• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.553-565
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• 2023

As the structure of broken rock mass is complex, with obvious discontinuity and anisotropy, it is generally necessary to reinforce broken rock mass using grouting in underground construction. The purpose of this study is to experimentally investigate the mechanical properties of broken rock mass after grouting reinforcement with consideration of the characteristics of broken rock mass (i.e., degree of fragmentation and shape) and a range of reinforcement methods such as relative strength ratio between the broken rock mass and cement-based grout stone body (λ), and volumetric block proportion (VBP) representing the volumetric ratio of broken rock mass and the overall cement grout-broken rock mass mixture after the reinforcement. The experimental results show that the strength and deformation of the reinforced broken rock mass is largely determined by relative strength ratio (λ) and VBP. In addition, the enhancement in compressive strength by grouting is more obvious for broken rock mass with spherical shape under a relatively high strength ratio (e.g., λ=2.0), whereas the shape of rock mass has little influence when the strength ratio is low (e.g., λ=0.1). Importantly, the results indicate that columnar splitting failure and inclined shear failure are two typical failure modes of broken rock mass with grouting reinforcement.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.395-407
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• 2022

In this paper, cracks with different angles are prefabricated in rock specimens to study the fracture characteristics of rock based on CT images. The rock specimens are prepared for compression tests according to the standard recommended by ISRM (International Society for Rock Mechanics). The effects of different angles on rock mechanical properties and crack propagation fracture modes are analyzed. Then, based on the cohesive element method and CT images, the relationship between porosity and Young's modulus as well as the fracture property is explored by the numerical modelling. In the modelling, the distribution of Young's modulus is determined by the CT image through the field variable method. The results show that prefabricated cracks reduce the mechanical properties of rock. The closer the angles of the prefabricated crack is, the greater the Young's modulus of the rock sample is. The failure process of each specimen with prefabricated cracks is formed by the initiation and propagation of crack, and the angle of the prefabricated crack will affect the type of extended crack. As part of the numerical model proposed in this paper, the microstructure of rocks is reflected by CT images. The numerical results verify the effectiveness of the cohesive element method in the study of crack propagation for rock. The rock model in this paper can be used to predict engineering disasters such as collapse and landslide caused by rock fracture, which means that the methodology adopted in this paper is comprehensive and important to solve rock engineering problems.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.53-69
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• 2017

Rock burst may cause serious casualties and property losses, and how to conduct effective monitoring and warning is the key to avoid this disaster. In this paper, we reviewed both the rock burst mechanism and the principle of using electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from coal rock to monitor and forewarn rock burst, and systematically studied EMR monitored data of 4 rock bursts of Qianqiu Coal Mine, Yima Coal Group, Co. Ltd. Results show that (1) Before rock burst occurrence, there is a breeding process for stress accumulation and energy concentration inside the coal rock mass subject to external stresses, which causes it to crack, emitting a large amount of EMR; when the EMR level reaches a certain intensity, which reveals that deformation and fracture inside the coal rock mass have become serious, rock burst may occur anytime and it's necessary to implement an early warning. (2) Monitored EMR indicators such as its intensity and pulses amount are well and positively correlated before rock bursts occurs, generally showing a rising trend for more than 5 continuous days either slowly or dramatically, and the disaster bursts generally occurs at the lower level within 48 h after reaching its peak intensity. (3) The rank of EMR signals sensitive to rock burst in a descending order is maximum EMR intensity > rate of change in EMR intensity > maximum amount of EMR pulses > rate of change in the amount of EMR pulses.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.575-587
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• 2024

The contact pressure between the surrounding rock and the support is an important indicator of the surrounding rock pressure. There has been a bottleneck in the prediction of contact loads between surrounding rock and primary support in deep-buried mountain tunnels. The main reason is that a reliable method wasn't existed to quantify the contact loads. This study had been taken into account the flexible support role of the primary support, and the fitting curve of surrounding rock deformation for dynamic tunnel construction was proposed. New formulas for the calculation of contact loads between surrounding rock and primary support were obtained by inversion. Comparative analysis of the calculation results with numerical simulation verified the reliability of the calculation method in this study. It can be seen from the analyses that the contact load between surrounding rock and primary support increases, remains unchanged and decreases during acceleration, uniform velocity and deceleration, respectively, and the deformation of the surrounding rock in the acceleration and deceleration stages cannot completely converted into contact loads. The contact loads between surrounding rock and primary support of medium-strength and weak surrounding rock tunnels are generally within 150 kPa and 1 MPa, respectively. For tunnels with weak surrounding rock, advanced support can be installed to reduce the unique release coefficient λ₀ and the value of the constant D, with the purpose of reducing the contact loads between surrounding rock and primary support. Changes in support parameters have a small effect on the contact loads between surrounding rock and primary support, but increase or decrease the safety factor, resulting in a waste of resources or a situation that threatens the safety of the support. The results of this research provide guidance for the prediction of contact loads between surrounding rock and primary support for dynamic tunnel construction.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.815-827
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• 2015

