• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.11 no.6
• /
• pp.867-877
• /
• 2016

Collapse shape of tunnel roof in layered Hoek-Brown rock media is investigated within the framework of upper bound theorem. The traditional collapse mechanism for homogeneous stratum is no longer suitable for the present analysis of roof stability, and it would be necessary to propose a curve failure mode to describe the velocity discontinuity surface in layered media. What is discussed in the paper is that the failure mechanism of tunnel roofs, consisting of two different functions, is proposed for layered rock media. Then it is employed to investigate the impending roof failure. Based on the nonlinear Hoek-Brown failure criterion, the collapse volume of roof blocks are derived with the upper bound theorem and variational principle. Numerical calculations and parametric analysis are carried out to illustrate the effects of different parameters on the shape of failure mechanism, which is of overriding significance to the stability analysis of tunnel roof in layered rock media.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.115-124
• /
• 2015

Determination of mobilized shear strength parameters (that identify stresses on the failure plane) is required for analyzing the stability by limit equilibrium method. Generalized Hoek-Brown (GHB) and Mohr-Coulomb (MC) failure criteria are usually used for obtaining stresses on the plane of failure. In the present paper, the applicability of these criteria for determining the stresses on failure plane is investigated. The comparison is based on stresses on the real failure plane which are obtained from the Mohr stress circle. To do so, 18 sets of data (consist of principal stresses and angle of failure plane) presented in the literature are used. In addition, the values account for (VAF) and the root mean square error (RMSE) indices were calculated to check the determination performance of the obtained results. Values of VAF and RMSE for the normal stresses on the failure plane evaluated from MC are 49% and 31.5 where for GHB are 55% and 30.5, respectively. Also, for the shear stresses on failure plane, they are 74% and 36 for MC, 76% and 34.5 for GHB. Results show that the obtained stresses and angles of failure plane for each criterion differ from real ones, but GHB results are closer to the empirical results. Also, it is inferred that results are affected by the failure envelope not real failure plane. Therefore, obtained shear strength parameters are not mobilized. Finally, a multivariable regressed relation is presented for determining the stresses on the failure plane.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.11-23
• /
• 2020

In this study, a new analytical-numerical procedure is developed to give the stresses and strains around a circular tunnel in rock masses exhibiting different stress-strain behavior. The calculation starts from the tunnel wall and continues toward the unknown elastic-plastic boundary by a finite difference method in the annular discretized plastic zone. From the known stresses in the tunnel boundary, the strains are calculated using the elastic-plastic stiffness matrix in which three dimensional Hoek-Brown failure criterion (Jiang and Zhao 2015) and Mohr-Coulomb potential function with proper dilation angle (i.e., non-associated flow rule) are employed in terms of stress invariants. The illustrative examples give ground response curve and show correctness of the proposed approach. Finally, from the results of a great number of analyses, a simple relationship is presented to find out the closure of circular tunnel in terms of rock mass strength and tunnel depth. It can be valuable for the preliminary decision of tunnel support and for prediction of tunnel problems.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.61-70
• /
• 2013

This paper presents the results of a two-dimensional finite element analysis of end bearing capacity of single pile installed in fractured rock mass. A number of cases were analyzed using Hoek-Brown criterion that can consider the condition of rock joints. Considering a wide range of joint conditions in which the pile is embedded into the rock, GSI was set as a main parameter. And the effects of pile diameter, unconfined compressive strength of rock and Hoek-Brown constant $m_0$ were considered. Based on parameter study, end bearing load factor graphs were suggested.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.235-245
• /
• 2019

This paper presents a novel methodology for face stability assessment of rock tunnels under water table by combining the kinematical approach of limit analysis and numerical simulation. The tunnels considered in this paper are excavated in fractured rock masses characterized by the Hoek-Brown failure criterion. In terms of natural rock deposition, a more convincing case of depth-dependent mi, GSI, D and ${\sigma}_c$ is taken into account by proposing the horizontally layered discretization technique, which enables us to generate the failure surface of tunnel face point by point. The vertical distance between any two adjacent points is fixed, which is beneficial to deal with stability problems involving depth-dependent rock parameters. The pore water pressure is numerically computed by means of 3D steady-state flow analyses. Accordingly, the pore water pressure for each discretized point on the failure surface is obtained by interpolation. The parametric analysis is performed to show the influence of depth-dependent parameters of $m_i$, GSI, D, ${\sigma}_c$ and the variation of water table elevation on tunnel face stability. Finally, several design charts for an undisturbed tunnel are presented for quick calculations of critical support pressures against face failure.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.10 no.7
• /
• pp.81-91
• /
• 2009

