• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.43-52
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• 2014

This paper examined the effect of step-wise excavation depth on the earth pressure against an excavation wall in rock mass. Numerical parametric studies were conducted based on the Discrete Element Method (DEM) to carry out the problems in rock mass. Controlled parameters included step-wise excavation depth, rock types, and joint conditions (joint shear strength and joint inclination angle). The magnitude and distribution characteristics of the induced earth pressure in a jointed rock mass were investigated and compared with Peck's earth pressure for soil ground. The results showed that the earth pressure against an excavation wall in rock mass were highly affected by different rock and joint conditions, and the effect of step-wise excavation depth increased as a rock type is deteriorated more. In addition, it was found that the earth pressure against an excavation wall in rock mass might be considerably different from Peck's empirical earth pressure for soil ground.