Analytical approach for the design of active grouted rockbolts in tunnel stability based on convergence-confinement method

Abstract

Assuming that grouted rockbolts increase internal pressure within a broken rock mass, a new procedure for computation of ground response curves for a tunnel reinforced with active grouted rockbolts is presented, while the effect of distance of bolted section to tunnel face has been also considered. This analytical solution for a circular underground excavation under hydrostatic stress field, and with consideration of a non-linear strength criterion for rock mass and on the basis of two material behavior models has been developed. In this work, the equation of the ground response curve for a tunnel which has been reinforced with passive grouted rockbolts is also derived. The proposed model allows one to take, the effect of the distance of the bolted section to the tunnel face, the effect of increasing rockbolts spacing, the influence of increasing pretension load in calculating of the ground response curve, and the effect of increasing the cross-section area of rockbolts, into account. The results show that decreasing rockbolts spacing increase the support system stiffness rather than preloading of them.