Lecture 20
Lecture 20
Lecture 20
LECTURE 20
CASE 2: When σ x = 0
For σ x = 0 , the maximum tangential stress is three times the applied stress and occurs
at the boundary on the X-axis that is θ = 0 or π. When θ = π/2 and 3π/2, the tangential stress
at the boundary of the opening is equal to the applied stress but is of opposite in sign.
Figure 6.7. Tangential and radial stresses around circular openings when σ x =0
165
Module 6: Stresses around underground openings
Figure 6.8. Tangential stresses around the periphery of the circular openings when σ x =0
Figure 6.9: Circular hole in an elasto-plastic infinite medium under hydrostatic loading
166
Module 6: Stresses around underground openings
For a ≤ r ≤ c
r
s rp = 2hp ln
a
r
s θ p 2hp 1 + ln
=
a
For r ≥ c
ha 2
s r p 1 − 2 e(1− h ) / h
=
r
ha 2
s θ p 1 + 2 e(1− h ) / h
=
r
h = k / p.
Figure 6.10: The stress distribution along the axes of symmetry in elasto-plastic medium
Figure 6.11: The stress distribution around the circular excavation in elasto-plastic
medium
168
Module 6: Stresses around underground openings
When the tangential stress around an opening is greater than about one- half of the
unconfined compressive strength, cracks will begin to form. At large depth, such rock failure
can cause violent bursts. Weak rocks like shale reach the condition for rock cracking at small
depths. In such rocks, new cracking may initiate further loosening as water and air cause
accelerated weathering. The zone of broken rock is driven deeper into the walls by the
gradual destruction of rock strength. As a result, the load on the tunnel support system will
increase and the supports experience a gradual build up in pressure known as squeezing.
To gain a better understanding of the mechanics of a squeezing tunnel and to provide
an analytical framework to provide appropriate support systems, the theoretical model
proposed by Bray (1967) can be considered.
The following are the assumptions made in the elastic- plastic model proposed by Bray
(1967) so that it can be applied to field problems,
• The failure of rock is by Mohr-Coulomb theory.
• State of stress is axis- symmetric i.e., k=1.
• Within the plastic zone, which extends to a radius R, Bray assumed the fractures were
log spirals inclined at δ degrees with the radial direction.
169
Module 6: Stresses around underground openings
tan δ
Q= −1
tan(δ − φ j )
170
Module 6: Stresses around underground openings
Assuming that the broken rock inside the plastic zone contains log-spiral surfaces with shear
strength characteristics τ p = S j + σ tan ϕ j , the radius R of the plastic-elastic zone boundary is
given by:
φ
2 p − qu + [1 + tan 2 (45 + )]S j cot q j 1
R = a( 2 )Q
q
[1 + tan 2 (45 + )]( pi + S j cot q j )
2
Where, p is the initial rock stress, a is the radius of the opening, ϕ is the angle of internal
friction of the intact rock, ϕ j is the friction angle for a joint, S j is the cohesion, q u is the
unconfined compressive strength of the intact rock, p i is the internal pressure in the tunnel
provided by the supports.
Bray’s solution for radial and tangential stresses in the elastic zone is as follows:
σ r = p-(b/r2)
σ θ = p+(b/r2)
φ
{([tan 2 (45 + ) - 1] × p + q u ) × R 2
where, b = 2
2 φ
[tan (45 + ) + 1]
2
The radial and tangential stresses in the plastic zone is defined by,
For various values of r, the values of σ r and σ θ are found out, plotted and compared
with Kirsch solution shown in Figure 6.14. From the plot, it is evident that for some distance
behind wall, the tangential stresses lower than that predicted by elastic theory, thereafter they
are higher.
171
Module 6: Stresses around underground openings
Figure 6.14: Stresses around the yielding tunnel given in the example (After Bray, 1967)
The plastic behavior of the region near the tunnel has the effect of extending the
influence of the tunnel considerably farther into the surrounding rock. In the wholly elastic
case, the tangential stresses would have fallen to only 10% above the initial stresses at a
radius of 3.5 times the tunnel radius but in the elastic-plastic case, the elastic zone stresses are
70% higher than the initial stresses at this distance and 10 radii are required before the stress
falls down to 10% of initial stress. Thus, two tunnels that do not interact with one another in
elastic ground might interact in plastic ground.
172
Module 6: Stresses around underground openings
a2
s r p 1 − 2
=
r
a2
s θ p 1 + 2
=
r
τ rθ = 0
At r = 5a, the state of stress is not significantly different (within 5%) from the field stress
σ/p σθ/p
σr/p
a
2 3 4 5
Figure 6.15: Radial and tangential stresses corresponding to different radial distance in
a hydrostatic stress field
173
Module 6: Stresses around underground openings
Table 6.1: Tangential and radial stresses corresponding to different radial distance in
hydrostatic stress field
a 2P 0
2a 1.25P 0.75P
3a 1.11P 0.88P
4a 1.06P 0.94P
5a 1.04P 0.96P
Figure 6.16 shows a closer examination of the deformations induced in the rock mass by the
excavation of the underground powerhouse and transformer gallery. It is seen that, the
smaller of the two excavations is drawn towards the larger cavern and its profile is distorted
in this process. This distortion may be reduced by relocating the transformer gallery and by
increasing the spacing between the galleries.
174