Investigation of Deep Shaft-Surrounding Rock Support Technology Based on a Post-Peak Strain-Softening Model of Rock Mass

To control the large deformation that occurs in deep shaft-surrounding rock, the post-peak strain-softening characteristics of deep jointed rock mass are discussed in detail. An equivalent post-peak strain-softening model of jointed rock mass is established based on continuum theory and the geological strength index surrounding rock grading system, and numerical simulations are performed using FLAC3D software. The convergence-constraint method is used to analyze the rock support structure interaction mechanism. A composiste support technique is proposed in combination with actual field breakage conditions. During the initial support stage, high-strength anchors are used to release the rock stress, and high-stiffness secondary support is provided by well rings and poured concrete. This support technology is applied in the accessory well of a coal mine in Niaoshan, Heilongjiang, China. The stability of the surrounding rock support structure is calculated and analyzed by comparing the ideal elastic-plastic model and equivalent jointed rock mass strain-softening model. The results show that a support structure designed based on the ideal elastic-plastic model cannot meet the stability requirements of the surrounding rock and that radial deformation of the surrounding rock reaches 300 mm. The support structure designed based on the equivalent joint strain-softening model has a convergence rate of surrounding rock deformation of less than 1 mm/d after 35 days of application. The surrounding rock deformation is finally controlled at 140 mm, indicating successful application of the support technology.

Analysis of Tensile Strength and Failure Mechanism Based on Parallel Homogenization Model for Recycled Concrete

In this paper, a parallel homogenization model for recycled concrete was proposed. A new type of finite element method, the base force element method, based on the complementary energy principle and the parallel homogenization model, is used to conduct meso-level damage research on recycled concrete. The stress–strain softening curve and failure mechanism of the recycled concrete under uniaxial compression load are analyzed using the nonlinear damage analysis program of the base force element method based on the parallel homogenization model. The tensile strength and destructive mechanisms of recycled concrete materials are studied using this parallel homogenization model. The calculation results are compared with the results of the experiments and meso-level random aggregate model analysis methods. The research results show that this parallel homogenization analysis method can be used to analyze the nonlinear damage analysis of recycled concrete materials. The tensile strength, stress–strain softening curve, and crack propagation process of recycled concrete materials can be obtained using the present method.

A Proposed Algorithm to Compute the Stress-Strain Plastic Region and Displacement of a Deep-Lying Tunnel Considering Intermediate Stress and Strain-Softening Behavior

Past studies on deep-lying tunnels under the assumption of plane strain have generally neglected the influence of intermediate principal stress even though this affects the surrounding rocks in the plastic zone. This study proposes a finite difference method to compute the stress strain plastic region and displacement of a tunnel based on the Drucker–Prager (D–P) yield criterion and non-associated flow rule and considering the influences of intermediate principal stress and the strain-softening behavior of surrounding rock. The computed results were compared with those of other well-known solutions and the accuracy and validity of the method were confirmed through some examples. Parameter analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of intermediate principal stress on stress-strain, the plastic region, the ground response curve, and the dilatability of surrounding rock. The results showed that the plastic radius , the residual radius , and radial displacement of surrounding rock first decreased and then increased with increasing intermediate principal stress coefficient b from 0 to 1, with the minimums occurring at b = 0.75. On the contrary, the peak and rate of variation of the dilatancy coefficient first increased and then decreased with increasing b and the dilatancy coefficient gradually transitioned from nonlinear to linear variation. Meanwhile, the inhibition of the plastic radius and radial displacement gradually weakened with increasing support pressure, whereas the dilatancy coefficient of the tunnel opening gradually increased.

