• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.141-149
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• 2023

Recently, as the demand for urban underground space increases, urban tunnel planning is actively progressing. In particular, the application of the roadheader excavation method, which has favorable applicability to urban tunnel, is increasing. However, it is known that the roadheader excavation method has a limitation in that excavation efficiency for high strength rock with a Uniaxial Compressive Strength (UCS) of 100 MPa or more is lowered. In this study, The pre-cracked method was presented as a method to improve the excavation efficiency of roadheader for high strength rock and its applicability was evaluated. The net cutting rate was evaluated using the Bilgin prediction formula, which can calculate the net cutting rate by considering the UCS and RQD (Rock Quality Designation). It was found that the net cutting rate increased as the RQD decreased under the rock condition with the same UCS. This is judged to increase the excavation efficiency of the roadheader in the jointed high strength rock. Additionally, the field applicability of the pre-cracked method for high strength rock was verified through field tests. It was confirmed that the crack zone was formed around the charging hole, and it is considered that the pre-cracked method can be applied to the high strength rock.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2023

This study conducts uniaxial compression tests on intact and single crack-contained rocks to investigate the time-frequency domain characteristics of acoustic emission (AE) signals monitored during the deformation failure process. A processing approach, short-time Fourier transform (STFT), is performed to obtain the evolution characteristics of time-frequency domain of AE signals. The AE signal modes at different deformation stages of rocks are different. Five modes of AE signal are observed during the cracking process of rocks. The evolution characteristics of time-frequency domain of AE signals processed by STFT can be utilized to evaluate the damage process of rocks. The difference of time-frequency domain characteristics between intact and cracked rocks is comparatively analyzed. The distribution characteristics of frequency changing from a single band-shaped cluster to multiple band-shaped clusters can be regarded as an early warning information of damage and failure of rocks. Meanwhile, the attenuation of frequency enables the exploration of rock failure trends.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.597-609
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• 2023

The instability and failure of engineered rock masses are influenced by crack initiation and propagation. Uniaxial compression and acoustic emission (AE) experiments were conducted on cracked sandstone. The effect of the crack's dip on the crack initiation was investigated using fracture mechanics. The crack propagation was investigated based on stress-strain curves, AE multi-parameter characteristics, and failure modes. The results show that the crack initiation occurs at the tip of the pre-fabricated crack, and the crack initiation angle increases from 0° to 70° as the dip angle increases from 0° to 90°. The fracture strength k_cr is derived varies in a U-shaped pattern as β increased, and the superior crack angle β_m is between 36.2 and 36.6 and is influenced by the properties of the rock and the crack surface. Low-strength, large-scale tensile cracks form during the crack initiation in the cracked sandstone, corresponding to the start of the AE energy, the first decrease in the b-value, and a low r-value. When macroscopic surface cracks form in the cracked sandstone, high-strength, large-scale shear cracks form, resulting in a rapid increase in the AE energy, a second decrease in the b-value and an abrupt increase in the r-value. This research has significant theoretical implications for rock failure mechanisms and establishment of damage indicators in underground engineering.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.373-381
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• 2018

Hollow center cracked disc (HCCD) in Brazilian test was modelled numerically to study the crack propagation in the pre-cracked disc. The pre-existing edge cracks in the disc models were considered to investigate the crack propagation and coalescence paths within the modelled samples. The effect of particle size on the hollow center cracked disc (HCCD) in Brazilian test were considered too. The results shows that Failure pattern is constant by increasing the ball diameter. Tensile cracks are dominant mode of failure. These crack initiates from notch tip, propagate parallel to loading axis and coalescence with upper model boundary. Number of cracks increase by decreasing the ball diameter. Also, tensile fracture toughness was decreased with increasing the particle size. In this research, it is tried to improve the understanding of the crack propagation and crack coalescence phenomena in brittle materials which is of paramount importance in the stability analyses of rock and concrete structures, such as the underground openings, rock slopes and tunnel construction.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.289-300
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• 2020

Estimating the damage induced by an explosion around a blast hole has always been a challenging issue in geotechnical engineering. It is difficult to determine an exact dimension for damage zone since many parameters are involved in the formation of failures, and there are some uncertainties lying in these parameters. Thus, the present study adopted a probabilistic approach towards this problem. First, a reliability model of the problem was established and the failure probability of induced damage was calculated. Then, the corresponding exceedance risk curve was developed indicating the relation between the failure probability and the cracked zone radius. The obtained risk curve indicated that the failure probability drops dramatically by increasing the cracked zone radius so that the probability of exceedance for any crack length greater than 4.5 m is less than 5%. Moreover, the effect of each parameter involved in the probability of failure, including blast hole radius, explosive density, detonation velocity, and tensile strength of the rock, was evaluated by using a sensitivity analysis. Finally, the impact of the decoupling ratio on the reduction of failures was investigated and the location of its maximum influence was demonstrated around the blast point.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.381-390
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• 2004

