Hoek-Brown Failure Criterion-Based Creep Constitutive Model and BP Neural Network Parameter Inversion for Soft Surrounding Rock Mass of Tunnels

Chao Chen,Tianbin Li,Jieling Tang,Yin Zhang,Chunchi Ma,Hang Zhang

doi:10.3390/app112110033

Abstract

This paper summarizes the main factors affecting the large deformation of soft rock tunnels, including the lithology combination, weathering effect, and underground water status, by reviewing the typical cases of largely-deformed soft rock tunnels. The engineering geological properties of the rock mass were quantified using the rock mass block index (RBI) and the absolute weathering index (AWI) to calculate the geological strength index (GSI). Then, the long-term strength σr and the elastic modulus E0 of the rock mass were calculated according to the Hoek–Brown failure criterion and substituted into the creep constitutive model based on the Nashihara model. Finally, the creep parameters of the surrounding rock mass of the Ganbao tunnel were inverted and validated by integrating the on-site monitoring and BP neural network. The inversion results were consistent with the measured convergence during monitoring and satisfied the engineering requirements of accuracy. The method proposed in this paper can be used to invert the geological parameters of the surrounding rock mass for a certain point, which can provide important mechanical parameters for the design and construction of tunnels, and ensure the stability of the surrounding rock mass during the period of construction and the safety of the lining structure during operation.

Highlights

Tunnel projects in western China often encounter soft rocks with well-developed bedding, such as carbonaceous phyllite, sericite phyllite, schist, carbonaceous slate, sandy slate, and carbonaceous shale
On-site tunnel monitoring has shown that the deformation–failure zone of the surrounding rock mass of laminated soft rock tunnels is concentrated along the direction perpendicular to the rock bedding, instead of the direction of the maximum principal stress; the local deformation of laminated soft rock tunnels is affected by the topography, rock mass structure, and in situ stress [14]
Due to the concealment of tunnel engineering, it is difficult to obtain the parameters of the surrounding rock mass after excavation

Summary

Introduction

Tunnel projects in western China often encounter soft rocks with well-developed bedding, such as carbonaceous phyllite, sericite phyllite, schist, carbonaceous slate, sandy slate, and carbonaceous shale. Numerical simulation has been widely combined with back-propagation (BP) neural network analysis to calculate the physical and mechanical parameters of surrounding rock mass, which has achieved good application performance [28,29,30]. The long-term strength of the engineering rock mass was obtained using the Hoek–Brown failure criterion, and a creep constitutive model for the rock mass was developed.

Results

Conclusion