• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.243-252
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• 2017

Since the failure behavior of transversely isotropic rocks is significantly different from that of isotropic rocks, it is necessary to develop a transversely isotropic rock failure function in order to evaluate the stability of rock structures constructed in transversely isotropic rock masses. In this study, a spatial distribution function for strength parameters of transversely isotropic rocks is proposed, which is based on the Cassini oval curve proposed by 17th century astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini to model the orbit of the Sun around the Earth. The proposed distribution function consists of two model parameters which could be identified through triaxial compression tests on transversely isotropic rock samples. The original Mohr-Coulomb (M-C) failure function is extended to a three-dimensional transversely isotropic M-C failure function by employing the proposed strength parameter distribution function for the spatial distributions of the friction angle and cohesion. In order to verify the suitability of the transversely isotropic M-C failure function, both the conventional triaxial compression and true triaxial compression tests of transversely isotropic rock samples are simulated. The predicted results from the numerical experiments are consistent with the failure behavior of transversely isotropic rocks observed in the actual laboratory tests. In addition, the simulated result of true triaxial compression tests hints that the dependence of rock strength on intermediate principal stress may be closely related to the distribution of the microstructures included in the rock samples.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.339-344
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• 2004

Variation of horizontal to vertical stress ratio of transversely isotropic rock caused by erosion was studied by numerical analysis. Influence of transversely isotropic was less than 5% for isotropic case. Difference between stresses obtained by numerical analysis and theoretical solution was small when initial stress ratio was small and the difference increased as erosion depth increased. Stress ratios diverged from initial ones as depth increased. An equation to determine stress ratio considering erosion according to the analyses was suggested.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.318-322
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• 1995

For transversely isotropic rocks such as schist, shale, etc, a method to determine the anisotropic elastic constants was proposed. Theoretically, equations of elastic constants E1, E2, and G2 can be derived from the measured strains in arbitrary three directions. If we attach three strain gages in accordance with the directons of anisotropy on the rock specimen under uni-axial compression, anisotropic elastic constants can be determined by these equations. With this method, the degree of anisotropy of transversely isotropic rocks will be easily evaluated by simple laboratory test.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.194-201
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• 2008

In order to investigate the characteristics in tensile strength of transversely isotropic rock, a new anisotropic tensile failure function was suggested. According to the function, the tensile strength is minimum in the normal direction to a weakness plane and rises exponentially to its maximum on a plane perpendicular to the weakness plane. The anisotropic function is defined in terms of three strength parameters which can be identified trom direct tensile tests of transversely isotropic rocks. By incorporating the suggested function into the critical plane approach, a numerical procedure which enables to search the tensile strength and the direction of critical plane at failure was presented. The validity of the suggested numerical procedure was checked through the simulation of direct tensile tests reported in a literature. The numerical results from the simulation were in good agreements with those from the laboratory tests.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.71-86
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• 2013

For rock materials, a transversely isotropic failure criterion established through the extended Lade-Duncan failure criterion incorporating an anisotropic state scalar parameter, which is a joint invariant of deviatoric microstructure fabric tensor and normalized deviatoric stress tensor, is verified with the results of triaxial compressive data on Tournemire shale. For torsional shear mode with $0{\leq}b{\leq}0.75$, rock shear strengths decrease with ${\alpha}$ increasing until the rock shear strength approaches minimum value at ${\alpha}{\approx}40^{\circ}$, and after this point, the rock shear strengths increase as ${\alpha}$ increases further. For the torsional shear mode with b > 0.75, rock shear strengths are almost constant for ${\alpha}{\leq}40^{\circ}$, but it increases with increase in ${\alpha}$ afterwards. The rock shear strength variation against ${\alpha}$ agrees with shear strength changing tendency of heavily OCR natural London Clays tested before. Prediction results show that the transversely isotropic failure criterion proposed in the paper is reasonable.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.15 no.6 s.59
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• pp.391-399
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• 2005

