Flow–solid coupling analysis of underground reinforced concrete forked pipe enclosing rock and structure

Abstract

The stability of the surrounding rock for the construction excavation and the reinforcement of the lining structure during operation in the water-rich area is a difficult problem for the design of high-head underground turnout pipes. Firstly, according to the mechanism of excavation load release and surrounding rock damage evolution, the seepage effect of excavation in the construction of the forked caves is coupled to the surrounding rock stress damage, and an iterative method of numerical simulation of the coupled mutual feedback effect of excavation surrounding rock stress and seepage is proposed. Then, based on the cracking characteristics of the high internal water pressure reinforced concrete turnpike lining, a numerical analysis method of the coupling interaction between lining cracking and internal water seepage is proposed by coupling internal water seepage to stress damage in the lining by cracking the forked pipe structure. Applying the aforementioned method to a forked pipe project, the results show that: during the construction period, there is a significant increase in the damage zone, stress, and displacement of the rock around the cavern after considering the coupled iterations; during the operation period, with the increase in internal water pressure, the lining structure accelerates cracking due to the external infiltration of internal water; after the internal water is applied, the surrounding rock bears the main internal water pressure and the reinforcement bears only part of the circumferential force. The method provides theoretical support for the analysis and calculation of the reinforcement of similar underground high-pressure tunnels for rock support and lining structures and has certain theoretical and engineering significance.