In this study, scaled model tests were performed to investigate the deformation behaviors around twin tunnels. Eleven types of test models which had respectively different pillar widths, rock types and loading conditions were mode, where the modelling materials were the mixture of sand, plaster and water. The models with shallower pillar width were cracked under lower pressure than the models with thicker pillar width, and they showed the more tunnel convergences and the clear spatting failures. The models of hard rock were cracked under 50% higher pressure than the models of soft rock and they showed the less tunnel convergences. The failure and deformation behaviors of twin tunnels were also dependent on the loading conditions of models. Futhermore, the results of FLAC analysis were qualitatively coincident with the test results.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2017

In this paper, mode I fracture toughness of rock was determined by direct and indirect methods using Particle Flow Code simulation. Direct methods are compaction tension (CT) test and hollow centre cracked quadratic sample (HCCQS). Indirect methods are notched Brazilian disk (NBD) specimen, the semi-circular bend (SCB) specimen, hollow centre cracked disc (HCCD), the single edge-notched round bar in bending (SENRBB) specimen and edge notched disk (END). It was determined that which one of indirect fracture toughness values is close to direct one. For this purpose, initially calibration of PFC was undertaken with respect to data obtained from Brazilian laboratory tests to ensure the conformity of the simulated numerical models response. Furthermore, the simulated models in five introduced indirect tests were cross checked with the results from direct tests. By using numerical testing, the failure process was visually observed. Discrete element simulations demonstrated that the macro fractures in models are caused by microscopic tensile breakages on large numbers of bonded discs. Mode I fracture toughness of rock in direct test was less than other tests results. Fracture toughness resulted from semi-circular bend specimen test was close to direct test results. Therefore semi-circular bend specimen can be a proper test for determination of Mode I fracture toughness of rock in absence of direct test.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1991.04a
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• pp.84-90
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• 1991

Underground structures usually consist of rock masses or concretes which can be cracked or have cracks. This study aims to develop an analysis program which can deal with the effect of discontinuous behavior due to those cracks using the block theory. It is assumed that rock masses form blocks along the discontinuity lines, and deformation within the block is relatively small. The behavior of discontinuity plane of the structures is divided into sliding along the discontinuity plane. separation of discontinuity by tensile force, and degradation of asperity angle of discontinuity plane by external force with sliding of rock Basses. These behaviors are implemented using constitutive relation and relevent load-displacement relation defined through normal and shear stiffnesses. Time varying displacements and block velocities are calculated by explicit time stepping algorithm. The effect of rock supports including rockbolts is also considered, and the tending effects which occurs in relatively thin lining is also considered.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.327-338
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• 2020

The role of precise prediction of subsurface fluids and discrimination among them cannot be ignored in reservoir characterization and petroleum prospecting. A suitable rock physics model should be build for the extraction of valuable information form seismic data. The main intent of current work is to present a rock physics model to analyze the characteristics of seismic wave propagating through a cracked porous rock saturated by a three phase fluid. Furthermore, the influence on wave characteristics due to variation in saturation of water, oil and gas were also analyzed for oil and water as wet cases. With this approach the objective to explore wave attenuation and dispersion due to wave induce fluid flow (WIFF) at seismic and sub-seismic frequencies can be precisely achieved. We accomplished our proposed approach by using BISQ equations and by applying appropriate boundary conditions to incorporate heterogeneity due to saturation of three immiscible fluids forming a layered system. To authenticate the proposed methodology, we compared our results with White's mesoscopic theory and with the results obtained by using Biot's poroelastic relations. The outcomes reveals that, at low frequencies seismic wave characteristics are in good agreement with White's mesoscopic theory, however a slight increase in attenuation at seismic frequencies is because of the squirt flow. Moreover, our work crop up as a practical tool for the development of rock physical theories with the intention to identify and estimate properties of different fluids from seismic data.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.227-235
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• 2021

A criterion and a method for solving a problem on the prevention of mine working fracture under the action of tectonic and gravitational forces are offered. Based on minimal criterion, theoretical analysis of the definition of the optimal shape of working in the rock mass weakened by arbitrarily located rectilinear cracks was carried out. A closed system of algebraic equations allowing to minimize the stress state and stress intensity factors depending on mechanical and geometrical characteristics of the rock, is constructed. The relation between the shape of the working and the stress intensity factors and also location and sizes of the cracks is obtained. The found optimal shape of working increases load-bearing capacity of the rock.