Analysis of Deformation and Failure Characteristics of Stratified Rock Mass around Underground Opening Based on a Microstructure Tensor Approach

Abstract

In order to have a good understanding of the geotechnical behavior around underground opening excavated in stratified rock mass, numerical simulation of a gate-shaped cavern excavation was conducted by applying a transversely isotropic model base on microstructure tensor method. The simulations were performed under the assumption that both the beddings and the in-situ middle stress vector run parallel with the cavern. Effect of the dip angle of beddings and that of in-situ major stress vector on deformation and failure of rock mass around the cavern was investigated. The mechanism underneath the image of deformation and failure was also discussed. It is found that the dip angle of beddings has less influence than the in-situ stress on deformation while the dip angle of bedding and the direction of in-situ major stress vector are equally important to the failure of surrounding rock mass.