• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.38-61
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• 2023

An Excavation Damaged Zone(EDZ) caused by blasting impact changes rock properties, in situ stress distribution, etc., and its effects are noticeable at around a radioactive waste repository located at deep underground. In particular, the increase in permeability due to the formation of cracks may significantly increase the amount of groundwater inflow and the possibility of radioactive nuclide outflow. In this study, FLAC2D and FLAC3D were used to analyze the mechanical and thermal behaviors for three categories: a)No EDZ, b)Uniform EDZ, and c)Random EDZ. It was found that the tunnel displacement in the Random EDZ case was 423% higher than that in the No EDZ case and was 16% higher than that in the Uniform EDZ case. Tunnel inflow in the Random EDZ was also 17.3% and 10.8% higher than that in the No EDZ and the Uniform EDZ case, respectively. The permeability around the tunnel was increased by up to 10 times in the corner of the tunnel wall and roof due to the stress redistribution after excavation. From the computer simulation, it was found that the permeability around the tunnel wall was partially increased but the overall tunnel inflow was decreased with increase of stress ratio. Mechanical analysis using FLAC 3D showed similar results. Slight difference between 2D and 3D could be explained with the development of plastic zone during the advance of tunnel excavation in 3D.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.323-335
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• 2021

This paper aims to estimate the range of the excavation damaged zone (EDZ) formation caused by the tunnel boring machine (TBM) advancement through dynamic three-dimensional large deformation finite element analysis. Large deformation analysis based on Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) analysis is used to accurately simulate the behavior during TBM excavation. The analysis model is verified based on numerous test results reported in the literature. The range of the formed EDZ will be suggested as a boundary under various conditions - different tunnel diameter, tunnel depth, and rock type. Moreover, evaluation of the integrity of the tunnel structure during excavation has been carried out. Based on the numerical results, the apparent boundary of the EDZ is shown to within the range of 0.7D (D: tunnel diameter) around the excavation surface. Through series of numerical computation, it is clear that for the rock of with higher rock mass rating (RMR) grade (close to 1st grade), the EDZ around the tunnel tends to increase. The size of the EDZ is found to be direct proportional to the tunnel diameter, whereas the depth of the tunnel is inversely proportional to the magnitude of the EDZ. However, the relationship between the formation of the EDZ and the stability of the tunnel was not found to be consistent. In case where the TBM excavation is carried out in hard rock or rock under high confinement (excavation under greater depth), large range of the EDZ may be formed, but less strain occurs along the excavation surface during excavation and is found to be more stable.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.359-369
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• 2011

In this study, physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of rock samples were investigated to estimate the Excavation Damaged Zone (EDZ) developed during the construction of the KAERI Underground Research Tunnel. The average porosity in the EDZ was increased by about 140%. The average wave velocity, Young's modulus, and uniaxial compressive strength in the EDZ were decreased by about 11, 37, and 16%, respectively. And the thermal conductivity in the EDZ was decreased by about 20%. From the laboratory tests, the EDZ size could be estimated to be around 1.1-2.4 m.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.133-141
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• 2007

The excavation damaged zone (EDZ) is an area around an excavation where in situ rock mass properties, stress condition, displacement, groundwater flow conditions have been altered due to the processes induced by the excavation. Various studies have been carried out on EDZ, but most studies have focused on the mechanical bahavior of EDZ by in situ experiment. Even though the EDZ could potentially form a high permeable pathway of groundwater flow, only a few studies were performed on the analysis of groundwater flow in EDZ. In this study, the 'hydraulic EDZ' was defined as the rock zone adjacent to the excavation where the hydraulic aperture has been changed due to the excavation by using H-M coupling analysis. Fundamental principles of distinct element method (DEM) were used in the analysis. In the same groundwater level, the behavior of hydraulic aperture near the cavern was analyzed for different stress ratios, initial apertures, fracture angles and fracture spacings by using a two-dimensional DEM program. We evaluate the excavation induced hydraulic aperture change. Using the results of the study, hydraulic EDZ was defined as an elliptical shape model perpendicular to the joint.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.11-19
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• 2008

The development of an excavation damaged zone, EDZ, due to the blasting impact and stress redistribution after excavation, can influence on the long tenn stability, economy, and safety of the underground excavation. In this study, the size and characteristics of an EDZ around an underground research tunnel, which was excavated by controlled blasting, in KAERI were investigated. The results were implemented into the modelling for evaluating the influence of an EDZ on hydro-mechanical behavior of the tunnel. From in situ tests at KURT, it was possible to determine that the size of EDZ was about l.5rn. Goodman jack tests and laboratory tests showed that the rock properties in the EDZ were changed about 50% compared to the rock properties before blasting. The size and property change in the EDZ were implemented to a hydro-mechanical coupling analysis. In the modeling, rock strengths and elastic modulus were assumed to be decreased 50% and. the hydraulic conductivity was increased 1 order. From the analysis, it was possible to see that the displacement was increased while the stress was decreased because of an EDZ. When an EDZ was considered in the model, the tunnel inflow was increased about 20% compared to the case without an EDZ.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.17 no.2 s.67
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• pp.109-118
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• 2007