The mechanical behavior of soil and soil-rock mixture is investigated via the discrete element method. A non-overlapping combination method of spheres is used to model convex polyhedron rock blocks of soil-rock mixture in the DEM simulations. The meso-mechanical parameters of soil and soil-rock interface in DEM simulations are obtained from the in-situ tests. Based on the Voronoi cell, a method representing volumtric strain of the sample at the particle scale is proposed. The numerical results indicate that the particle rotation, occlusion, dilatation and self-organizing force chains are a remarkable phenomena of the localization band for the soil and soil-rock mixture samples. The localization band in a soil-rock mixture is wider than that in the soil sample. The current research shows that the 3D discrete element method can effectively simulate the mechanical behavior of soil and soil-rock mixture.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1997

Engineering rock mass classification is extensively used to determine the reasonable support system throughout the tunneling process in the field. Selection of support system based on the results of engineering rock mass classification is simple and straight-forward. However, this method cannot consider the effect of in-situ stresses, mechanical properties of support material, and support installation time on the behavior or rock-support system To handle the various conditions encountered in the underground excavation sites rock-support system. To handle the various conditions encountered in th eunderground excavation sites rock-support interaction program has been developed. This program can analyze the interaction between rock mass and support materials and also can simulate the tunnel excavation-support insstallation process by controlling the support installation time and the stiffness of support system. Practical applicability of this program was verfied by comparing the results of support design to those from rock mass classification for virtual underground excavation at the drilling site KD-06 in Geoje island.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.515-520
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• 2005

The behavior of jointed rock mass is much different from that of intact rock due to the presence of joints. Similarly, the characteristics of elastic wave propagation in jointed rock are considerably different from those of intact rock. The propagation of elastic waves in jointed rock is greatly dependent on the state of stress. The roughness, filling materials, and spacing of joints also affect wave propagation in jointed rock. If the wavelength of elastic waves is much larger than the spacing between joints, wave propagation in jointed rock mass can be considered as wave propagation in equivalent continuum. A rock resonant column testing apparatus is made to measure elastic waves propagating through jointed rock in the state of equivalent continuum. Three types of wave, i.e, torsional, longitudinal and flexural waves are monitored during rock resonant column tests. Various roughness and filling materials are applied to joints, and rock columns with various spacings are used to understand how these factors affect wave propagation under a small strain condition. The experimental results suggest that the characteristics of wave propagation in jointed rock mass are governed by the state of stress and influenced by roughness, filling materials and joint spacings.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.791-801
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• 2014

The effects of anchor on fractured specimens in splitting test are simulated by DDARF method, the results of which are compared with laboratory test results. They agree well with each other. The paper contents also use the laboratory model test. The main research objects are three kinds of specimens, namely intact specimens, jointed specimens and anchored-jointed specimens. The results showed that with the joint angle increased, the weakening effects of jointed rock mass are more obvious. At these points, the rock bolts' strengthening effects on the specimens have become more significant. There is a significant impact on the failure modes of rock mass by the joint and the anchorage.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.179-194
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• 2021

In this paper, to study the stability of surrounding rock during roadway excavation in different rock mass structures, the physical model test for roadway excavation process in three types of intact rock mass, layered rock mass and massive rock mass were carried out by using the self-developed two-dimensional simulation testing system of complex underground engineering. Firstly, based on the engineering background of a deep mine in eastern China, the similar materials of the most appropriate ratio in line with the similarity theory were tested, compared and determined. Then, the physical models of four different schemes with 1000 mm (height) × 1000 mm (length) × 250 mm (width) were constructed. Finally, the roadway excavation was carried out after applying boundary conditions to the physical model by the simulation testing system. The results indicate that the supporting effect of rockbolts has a great influence on the shallow surrounding rock, and the rock mass structure can affect the overall stability of the surrounding rock. Furthermore, the failure mechanism and bearing capacity of surrounding rock were further discussed from the comparison of stress evolution characteristics, distribution of stress arch, and failure modes in different schemes.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.723-738
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• 2017

Rock is a heterogeneous material, which introduces complexity in the analysis of rock slopes, since both the existing discontinuities within the rock mass and the intact rock contribute to the degradation of strength. Rock failure is often catastrophic due to the brittle nature of the material, involving the sliding along structural planes and the fracturing of rock bridge. This paper proposes an advanced discretization method of rock mass based on block theory. An in-house software, GeoSMA-3D, has been developed to generate the discrete fracture network (DFN) model, considering both measured and artificial joints. Measured joints are obtained from the photogrammetry analysis on the excavation face. Statistical tools then facilitate to derive artificial joints within the rock mass. Key blocks are searched to provide guidance on potential reinforcement measures. The discretized blocky system is subsequently implemented into a discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) code. Strength reduction technique is employed to analyze the stability of the slope, where the factor of safety can be obtained once excessive deformation of slope profile is observed. The combined analysis approach also provides the failure mode, which can be used to guide the choice of strengthening strategy if needed. Finally, an illustrated example is presented for the analysis of a rock slope of 20 m height inclined at $60^{\circ}$ using combined GeoSMA-3D and DDA calculation.