Strain-Softening Characteristics of Hydrate-Bearing Sediments and Modified Duncan–Chang Model

Marine hydrate exploitation may trigger the seabed geological disaster, such as seafloor collapse and landslide. It is critically important to understand the mechanical properties of hydrate-bearing sediment. Strain-softening observation is a typical behavior of hydrate-bearing sediment (HBS) and exhibits more significant at higher hydrate saturation. This paper performed a series of triaxial compression tests on methane hydrate-bearing sand to analyze the influence rule and mechanism of hydrate saturation on the strain-softening characteristic, stiffness, and strength and introduced the strain-softening index to quantificationally characterize the strain-softening behaviors of HBS with different hydrate saturations. Based on the analyses on the mechanical behavior of HBS, the Duncan–Chang model is extended to address the stress-strain curves of HBS. Two empirical formulas with hydrate saturation embedded are used to characterize the enhanced initial modulus and strength for HBS, respectively. To address the strain-softening behavior of HBS, the modified Duncan–Chang model introduced a damage factor into the strength of HBS. To validate the modified Duncan–Chang model, four different triaxial compression tests are simulated. The good consistence between simulated result and experimental data demonstrates that the modified Duncan–Chang model is capable of reflecting the influence of hydrate saturation not only on the stiffness and strength but also on the strain-softening characteristics of HBS.

Evaluation of Input Geological Parameters and Tunnel Strain for Strain-softening Rock Mass Based on GSI

The regression analysis method is being widely adopted to analyse the tunnel strain, most of which ignore the strain-softening effect of the rock mass and also fail to consider the influence of support pressure, initial stress state, and rock mass strength classification in one fitting equation. This study aims to overcome these deficiencies with a regression model used to estimate the tunnel strain. A group of geological strength indexes (GSI) are configured to quantify the input strength parameters and deformation moduli for the rock mass with a quality ranging from poor to excellent. A specific numerical procedure is developed to calculate the tunnel strain around a circular opening, which is validated by comparison with those using existing methods. A nonlinear regression model is then established to analyse the obtained tunnel strain, combining twelve fitting equations to relate the tunnel strain and the factors including the support pressure, the GSI, the initial stress state, and the critical softening parameter. Particularly, three equations are for the estimation of the critical tunnel strain, the critical support pressure, and the tunnel strain under elastic behaviour, respectively; and the other nine equations are for the tunnel strain with different strain-softening behaviours. The relative significance between the GSI, the initial stress and the support pressure on the tunnel strain is assessed.

Numerical Simulation of Cracking Failure and Weakening Law of Roadway Surrounding Rock under High Stress

In deep roadway mining, high water pressure causes rock mass cracking and weakens the overall strength, affecting the stability of underground metal mine mining roadways. Therefore, using a numerical simulation method, we analyzed the strain softening characteristics of rocks after the inflexion point of elasticity and studied the strain distribution and the minimum support resistance under high-pressure groundwater conditions. Considering the groundwater pressure and effective porosity on the strain softening characteristics of the surrounding rocks, we investigated the critical groundwater pressure under which the surrounding rocks would remain stable. Actual engineering verification helps to obtain the supporting characteristic curves under different influencing factors. We found that water pressure and effective porosity are the significant factors that decide the development scope of the plastic zone. The more significant the increase of the plastic zone, the more notable the changes in the support curve. Moreover, the plastic zone is likely to occur when the hydraulic head is between 30 and 50 m; when the hydraulic head exceeds 50 m, it is likely to produce a relaxation zone.

Elastoplastic Analysis for Circular Tunnel Based on Modified Lade Criterion considering Strain Softening and Dilatancy

Modified Lade criterion can not only describe the strength properties of many kinds of rocks well but also has simple and practical parameters. Although the elastoplastic solution of circular tunnel has been extensively investigated, the method based on modified Lade criterion considering the effect of the intermediate principal stress, strain-softening behavior, and dilatancy has not yet been studied. In this paper, a new numerical procedure based on modified Lade criterion is proposed to calculate the elastoplastic solutions for surrounding rock of the circular tunnel. The comparisons of stress, displacement, and plastic zone radius are carried out between the presented method and published literatures under axisymmetric and nonaxisymmetric original in situ stress field. Finally, a series of parametric analyses are executed and discussed. It can be concluded that the lateral pressure coefficient, λ, influences both the size of plastic zone and the development direction. The plastic zone radius shows a negative power function change with increasing critical deviatoric plastic strain and increases slightly with increasing dilation angle, ψ.