Large deformation analysis of tunnel-surrounding rock along the expressway from Wenchuan to Maerkang, China

Abstract

The rock surrounding the Wenchuan–Malkang Tunnel, which consists of metasandstone, slate, and phyllite (including carbonaceous phyllite), is strongly affected by geological and tectonic factors. The large deformation of the tunnel-surrounding rock is a concerning problem. Based on the analysis of the geological characteristics of the tunnel-surrounding rock, Hoek predictive equation was used to study the relationship between the relative deformation of the tunnel-surrounding rock and the rock strength, geostress, geological strength index, and strength-to-stress ratio. Using the strength-to-stress ratio, we predicted the large deformation of the tunnel-surrounding rock and compared it with the deformation phenomena revealed during tunnel construction. Our study shows that the large deformation of tunnel-surrounding rock along the expressway from Wenchuan to Maerkang occurs primarily in soft rock, such as slate and phyllites, which are strongly affected by the geology and tectonics factors. Deformation of the tunnel-surrounding rock grows rapidly in soft rock with decreasing geological strength index and strength-to-stress ratio and with increasing ground stress. Moreover, the relationship between the schistosity strike of the steeply layered rock mass and the tunnel axis has an important influence on the tunnel-surrounding rock deformation. Tunnels where the schistosity of the surrounding rock has a strike at a small angle with the tunnel axis are more prone to large deformation.