Analysis of rock mass behavior with Empirical and Numerical method for the construction of diversion tunnel, Laos

Tunneling construction in the mountain area is a challenge for engineers and geotechnicians because of instability due to the presence of discontinuities. The objective of this paper is the modeling of surrounding rock masses for the stability of the diversion tunnel to predict the behavior of rock masses during the excavation process for the Nam Phoun hydropower station project in Laos. Field investigation and laboratories test was realized; Empirical methods as Rock mass designation and Geological Strength Index were performed, rock masses were classified in three categories (RM-1, RM-2, and RM-3); in situ stresses were obtained from existing equations, numerical modeling was performed by the 2D plane strain finite element code Phase2 developed by Rocscience, using Generalized Hoek-Brown criterion for each type of rock masses. The results of numerical modeling show the strength zones of stresses and deformations around the tunnel and predict the instabilities around the tunnel during excavations processes. Thus, for all rock’s masses, it will be necessary to consider an analysis for the supports design before the excavation’s process. The findings of this study allow a clearer understanding of the importance to assess a predictive analysis of slope stability during the feasibility phase of a project by engineers to have an idea of instabilities and its significant in preventing the impact on the cost of the project.

Stability Analysis of Surrounding Rock in Multi-Discontinuous Hydraulic Tunnel Based on Microseismic Monitoring

The diversion tunnel of a hydropower station is characterized by low quality surrounding rock and weak structural planes. During excavation, rock mass spalling and cracking frequently occur. To evaluate the stability of a rock mass during tunnel excavation, high-precision microseismic monitoring technology was introduced to carry out real-time monitoring. Based on the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of microseismic events, the main damage areas and their influencing factors of tunnel rock mass were studied. By analyzing the source characteristic parameters of the concentration area of microseismic activities, the rock fracture mechanism of the concentration area was revealed. The 3D numerical model of diversion tunnel was established, and the deformation characteristics of the rock mass under the control of different combination types of weak structural planes were obtained. The results showed that the microseismic event was active between 29 October 2020 and 6 November 2020, and the energy release increased sharply. The main damage areas of the rock mass were located at Stakes K0 + 500–K0 + 600 m. Microseismic source parameters revealed that shear failure or fault-slip failure induced by geological structures had an important influence on the stability of the surrounding rock. The numerical simulation results were consistent with the microseismic monitoring results and indicated that among the three kinds of structural plane combination types, including “upright triangle”, “inverted triangle” and “nearly parallel”, the “upright triangle” structure had the most significant influence on the stability of the surrounding rock. In addition, the maximum displacement of the surrounding rock had a trend of lateral migration to the larger dip angle in the three combined structural plane types. The research results will provide significant references for the safety evaluation and construction design of similar tunnels.

Study on Unloading Relaxation Characteristics of Columnar Jointed Rock Masses Based on Displacement Back Analysis

We aim to understand the relaxation of columnar joint rock masses during the excavation process of the diversion tunnel of the Baihetan hydropower station. This paper inverts the deformation parameters of the relaxed columnar joint rock based on the displacement monitoring data, and introduces a relaxation factor to describe the deterioration degree of anisotropic parameters of the relaxed columnar jointed rock. The equivalent strain is proposed as the criterion of unloading relaxation and the threshold is also given. Based on the software Flac3d, a program for calculating anisotropic elastoplastic model is developed. The distribution of the relaxation zone of the diversion tunnel after excavation is simulated, and compared with the results of the acoustic detection to verify the correctness and rationality of the program, which can provide a necessary reference for the design and construction of hydropower projects.

Controlling Vibration Speed in Tunnel Excavation Using Fine Blasting Method under Complex Environmental Conditions

It is very important to reduce the impact of blasting vibration on the surrounding structures during the tunnel drilling-blasting excavation. Taking the diversion tunnel of the urban water supply project in Zhumadian, Henan Province, China, as an example, the segmentation linear function between the drilling rig and borehole depth was established by fining blasting design. The test of the blasting number and particle vibration velocity was designed. The propagation and attenuation characteristics of blast vibration velocity in the surrounding rocks of the tunnel were analyzed by using theoretical calculation and field monitoring methods. Results show that the fine blasting design can realize the superposition of negative phase of shock waveform to reduce the vibration speed. With the increase of the blasting number, the attenuation of the particle vibration velocity shows a negative exponential function, and the dimensionless vibration velocity loss increases in a power function. The greater the loss, the greater the energy loss during the shock wave propagation process, which is more conducive to ensuring the stability of the protected buildings. The research results can provide the reference for similar engineering practices.

Rockburst Prediction From the Perspective of Energy Release: A Case Study of a Diversion Tunnel at Jinping II Hydropower Station

As a man-made engineering hazard, it is widely accepted that the rockbursts are the result of energy release. Previous studies have examined the unloading of in-situ stress resulting from deep tunnel excavation as a quasi-static process but the transient stress variation during excavation has received less attention. This research discusses rockbursts that happened during the construction of a diversion tunnel at Jinping II hydropower station. The brittle-ductile-plastic (BDP) transition property of Jinping marble was numerically described by the Hoek-Brown strength criterion, and the dynamic energy release process derived from the transient unloading of in-situ stress was studied using an index, local energy release rate. Studies have shown that, due to transient unloading, the strain energy of the surrounding rock mass goes through a dynamic process of decreasing at first, increasing second, then reducing before finally stabilizing. The first decrease of strain energy results from elastic unloading waves and does not cause brittle failure in rock masses, which is consistent with the elastic condition but the secondary reduction of strain energy is because the accumulated strain energy in rock masses exceeds the storage limit, which will inevitably trigger the brittle failure in the rock mass. Thus, the shorter the distance to the tunnel wall the bigger and more intense the energy release. Finally, a relationship between the average value of the local energy release rate and the rockburst intensity was established to assess the risk of rockburst induced by the blasting excavation of a deep tunnel.