Influence of rock mass spatial variability on probability of tunnel roof wedge failure

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  • 1. Key Laboratory of New Technology for Construction of Cities in Mountain Area, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China 2. School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China 3. National Joint Engineering Research Center of Geohazards Prevention in the Reservoir Areas, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China
ZHANG Wen-gang, born in 1983, PhD, Professor, Doctoral advisor, research interests: rock engineering reliability and risk management.

Online published: 2021-09-16

Supported by

the Program of China Scholarships Council (201906050026) and the Construction of Science and Technology Program of Chongqing (2019-0045).

Abstract

In tunnel design and construction, the stability evaluation of tunnel roof wedge usually adopts traditional deterministic analysis methods, which cannot appropriately reflect the spatial variability of rock mass. Based on limit equilibrium method, an efficient approach for evaluating the safety factor integral expression of tunnel roof wedge is presented in this study. This approach considers the influence of spatial variability of rock mass joint friction angle and is validated by universal distinct element code (UDEC). Based on random field method and Monte Carlo simulation (MCS), a generated random field is substituted into the established safety factor integral expression to calculate the safety factor of the tunnel wedge, in which the spatial variability of rock mass joint friction angle is well considered. The failure probability of roof wedge is calculated with consideration of geological and geometry parameters uncertainties. The results indicate that the spatial variability of rock mass joint friction angle has a significant influence on the failure probability of tunnel roof wedge. Ignoring the spatial variability of rock mass mechanical parameters will cause an overestimated failure probability of tunnel roof wedge.

Cite this article

ZHANG Wen-gang, WANG Qi, LIU Han-long, CHEN Fu-yong, . Influence of rock mass spatial variability on probability of tunnel roof wedge failure[J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2021 , 42(5) : 1462 -1472 . DOI: 10.16285/j.rsm.2020.6153

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