-buried hard rock under the condition of high ground stress, which proved the applicability of this method in jointed or nonjointed rock masses.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanxi Zhao ◽  
Zhongxian Liu

Soil-rock mixture is a kind of unfavorable geologic material, and it is composed of low-strength soil particles and high-stiffness rock blocks. Mechanical properties of soil-rock mixture were controlled by the internal mesoscopic medium, thus resulting in great difficulties of determination of mechanical parameters. In this paper, influences of rock content, mesoscopic features, and random distribution of mixture in soil-rock mixture on its shear strength were discussed through discrete element numerical simulation of the laboratory triaxial test. Results demonstrated that, with the increase of rock content, the internal friction angle of soil-rock mixture increased continuously, while the cohesion of soil-rock mixture decreased firstly and then increased. The stress-strain curve belonged to a nonlinear hardening type, which was close to soil characteristic. However, the shear strength was affected by mesoscopic medium of mixture particles significantly, resulting in the strong discreteness of strength, and only by large amounts of data statistics can we get a better regularity of strength. The research results can provide references to determine mechanical parameters of soil-rock mixture.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Huilin Le ◽  
Shaorui Sun ◽  
Feng Zhu ◽  
Haotian Fan

Flaws existing in rock mass are one of the main factors resulting in the instability of rock mass. Epoxy resin is often used to reinforce fractured rock mass. However, few researches focused on mechanical properties of the specimens with a resin-infilled flaw under triaxial compression. Therefore, in this research, epoxy resin was selected as the grouting material, and triaxial compression tests were conducted on the rock-like specimens with a grout-infilled flaw having different geometries. This study draws some new conclusions. The high confining pressure suppresses the generation of tensile cracks, and the failure mode changes from tensile-shear failure to shear failure as the confining pressure increases. Grouting with epoxy resin leads to the improvement of peak strengths of the specimens under triaxial compression. The reinforcement effect of epoxy resin is better for the specimens having a large flaw length and those under a relatively low confining pressure. Grouting with epoxy resin reduces the internal friction angle of the samples but improves their cohesion. This research may provide some useful insights for understanding the mechanical behaviors of grouted rock masses.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianlun Leng ◽  
Chuan Wang ◽  
Qian Sheng ◽  
Jian Chen ◽  
Hailun Li

A conjugate jointed rock mass (CJRM) is a rock mass with two sets of intersecting joints formed from intact rock under shear. Its mechanical properties and excavation-induced hazards of large underground caverns are different from those of common rock masses because of the unique geological origin thereof. To demonstrate numerically the excavation responses of CJRM, the ubiquitous-joint model is enhanced by consideration of the specific mechanical behaviors of the rock mass. In the enhanced model, CJRM is considered as the composite of columns of rock and two sets of weak planes of joints. The local coordinates, failure modes, and failure sequences of the rock columns and joints are redefined based on the composite characteristics of CJRM, and the failure criteria and plastic potential functions are accordingly modified. The enhanced model is verified numerically by triaxial compression tests and then employed to simulate the excavation of large underground caverns of a pumped storage power station in China. Results show that the modification of the local coordinate system, failure modes, and failure sequences made in the enhanced model is suited to the simulation of the mechanical behaviors of CJRM. Compared with the original ubiquitous-joint model, the enhanced model allows better predictions of the distribution of plastic zones and magnitudes of deformations in simulating underground excavations in CJRM and helps to assess the excavation-triggered hazards more accurately.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adeoluwa O Oluwaseyi ◽  
Olawale O Ajibola

This study estimated the strength of the serpentinite rock mass of the underground gold mine “Oro Descanso” Placetas, Cuba. The rock mass was classified into its lithological group of massive, sheared serpentinite rocks and gabbros. The geo-technical information from the well log data obtained during drilling process (geological logs). The structural analysis was carried out through field observation and quantified by Geological Strength Index (GSI) of average values for massive serpentinite 60, sheared serpentinite 38 and gabbros 78. The generalized Hoek-Brown criterion with software programme, Rocklab 1.0, 2004 version was employed for the analysis and the determination of the rock mass local compressive strength (massive serpentinite = 1.733Mpa; sheared serpentinite = 0.464Mpa; gabbros = 10.354Mpa) and the global strength (massive serpentinite = 6.561Mpa, sheared serpentinite = 5.657Mpa and gabbros = 22.547Mpa). These estimated values characterize brittle type of failure mode and thus supports are recommended.


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