Quantitative assessment of rock mass stress–strain behavior at Severomuysky Tunnel

Abstract

The article presents the selected geotechnical engineering studies accomplished in 2021–2022 by the Research Center for Applied Geomechanics and Convergent Technologies in Mining, College of Mining, NUST MISIS for the reconstruction project of Severomuysky Tunnel (ST) of the Baikal–Amur Mainline. The studies included the quantitative and qualitative geotechnical assessment of rock mass, its stress–strain analysis and susceptibility to rock bursts. Within the rock mass quality rating of ST, using the geological logs on 441 sample boreholes, the lab-scale test data on the physical and mechanical properties of 1820 rock samples were processed. The average values of the rock mass quality rating are presented for three geotechnical elements. The stress–strain analysis of ST rock mass and the lab-scale tests of rock brittleness made it possible to detect sites susceptible to rock bursts along the transportation tunnel, and to develop appropriate geotechnical monitoring activities. The recommendations are given to implement the described geotechnical surveys in construction and reconstruction of analogous objects and facilities, and in solid mineral mining.  The geotechnical research and other operations were carried out under guidance of RSRS GmbH Railway Infrastructure Projects CEO E. V. Dorot and the Company’s experts. The authors appreciate participation of the Project Engineers of the Research Center for Applied Geomechanics and Convergent Technologies in Mining, College of Mining, NUST MISIS N. G. Vysotin, A. M. Yanbekov, M. A. Kosyreva and S. S. Shermatova.