Design of Quasi-Rectangular Tunnel Built in the Rock Masses Following Hoek–Brown Failure Criterion

Abstract

Although quasi-rectangular tunnels have been widely used in underground projects, there is no related research work that was carried out to design this kind of tunnel excavated in the rock masses that followed the Hoek–Brown (HB) criterion. By transforming the strength parameters of the rocks that obey the HB failure criterion into equivalent strength parameters of the Mohr–Coulomb (MC) criterion, the lining internal forces of a quasi-rectangular tunnel are investigated in this manuscript in light of bending moments and normal forces using the Hyperstatic Reaction Method (HRM). After comparing with the values of a model test and verifying the present method, the influence of different tunnel depths, H, different rock unconfined compressive strengths, σci, and the geological strength parameter GSI on the lining internal forces of the quasi-rectangular tunnel is then investigated. The obtained results indicate that the parameters H, σci, and GSI have a significant effect on the lining internal forces of the quasi-rectangular tunnel. The work presented in this paper provides a theoretical reference for designing the quasi-rectangular tunnel support structure built in the rock masses following the Hoek–Brown criterion.

Special Issue on Tunnel Construction and Underground Space Technology

“…The study provides a path for improving the tunnel lining performance. Du et al [2] used the Hyperstatic Reaction Method (HRM) to study the lining internal forces of a quasi-rectangular tunnel by transforming the strength parameters of rocks that obey the Hoek-Brown failure criterion into equivalent strength parameters of the Mohr-Coulomb (MC) criterion. Additionally, different influencing factors, including tunnel depth, rock unconfined compressive strength, and the geological strength parameter (GSI), are analyzed on the lining internal forces of the quasi-rectangular tunnel.…”

“…Three angle parameters are used to control the mechanism shapes, and the equivalent friction angle and equivalent cohesive are adopted to faithfully reflect the shape characteristics of the failure mechanism. The seismic action is considered using the pseudo-static method, which is simplified to the inertial Du et al [2] used the Hyperstatic Reaction Method (HRM) to study the lining internal forces of a quasi-rectangular tunnel by transforming the strength parameters of rocks that obey the Hoek-Brown failure criterion into equivalent strength parameters of the Mohr-Coulomb (MC) criterion. Additionally, different influencing factors, including tunnel depth, rock unconfined compressive strength, and the geological strength parameter (GSI), are analyzed on the lining internal forces of the quasi-rectangular tunnel.…”

Investigating the Mechanical Deterioration Effect of Hard Sandstone Induced by Layer Structure under Uniaxial Compression

“…The Western Development Strategy in China has led to the construction of numerous engineering projects in sedimentary rock formations. As a result, numerous tunnels have been constructed in sedimentary rock [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Sedimentary rocks are characterized by their layered structure resulting from geological diagenesis, which induces anisotropic physical and mechanical properties due to weak interlayer bonding [7][8][9][10][11].…”