Recently, twin-tunnel is often designed in the aspects of disaster prevention and economical reasons. However, the design cases and the studies are relatively insufficient. By the twin-tunnel excavation, deviate stresses of pillar between tunnels are increased and the increased stresses induce the instability of the twin-tunnel. In this study, numerical analyses about the twin-tunnel behaviour were conducted with varying ground strength, width of pillar and depth of earth cover and a series of regression analyses were carried out by using the results of numerical analyses for the twin-tunnel. Based on the numerical analyses, an estimation method of derived stresses is suggested through the regression analyses. Also, based on the results of regression analyses, an quantitative estimation method considering the reinforcement effects is also suggested. Then various parametric studies were conducted to be considered the reinforcement type and various design parameters. Finally, the efficiency of the suggested method based on the Hoek-Brown Failure Criterion is verified through the results of parametric studies.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.60 no.5
• /
• pp.809-828
• /
• 2016

In deep open pit mines, slope stability is very important. Particularly, increasing the depths increase the risks in mines having weak rock mass. Blasting operations in this type of open pits may have a negative impact on slope stability. Several or combination of methods can be used in order to enable better analysis in this type of deep open-pit mines. Numerical modeling is one of these options. Many complex problems can be integrated into numerical methods at the same time and analysis, solutions can be performed on a single model. Rock failure criterions and rock models are used in numerical modeling. Hoek-Brown and Mohr-Coulomb terms are the two most commonly used rock failure conditions. In this study, mine planning and discontinuity conditions of a lignite mine facing two big landslides previously, has been investigated. Moreover, the presence of some damage before starting the study was identified in surrounding structures. The primary research of this study is on slope study. In slope stability analysis, numerical modeling methods with Hoek-Brown and Mohr-Coulomb failure criterions were used separately. Preparing the input data to the numerical model, the outcomes of patented-blast vibration minimization method, developed by co-author was used. The analysis showed that, the model prepared by applying Hoek-Brown failure criterion, failed in the stage of 10. However, the model prepared by using Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion did not fail even in the stage 17. Examining the full research field, there has been ongoing production in this mine without any failure and damage to surface structures.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.97-111
• /
• 2015

The kinematical approach of limit analysis is used to estimate the three dimensional stability analysis of rock slopes with nonlinear Hoek-Brown criterion under earthquake forces. The generalized tangential technique is introduced, which makes limit analysis apply to rock slope problem possible. This technique formulates the three dimensional stability problem as a classical nonlinear programming problem. A nonlinear programming algorithm is coded to search for the least upper bound solution. To prove the validity of the present approach, static stability factors are compared with the previous solutions, using a linear failure criterion. Three dimensional seismic and static stability factors are calculated for rock slopes. Numerical results of indicate that the factors increase with the ratio of slope width and height, and are presented for practical use in rock engineering.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.59-71
• /
• 2018

Since the generalized Hoek-Brown (GHB) function predicts the strength of the jointed rock mass in a systematic manner by use of GSI index, it is widely used in rock engineering practices. In this study, a series of 2D elasto-plastic FE analysis, which adopts the GHB criterion as a yield function, was carried out to investigate the radial convergence characteristics of circular tunnel excavated in the GHB rock mass. The effect of the plastic potential function on the elasto-plastic displacement was also examined. In the analysis, the wide range of both the $K(={\sigma}_h/{\sigma}_v)$ and GSI values are considered. For each K value, the variation of the ratio of sidewall displacement to roof displacement was calculated with varying GSI values and the obtained displacement patterns were analysed. The calculation results show that the displacement ratio significantly depends not only on the K value but also on the range of GSI value. In particular, for lower range of GSI value, the displacement ratio pattern calculated in the elasto-plastic regime is opposite to that predicted by the elasticity theory. In addition, the variation of the radial displacement ratio with GSI value for different types of plastic potential function showed similar trend.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.20 no.9
• /
• pp.115-124
• /
• 2004

According to Sagong and Paik (2003), the side resistance of rock socketed drilled shafts is affected by rock quality, types, uniaxial compressive strength, and confining stress. Their approach based upon the Hoek-Brown criterion provides reasonable predictions of the side resistance. In this study, we propose an equation to calculate the side resistance considering size effects of the shafts and investigate the influence of drilled shaft diameter on the side resistance. A new method employs the modified Hoek-Brown criterion together with an empirical size effect of rock core. From the previous field tests, 12 pile load test results were collected and compared with prediction calculated from the equation proposed in this study. In a given condition, similar results between measurement and estimate are observed. From the parametric study on the GSI, confining stress, uniaxial compressive of intact rock and pile size, it is shown that uniaxial compressive strength is the most influential parameter on the side resistance. Though pile size shows the least influence on the resistance, the size effect is apparent as rock quality increases.