Module 6: Stresses Around Underground Openings: 6.6 Excavation Shape and Boundary Stress

Module 6: Stresses around underground openings
LECTURE 21
6.6 EXCAVATION SHAPE AND BOUNDARY STRESS
Most of the time, a simple horseshoe shape for tunnels is preferred as it gives a wide
flat floor for the equipment used during construction. For relatively shallow tunnels in good
quality rock, this is an appropriate tunnel shape and there are many hundreds of kilometres of
horseshoe shaped tunnels all over the world. In poor quality rock masses or in tunnels at great
depth, the simple horseshoe shape is not a good choice because of the high stress
concentrations at the corners where the sidewalls meet the floor or invert. In some cases
failures initiating at these corners can lead to severe floor heave and even to failure of the
entire tunnel perimeter.
The stress distribution in the rock mass surrounding the tunnel can be improved by
modifying the horseshoe shape. The sharp corners at the junction between the floor and the
tunnel sidewalls create high stress concentrations and also generate large bending moments in
any lining installed in the tunnel. Floor heave is reduced significantly by the concave
curvature of the floor of the modified horseshoe shape, in many cases, these modifications to
the horseshoe shape may be sufficient to prevent or at least minimise the type of damage.
However, in most cases, a circular tunnel profile is invariably the best choice. Here, stresses
around some specific shapes is being disccussed.
175
6.6.1 Oval Shape
σB
Kp
A
H
σA
Figure 6.16: Boundary stresses around oval shape opening
ρ A and ρ A are the radii of curvature at point A and B . Higher the boundary curvature
9lower the radius of curvature), it is found that higher the stress concentration. This means,
corners with sharp edges will have very high stress concentration.
176
6.6.2 Ovaloidal Shape Openings
W/H ratio is 3 and the radius of curvature of side wall is H/2
A H
0.5p
Figure 6.17: Boundary stresses around ovaloidal shape opening
Using K =0.5
σ B = - 0.17p
This shows that the radius of boundary curvature and the excavation aspect ratio (W/H) are
very important to develop a reasonable accurate picture of the state of stress around opening
177
6.6.3 Square Opening with Rounded Corner
Figure 6.18: Boundary stresses around square opening with rounded corners
It is also observed that, changing the shape of a opening presents a most effective method of
controlling boundary stresses. Maximum boundary stresses can be reduced if the opening
dimension is increased in the direction of major principal stress. For an excavation subject to
an extremely high vertical principal stress and extensive side wall failure, an elliptical
excavation with the long axis horizontal may be preferred excavation shape. Figure 6.19
shows how the increase in the height of the tunnel is actually helping to reduce the side wall
stresses.
178
Figure 6.19: Increasing the height of the opening to reduce side wall stresses
6.6.4 Excavations with special shapes
Many applications, some shapes of openings are also required, e.g., opening shape
shown in Figure 6.20. Such excavation geometry can be useful in case of a need of crusher
station, battery charging station or machine workshop where a bench is retained for
equipment installation.
(W/H ration = 2/3). A, B, C are likely to be highly stressed as the boundary curvature is
high. Local cracking is to be expected in these zones – No problem of Integrity. D is likely to
be at low state of stress due to be negative curvature.
179
Figure 6.20: Stress around openings with special shapes
6.7 STRESS DISTRIBUTION DUE TO DEVELOPMENT OF FRACTURED ZONE
The problem geometry is shown in Figure 6.22a, with a circular opening excavated in
a medium subject to hydrostatic stress. The field stresses and rock mass strength are such
that an annulus of failed rock is generated in the excavation periphery. The main questions
are the relation between the radius, re, of the failed zone, the applied support presure, pi, and
the stress distribution in the fractured rock and elastic domains. It is assumed that the strength
of the rock mass is described by a Mohr–Coulomb criterion, i.e.
(1 + σin φ ) 2c coσ φ
σ1 = σ 3 +
(1 − σin φ ) 1 − σin φ
The strength of fractured rock is taken to be purely frictional with the limiting state of stress
within the rockmass
(1 + sin f f )
s1 = s 3
(1 − sin f f )
180
Figure 6.21: Stress distribution around a circular opening in a hydrostatic stress filed
due to development of fractured zone
6.8 TUNNELING IN STRATIFIED ROCK AND BLOCKY ROCK
Rock with horizontal layering, tend to open up in the roof/ sides of an underground opening.
When the strata are dipping, zone of interbed separation and potential buckling or sliding
may occur. The extent depend on the interlayer friction, thickness and inclination of layers.
181
Figure 6.22: Interbed separation and buckling or sliding of strata in tunnels in stratified
rocks
Tunneling in blocky rocks

If tunneling has to be done in a blocky rock mass, the different block types may be identified
first. As per Goodman (Figure 6.23) six different types of block commonly identified.
Non-removable
1. Block with no free faces ( Block VI).
2. Infinite blocks (Block V).
3. Non- movable Tapered block (Block IV).
Removable
1. Safe block under the action of gravity (Block III).
2. Safe block by virtue of friction (Block II).
3. Movable block, unless supported (Block I).
182
Fig. 6.23: Different type of Blocks in tunnels in blocky rocks
183
6.9 ROCK FRACTURES AND SCALE/SIZE EFFECT
It is found that, the larger the size of the excavation there is increased potential for blocky
fall-out. Figure 6.25 a) describes the effect of reduction in the size of opening in a fractured
rock mass in relative scale, here the blocks are more unstable due to increased relative size of
the openings. Figure 6.25 b) explains, how increase in the fracture intensity would affect the
tunnel o the same size.
(a)
(b)
Figure 6.24: a) Effect of reduction in the size of opening in a fractured rock mass in
relative scale b) Increase in the fracture intensity for the same size of the opening
184

Module 6: Stresses Around Underground Openings: 6.6 Excavation Shape and Boundary Stress

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Module 6: Stresses Around Underground Openings: 6.6 Excavation Shape and Boundary Stress

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Module 6: Stresses Around Underground Openings: 6.6 Excavation Shape and Boundary Stress

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Module 6: Stresses around underground openings

6.6 EXCAVATION SHAPE AND BOUNDARY STRESS

6.6.1 Oval Shape

Figure 6.16: Boundary stresses around oval shape opening

6.6.2 Ovaloidal Shape Openings

W/H ratio is 3 and the radius of curvature of side wall is H/2

Figure 6.17: Boundary stresses around ovaloidal shape opening

6.6.3 Square Opening with Rounded Corner

6.6.4 Excavations with special shapes

Figure 6.20: Stress around openings with special shapes

6.7 STRESS DISTRIBUTION DUE TO DEVELOPMENT OF FRACTURED ZONE

6.8 TUNNELING IN STRATIFIED ROCK AND BLOCKY ROCK

Tunneling in blocky rocks

Fig. 6.23: Different type of Blocks in tunnels in blocky rocks

6.9 ROCK FRACTURES AND SCALE/SIZE EFFECT

You might also like