Creep Failure Mechanism and Model of Granite under True Triaxial Loading and Unloading Conditions
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 24, Issue 10
Abstract
The excavation of rock masses in deep engineering can induce stress concentration or unloading, which can significantly affect the long-term stability of engineering. To describe the creep mechanical behavior of deep hard rocks after stress adjustment, true triaxial creep tests were conducted through multistage loading and unloading. The effects of σ1 loading, σ2 unloading, and σ3 unloading on creep deformation of granite were investigated. Meanwhile, the changes in creep, acoustic emission (AE) counting, and energy release rates during creep stages were evaluated. The creep failure mode and mechanism of granite were revealed. The results of the true triaxial test showed that both σ1 loading and σ2 unloading accelerate the creep of granite, while σ3 unloading promotes the creep in the σ3 direction, but the creep in σ1 and σ2 directions is not promoted to any significant extent. In the first three creep stages of σ2 unloading, the strain rate of granite changes significantly. Upon approaching the stage of instability fracture, the changes in the AE count rate and energy release rate are more pronounced compared to the strain rate. By analyzing creep curves, a comprehensive three-dimensional nonlinear viscoelastic–plastic damage creep model specifically for granite was established. The consistency between the experimental data and the predicted result obtained from the model shows that the three-dimensional nonlinear viscoelastic–plastic damage creep model can demonstrate the creep behavior of granite under true triaxial σ1 loading and σ2 and σ3 unloading conditions, thereby serving as a valuable reference for assessing the long-term stability of deep rock masses.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and codes generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 52209125 and 52222810).
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International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 24 • Issue 10 • October 2024
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© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Aug 31, 2023
Accepted: Jan 30, 2024
Published online: Jul 17, 2024
Published in print: Oct 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Dec 17, 2024
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