Numerical Simulation of Effect of Fracture Distribution on Failure Mechanism of Tunnel

Abstract

In order to study the effect of rock fracture distributions on stability of tunnel, the effect of joints with different strike dip, the size and density was considered by using probability and statistics method. Based on the Monte Carlo random simulation, the statistical network model of 2D jointed rockmass was established to describe and characterize jointed rock mass. On the basis of this, the numerical code RFPA2D is employed to analyze effect of fracture dip angle on the tunnel stability. Numerical results show that the fracture distribution has a little effect on tunnels failure mechanism and failure type of tunnel because the failure of tunnel in the jointed rockmass is similar to the one without joints and fissures. However with the change of the fracture dip angle, the loading capacity of the tunnel in the jointed rockmass varies accordingly.