Module 6: Stresses around underground openings

LECTURE 22

6.10 NUMERICAL MODELLING FOR STRESSES AROUND UG OPENINGS

Numerical methods of stress analysis may be adopted as most underground

excavations are irregular in shape and are frequently grouped close to other excavations.
These groups of excavations can form a set of complex three dimensional shapes. In addition,
because of the presence of geological features such as faults and dykes, the rock properties
are seldom uniform within the rock volume of interest. Consequently, closed form solutions
are of limited value in calculating the stresses, displacements and failure of the rock mass
surrounding underground excavations. A number of computer-based numerical methods have
been developed over the past few decades and these methods provide the means for obtaining
approximate solutions to these problems. Some of the numerical techniques extensively used
for numerical analysis of underground openings are, boundary element method (BEM), finite
element method (FEM), finite difference method (FDM), distinct element method (DEM) and
some hybrid methods. In this section, some numerical analysis results for underground
openings using boundary element method (BEM) have been discussed.

The boundary element method is derived through the discretisation of an integral

equation that is mathematically equivalent to the original partial differential equation (PDE).
The essential re-formulation of the PDE that underlies the BEM consists of an integral
equation that is defined on the boundary of the domain and an integral that relates the
boundary solution to the solution at points in the domain. The former is termed a boundary
integral equation (BIE) and the BEM is often referred to as the boundary integral equation
method or boundary integral method. The advantages in the boundary element method arises
from the fact that only the boundary (or boundaries) of the domain of the PDE requires sub-
division. (In the finite element method or finite difference method the whole domain of the
PDE requires discretisation). Thus the dimension of the problem is effectively reduced by
one, for example an equation governing a three-dimensional region is transformed into one
over its surface.

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Here, numerical results are shown with comparison with close from solution for circular
openings. BEM software, Examined-2D were used to derive the solution of these
underground openings.

Figure 6.25: A typical radial stress distribution for a circular opening using BEM

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Figure 6.26: Radial and tangential stress distribution for an underground opening on X-axis
together with close form solution

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Figure 6.27: Radial and tangential stress distribution for an underground opening on Y-
axis together with close form solution

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Figure 6.28: Radial stress distribution for a circular underground opening

Figure 6.29: Radial stress distribution for a elliptical underground opening

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Figure 6.30: Radial stress distribution for a square underground opening with rounded
corner

Figure 6.31: Radial stress distribution for a modified horse shoe shape underground
opening

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Figure 6.32: Radial stress distribution variation for different shape of openings, high peak for
sharp corners of square opening may be seen

6.11 EFFECT OF WIDTH TO HEIGHT (W/H) RATIO

Larger the W/H ratio, smaller the stress concentration. Fig. 6 shows the effect of W/H
ratio on various shapes. From the above figure,(a),(b),(c) it is evident that when the W/H ratio
increases, the tangential stresses decreases for the various shapes. Also, (d) shows that when
there is a sharp peak, the tangential stresses can really shoot up. The oval opening minimizes
the tangential boundary stresses and reduces the localization of compressive stress
concentrations, around the opening. The rectangular opening has high compressive stress
concentrations at the corners, almost ensuring that excavation damage will occur at these
locations.
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Figure 6.33: Comparison of tangential boundary stresses around openings with axes
aligned with the principal stress directions. W/H ratios shown on each curve (Read et.
al. 1990)

6.12 TUNNELING IN WEAK ROCK

The tunneling in weak rocks and the corresponding stresses and deformation around
circular openings are relatively complex. Numerical modelling using 3D FEM of the failure
and deformation of the rock mass surrounding the face of an advancing circular tunnel is
shown in Figure 6.35. The plot shows displacement vectors as well as the shape of the
deformed tunnel profile. There is observed some inward deformation at the face of the
advancing tunnel. The radial displacement reaches almost about one half a tunnel diameter
ahead of the advancing face as shown in Figure 6.36 and the displacement reaches one third
of its final value at the tunnel face. Behind the face, a radial displacement of final value may
be observed at a distance of one to one and half diameter (Figure 6.36). The final deformation

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and tunnel shape is usually defined within a week and afterwards, there may be some/little
additional long term deformation due to creep effects (Figure 6.37).

Figure 6.34: Displacement vectors and the shape of the deformed tunnel in a weak rock.

Figure 6.35 : Numerically captured radial displacement in advancing tunnel ahead of the
advancing face
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Figure 6.36: Radial displacement due to creep in a tunnel

6.13 EFFECTS OF PLANES OF WEAKNESS ON STRESS DISTIBUTION (Brady

and Brown, 1985)

The discontinuity is assumed to have zero tensile strength, and is non-dilatant in

shear, with a shear strength defined by
τ= σ n tan φ
Case 1. (Figure 6.37)
From the Kirsch equations, for θ = 0, the shear stress component σ rθ = 0, for all r . Thus σ rr ,
σ θθ are the principal stresses σ xx , σ yy and σ xy is zero. The shear stress on the plane of
weakness is zero, and there is no tendency for slip on it. The plane of weakness therefore has
no effect on the elastic stress distribution.

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Figure 6.37: A plane of weakness oriented perpendicular to major principal stress

intersecting a circular opening along horizontal diameter

Case 2. (Figure 6.38a)

When θ= π/2, no shear stress is mobilised on the plane of weakness. If K < 1/3 a possibility
of separation on the plane of weakness arises as tensile stress develop in the crown of the
opening. If K ≥ 1/3, the elastic stress distribution is unaltered by either slip or separation.

Figure 6.38: A plane of weakness intersecting a circular opening and oriented parallel to
the major principal stress, developing destressed zone

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Case 3. (Figure 6.39)

A flat-lying feature whose trace on the excavation boundary is located at an angle above the
horizontal diameter is shown in Figure 6.39a, the normal and shear stress components on the
plane of weakness are given by

For a limiting condition of

the condition for slip is satisfied on the plane of weakness as θ = φ.

Figure 6.39: A flat lying plane of weakness intersecting a circular excavation non
diametrically

Case 4. (Figure 6.40)

For an arbitrarily inclined plane of weakness intersecting an opening inclined at an angle of
45̊, the normal and shear stress components are obtained by substitution in the Kirsch
solution
p a2
σ n = σ θθ = × 1.5(1 + 2 )
2 r
p 2a 2 3a 4
τ = σ rθ = × 0.5(1 + 2 − 4 )
2 r r
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If the rock mass were in a state of limiting equilibrium, during excavation an extensive zone
of slip could develop along the plane of weakness.

Figure 6.40: An inclined plane of weakness intersecting a circular excavation

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