Simulation and field application study of roadway remodeling load-bearing arch technology

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical simulation study on the impact of material strength, thickness, and lateral pressure coefficient on the load-bearing arches used in tunnel reconstruction, as well as industrial experiments based on these arches. The study compares three different cross-sectional shapes—straight-wall semicircular arches, flat-bottom straight-wall semicircular arches, and inverted straight-wall semicircular arches—through multi-dimensional numerical simulations investigating various parameters such as material strength, thickness, and lateral pressure coefficient. We analyze the maximum load-bearing capacity of the reconstructed arches and the evolution characteristics of the plastic zones in the tunnel support structures with different cross-sectional shapes. The results indicate that among the factors affecting the ultimate load-bearing capacity of the arches, the ranking is as follows: tensile strength > thickness > lateral pressure coefficient. Additionally, the shape of the cross-section significantly influences the evolution of plastic zones during tunnel failure. The technology of reconstructing load-bearing structures in coal mine tunnels effectively addresses the deformation issues caused by the superimposition of multiple stresses in the tunnels of Daniu Coal Mine. This provides valuable insights for understanding and managing significant deformations resulting from concentrated stresses from in-situ rock, tectonic forces, and mining-induced stresses.