In this study, stress difference between isotropic and transversely isotropic rock mass, and planar principal stresses at the periphery of the tunnel in the rock with various ratio of anisotropy were determined theoretically. Stress differences between isotropic and anisotropic calculations at crown. side walls and floor of a tunnel with assumed stress states were analyzed and compare each other by $FLAC^{2D}$, a finite differential element method. As a result, magnitude and direction of principal stresses in the case of ignoring anisotropy were different from those of anisotropic cases, whatever the stress state was. Stress difference increased as the ratio of anisotropy increased. Direction or anisotropy affected stress difference, especially in the cases of anisotropic directions of $45^{\circ}\;and\;135^{\circ}$ of counterclockwise from x direction.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2001

The total number of elastic constants of an anisotropic body is 9 and thus it is very difficult to measure these constants experimentally. The number of elastic constants can be reduced if a rock or rock mass is regarded as isotropic or transversely isotropic material. Since only 4 stress-strain relationships can be obtained, it is theoretically impossible to determine all 5 constants from a single uniaxial compression teat. Lekhnitskii overcame this problem by suggesting the fifth equation based on laboratory tests. But his equation is theoretically wrong and does not agree with experimental results. This paper describes the stress-strain relationships and the independent/dependent elastic constants of an anisotropic mass and suggests a testing mothed to determine 5 independent elastic constants for a transversely isotropic rock.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.15 no.4 s.57
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• pp.288-295
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• 2005

Many mechanical defects originated from various geological causes make rock mass exhibit anisotropic characteristics. Understanding how the stress distribution occurs in anisotropic rock mass is, therefore, very important for the design of footings on rock and rock structures. In this study, the patterns of elastic stress distribution, developed by acting line load on the surface, in transversely isotropic was investigated. The influence of joint stiffness, joint spacing, and dip angle on the stress distribution was examined. By assuming the Mohr-Coulomb criterion as joint slip condition, the development of joint slip zone was also discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2009.03a
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• pp.58-63
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• 2009

Biaxial compression test was conducted on a transversely isotropic synthetic jointed rock model for the understanding of the fracture behaviors of a sedimentary or metamorphic rocks with well developed bedding or foliation in uni-direction. The joint angles employed for the model are 30, 45, and 60 degrees to the horizontal, and the synthetic rock mass was made of early strength cement. From the biaxial compression test, initiation propagation of tensile cracks at norm to the joint angle was found. The propagated tensile cracks eventually developed rock blocks, which was dislodged from the rock mass. Furthermore, the propagation process of the tensile cracks varies with joint angle: lower joint angle model shows more stable and progressive tensile crack propagation. The experiment results were validated from the simulation by using discrete element method PFC 2D. From the simulation, as has been observed from the test, a rock mass with lower joint angle produces wider damage region and rock block by tensile cracks. In addition, a rock model with lower joint angle shows a progressive tensile cracks generation around the opening from the investigation of the interacted tensile cracks.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.150-168
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• 2023

The anisotropic behavior of rocks is primarily attributed to the directional arrangement of rock-forming minerals and the distribution characteristics of microcracks. Notably, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks often exhibit distinct transverse isotropy in terms of their strength and deformation characteristics. Consequently, it is crucial to gain accurate insights into the deformation and failure characteristics of transversely isotropic rocks during rock mechanics design processes. The deformation of such rocks is described by five independent elastic constants, which are determined through laboratory testing. In this study, the characteristics of the directional variation of apparent elastic constants in transversely isotropic rocks were investigated using experimental data reported in the literature. To achieve this, the constitutive equation proposed by Mehrabadi & Cowin was introduced to calculate the apparent elastic constants more efficiently and systematically in a rotated Cartesian coordinate system. Four transversely isotropic rock types from the literature were selected, and the influence of changes in the orientation of the weak plane on the variations of the apparent elastic modulus, apparent shear modulus, and apparent Poisson's ratio was analyzed. Based on the investigation, a new constraint on the elastic constants has been proposed. If the proposed constraint is satisfied, the directional variation of the apparent elastic constants in transversely isotropic rocks aligns with intuitive predictions of their tendencies.