The excavation damaged zone (EDZ) is an area around an excavation where in situ rock mass properties, stress condition. displacement. groundwater flow conditions have been altered due to the excavation. Various studies have been carried out on EDZ, but most studies have been focused on the mechanical bahavior of EDZ by in situ experiment. Even though the EDZ could potentially form a high permeable pathway of groundwater flow, only a few studies were performed on the analysis of groundwater flow in EDZ. In this study, the' hydraulic EDZ' was defined as the rock Lone adjacent to the excavation where the hydraulic aperture has been changed due to the excavation. And hydraulic EDZ (hydraulic aperture changed zone) estimated by two-dimensional DEM program was considered in three-dimensional DFN model. From this approach the groundwater flow characteristics corresponding to hydraulic aperture change were examined. Together. a parametric study was performed to examine the boundary conditions that frequently used in DFN analysis such as constant head or constant flux condition. According to the numerical analysis, hydraulic aperture change induced by the hydraulic-mechanical interaction becomes one of the most important factors Influencing the hydraulic behavior of jointed rock masses. And also from this study, we suggest the proper boundary condition in three-dimensional DFN model.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2009

An excavation damaged zone (EDZ) is created by fracturing, excavation or stress redistribution of tunnels. In this zone the mechanical and hydraulic properties of rock are changed, which makes additional cracks and serves as a dominant pathway of groundwater flow. In this study, an assessment on an EDZ size was practiced by the measurement of the deformation modulus at the KAERI underground research tunnel (KURT), and the information was applied to the modelling analysis using FLAC2D software. The EDZ at KURT fell into the range of 0.6~1.8m and the deformation moduli of the EDZ generally correspond to about 40% of intact rock mass. With a consideration of the EDZ in numerical analysis, tunnel displacements increased by about 65% and the maximum principal stress decreased to 58% from the case without EDZ. The plastic zone of the tunnel was enlarged to the crown and invert zones of the tunnel within the range of the length of rock bolts. About 2% of the total tunnel displacement with EDZ was suppressed by the KURT support system. It is anticipated that the investigation of an EDZ can be used as an important and fundamental research for validating the overall performance of a high level waste disposal system.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.91-104
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• 2014

An Excavation Damaged Zone (EDZ), in which rock properties are permanently changed due to blasting impact or stress redistribution, can influence the behavior and stability of structures. In this study, the mechanical stability of an underground opening was simulated by using FLAC, which is a two-dimensional modeling code, with a consideration of EDZ. A sensitivity analysis was also carried out with fractional factorial design. From the modeling, it was found that the behavior and the stability of an underground tunnel are strongly dependent on the existence of the EDZ. The sensitivity analysis showed that the key parameters affecting the factor of safety around the tunnel are in-situ stress ratio, depth, cohesion, reduction ratio, internal friction angle, and height and width of the tunnel. It is necessary to consider the EDZ, which can significantly affect mechanical stability in tunnel design.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.399-413
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• 2018

This paper addresses the issue of field measurement of excavation damage zone (EDZ) and its numerical simulation method considering both excavation unloading and blasting load effects. Firstly, a 2000 m-deep rock cavern in China is focused. A detailed analysis is conducted on the field measurement data regarding the mechanical response of rock masses subjected to excavation and blasting operation. The extent of EDZ is revealed 3.6 m-4.0 m, accounting for 28.6% of the cavern span, so it is significantly larger than rock caverns at conventional overburden depth. The rock mass mechanical response subjected to excavation and blasting is time-independent. Afterwards, based on findings of the field measurement data, a numerical evaluation method for EDZ determination considering both excavation unloading and blasting load effects is presented. The basic idea and general procedures are illustrated. It features a calibration operation of damage constant, which is defined in an elasto-plastic damage constitutive model, and a regression process of blasting load using field blasting vibration monitoring data. The numerical simulation results are basically consistent with the field measurement results. Further, some issues regarding the blasting loads, applicability of proposed numerical method, and some other factors are discussed. In conclusion, the field measurement data collected from the 2000 m-deep rock cavern and the corresponding findings will broaden the understanding of tunnel behavior subjected to excavation and blasting at great depth. Meanwhile, the presented numerical simulation method for EDZ determination considering both excavation unloading and blasting load effects can be used to evaluate rock caverns with similar characteristics.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.328-337
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• 2008

Quantifying the extent and characteristics of the excavation damage zone(EDZ) is important for the nuclear waste industry which relies on the sealing of underground openings to minimize the risk for radionuclide transport. At AECL's Underground Research Laboratory(URL) the Tunnel Sealing Experiment(TSX) was conducted and the tunnel geometry and orientation relative to the stress field had been selected to minimize the potential for the development of an EDZ. The extent and characteristics of the EDZ was measured using velocity profiling and permeability measurements in radial boreholes. The results from this EDZ characterization are used in this paper to evaluate a modeling fir estimating the extent of the EDZ. The methodology used a damage model formulated in the Universal Distinct Element Code and calibrated to laboratory properties. This model was then used to predict the extent of crack initiation and growth around the TSX tunnel and the results compared to the measured damage. The development of the damage zone in the numerical model was found to be in good agreement with the field measurements.