Analytical Solution for Bolted Tunnels in Expansive Loess Using the Convergence-Confinement Method
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 18, Issue 1
Abstract
Ground reinforcement using bolts is effective for underground excavations. The ground response of expansive loess tunnels with bolt reinforcement remains poorly understood. Therefore, this paper proposes an analytical solution for bolted rock in expansive ground using the convergence-confinement method. On the basis of the bilinear strength criterion for rock mass, a computational procedure was used to obtain the ground reaction curve (GRC) for expansive loess tunnels with bolt reinforcement. The proposed approach considers ground expansion stress and geometrical parameters, mechanical parameters, and pretension of bolts. The results confirm the positive influence of bolt reinforcement and the negative influence of expansion stress on the GRC. Bolt reinforcement offers good resistance against harmful expansion stress and improves the overall stability of loess tunnels. When the expansion stress of an expansive loess tunnel reaches a certain limit, bolt reinforcement is necessary for tunnel stability. This critical limiting value of the expansion stress can be evaluated using the proposed approach. The proposed analytical solution provides guidelines for the stability estimation of tunnel excavations in expansive ground.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the financial support received from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 51379113) and the support received from the National Key Research and Development Program (Grant 2016YFC0600803).
References
Adem, H. H., and Vanapalli, S. K. (2015). “Review of methods for predicting in situ volume change movement of expansive soil over time.” J. Rock Mech. Geotech. Eng., 7(1), 73–86.
Azañón, J. M., et al. (2010). “Regional-scale high-plasticity clay-bearing formation as controlling factor on landslides in Southeast Spain.” Geomorphology, 120(Aug), 26–37.
Bobet, A., and Einstein, H. H. (2011). “Tunnel reinforcement with rockbolts.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol., 26(1), 100–123.
Cai, Y., Djamaluddin, I., Iura, T., and Esaki, T. (2015). “An analytical model considering interaction behavior of grouted rock bolts for convergence-confinement method in tunneling design.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 76(Jun), 112–126.
Carranza-Torres, C., and Fairhurst, C. (2000). “Application of the convergence-confinement method of tunnel design to rock masses that satisfy the Hoek–Brown failure criterion.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol., 15(2), 187–213.
Chen, F. B. (2012). “Application and mechanism of initial support and surrounding rock in weak rock tunnel.” Doctoral dissertation, Beijing Jiaotong Univ., Beijing (in Chinese).
Chen, J. X., Qiao, X., and Wang, M. S. (2011). “Stress and action mechanism of rock bolt in loess tunnel.” Chin. J. Rock Mech. Eng., 30(8), 1690–1697 (in Chinese).
Chen, X. (2008). “Deformation monitoring and stability analysis of Xiling Xueshan tunnel.” Master’s thesis, Southwest Jiaotong Univ., Sichuan, China (in Chinese).
Dias, D. (2011). “Convergence-confinement approach for designing tunnel face reinforcement by horizontal bolting.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol., 26(4), 517–523.
Ding, Z. Z., Zheng, Y. R., and Li, L. S. (2007). “Trial and study on variation regularity of swelling force.” Rock Soil Mech., 28, 1328–1332 (in Chinese).
Fahimifar, A., and Ranjbarnia, M. (2009). “Analytical approach for the design of active grouted rockbolts in tunnel stability based on convergence-confinement method.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol., 24(4), 363–375.
FLAC3D [Computer software]. Itasca Consulting Group, Minneapolis.
Guo, J. (2008). “Study on dynamic construction mechanics and support design of large cross section loess tunne1 in passenger dedicated line.” Doctoral dissertation, Southwest Jiaotong Univ., Sichuan, China (in Chinese).
Hou, T. S., et al. (2013). “Formation mechanism and stability analysis of the Houba expansive soil landslide.” Eng. Geol., 161, 34–43.
Indraratna, B., and Kaiser, P. K. (1990). “Analytical model for the design of grouted rock bolts.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech., 14(4), 227–251.
Li, S. C., Feng, X. D., and Li, S. C. (2013). “Numerical model for the zonal disintegration of the rock mass around deep underground workings.” Theor. Appl. Fract. Mech., 67, 65–73.
Li, S. C., Yan, Q., Xie, C., and Wu, J. (2016). “The study on mechanical behavior of composite supports of steel-grid in loess tunnel.” Chin. J. Rock Mech. Eng., 36, 1–11 (in Chinese).
Li, X. B., Tao, M., Zhou, Z., and Chen, Z. (2016). “Influence of unloading disturbance on adjacent tunnels.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 84(Apr), 10–24.
Meng, Q., Zhao, H. B., Ru, Z. L., and Li, D. L. (2015). “Analytical solution for circular tunnels with rock bolts.” Eng. Mech., 32(7), 17–25 (in Chinese).
Oreste, P. (2004). “Designing of radial bolting in tunnels.” J. Min. Sci., 40(4), 384–394.
Oreste, P. P. (2003). “Analysis of structural interaction in tunnels using the covergence-confinement approach.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol., 18(4), 347–363.
Qi, S., and Vanapalli, S. K. (2015). “Hydro-mechanical coupling effect on surficial layer stability of unsaturated expansive soil slopes.” Comput. Geotech., 70(Oct), 68–82.
Qi, S., and Vanapalli, S. K. (2016). “Influence of swelling behavior on the stability of an infinite unsaturated expansive soil slope.” Comput. Geotech., 76(Jun), 154–169.
Summersgill, F. C., Kontoe, S., and Potts, D. M. (2017). “Critical assessment of nonlocal strain-softening methods in biaxial compression.” Int. J. Geomech., 04017006.
Tan, C. H. (2016). “Difference solution of passive bolts reinforcement around a circular opening in elastoplastic rock mass.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 81(Jan), 28–38.
Xie, Y., Chen, Z. H., Sun, S. G., Li, G., and Fang, X. W. (2007). “Test research on three-dimensional swelling pressure of remolded expansive clay.” Rock Soil Mech., 28(8), 1636–1642 (in Chinese).
Xu, L., Dai, F., Chen, J., Iqbal, J., and Qu, Y. (2014). “Analysis of a progressive slope failure in the Xiangjiaba reservoir area, Southwest China.” Landslides, 11(1), 55–66.
Yang, G. T. (2010). Elastic mechanics, Higher Education Press, Beijing (in Chinese).
Zhan, T. L. T., Chen, R., and Ng, C. W. W. (2014). “Wetting-induced softening behavior of an unsaturated expansive clay.” Landslides, 11(6), 1051–1061.
Zhang, Y. P. (2013). “Design and construction of expansive soil tunnel in Ankang.” J. Railway Eng. Soc., 30(10), 77–81 (in Chinese).
Zhao, D., Cai, X., Swoboda, G., Chen, Z., and Li, S. (2004). “Some problems associated with analysis of tunnels in loess using bolt elements.” Chin. J. Rock Mech. Eng., 23(24), 4183–4189 (in Chinese).
Zhu, H., Wang, L. J., Liu, S. H., Sun, L., and Yu, Q. (2011). “Experimental study of the swelling force of Nanyang expansive soils.” South-to-North Water Diversion Water Sci. Technol., 9, 11–14 (in Chinese).
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 30, 2017
Accepted: May 8, 2017
Published online: Oct 27, 2017
Published in print: Jan 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Mar 27, 2018
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.