Top

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment

Published in:

01-01-2024 | Original Paper

Development of a shear strength model for a rock mass containing a complex fracture system based on direct shear tests: a case study

Authors: J. W. Guo, X. X. Yang, P. H. S. W. Kulatilake, W. T. Li, H. Y. Xue

Published in: Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment | Issue 1/2024

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config

AI-assisted search

Off

Abstract

Due to the complex geometric distribution of discontinuities, the determination of the shear strength of rock masses has become a difficult task limiting the stability analysis of surrounding rock masses in underground tunnels. This problem might be attributed not only to the size effect of fractured rock masses but also due to the difficult quantification of the geometric distribution of fracture systems. To find a solution to this problem, a series of direct shear tests were numerically simulated by utilizing the synthetic rock mass method (SRM) in the PFC^3D software to estimate the shear strength of a rock mass in Qingdao Metro tunnels, located in Shandong province, China. The numerical simulation results show that the shear strength parameters vary significantly with the orientation of the fracture network contained in the rock mass. Meanwhile, it was found that the fracture tensor component in the direction z, F_zz, which is in the perpendicular direction to the shearing plane (x–y plane) of the rock mass displayed an inversely varying trend with the shear strength parameters. Accordingly, a shear strength model was established for the rock mass by introducing F_zz to reflect the effect of the geometric distribution of the complex fracture system. The developed shear strength model was verified by conducting direct shear tests in the field, and a good agreement has been achieved.

previous article Experimental investigation of the collapsibility of loess subjected to water invasion

next article Long-term spatiotemporal evolution of land subsidence in the urban area of Bologna, Italy

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Gao FQ, Stead D, Kang HP (2014) Numerical investigation of the scale effect and anisotropy in the strength and deformability of coal. Int J Coal Geol 136:25–37CrossRef

He PF, Kulatilake PHSW, Liu DQ, He MC (2017) Development of new three-dimensional coal mass strength criterion. Int J Geomech 17(3):04016067CrossRef

Itasca (2016) PFC3D user’s manual, version 5.0, Itasca Consulting Group Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota

Kulatilake PHSW (1986) Bivariate normal distribution fitting on discontinuity orientation clusters. J of Int Assoc for Math Geol 18(2):181–195CrossRef

Kulatilake PHSW, Wang S, Stephansson O (1993) Effect of finite size fractures on the deformability of jointed rock in three dimensions. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 30(5):479–501CrossRef

Kulatilake PHSW, Malama B, Wang J (2001) Physical and particle flow modeling of jointed rock block behaviour. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 38(5):641–657CrossRef

Kulatilake PHSW, Park J, Malama B (2006) A new rock mass failure criterion for biaxial loading conditions. Geotech Geol Eng 24(4):871–888CrossRef

Kulatilake PHSW, Wu TH (1986) Relation between discontinuity size and trace length. ARMA US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium. ARMA, 1986: ARMA-86-0130

Lydzba D, Pietruszczak S, Shao JF (2003) On anisotropic of stratified rocks: homogenization and fabric tensor approach. Comput Geotech 30:289–302CrossRef

Mehranpour MH, Kulatilake PHSW, Ma XG, He MC (2018) Development of new three-dimensional rock mass strength criteria. Rock Mech Rock Eng 51(11):3537–3561CrossRef

Mas Ivars D, Pierce ME, Darcel C, Reyes-Montes J, Potyondy DO, Young RP, Cundall PA (2011) The synthetic rock mass approach for jointed rock mass modelling. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 48:219–244CrossRef

Pietruszczak S, Mroz Z (2000) Formulation of anisotropic failure criteria incorporating a microstructure tensor. Comput Geotech 26:105–112CrossRef

Pietruszczak S, Lydzba D, Shao JF (2002) Modeling of inherent anisotropy in sedimentary rocks. Int J Solids Struct 39:637–648CrossRef

Robertson AM (1970) The interpretation of geological factors for use in slope theory. Proc. Symp. planning open pit mines. SAIMM Cape Town, 1970: 55–71

Shao JF, Hoxhab D, Barta M, Homand F, Duveau G, Souley M, Hoteit N (1999) Modeling of induced anisotropic damage in granites. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 36:1011–1012CrossRef

Sun PP (2022) Study on shear strength and its anisotropic characteristics of rock mass with complex fractures. Ph.D. thesis. Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, China

Wang PT, Ren FH, Miao SJ, Cai MF, Yang TH (2017a) Evaluation of the anisotropy and directionality of a jointed rock mass under numerical direct shear tests. Eng Geol 20:29–41CrossRef

Wang PT, Cai MF, Ren FH, Li CH, Yang TH (2017b) A digital image-based discrete fracture network model and its numerical investigation of direct shear tests. Rock Mech Rock Eng 50(7):1801–1816CrossRef

Wu Q, Kulatilake PHSW (2012) REV and its properties on fracture system and mechanical properties, and an orthotropic constitutive model for a jointed rock mass in a dam site in China. Int J Comp and Geotech 43:124–142CrossRef

Yang XX, Kulatilake PHSW, Jing HW, Yang SQ (2015) Numerical simulation of a jointed rock block mechanical behavior adjacent to an underground excavation and comparison with physical model test results. Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 50:129–142CrossRef

Yang XX, Qiao WG (2018) Numerical investigation of the shear behavior of granite materials containing discontinuous fractures by utilizing the flat-fracture model. Comput Geotech 104:69–80CrossRef

Title: Development of a shear strength model for a rock mass containing a complex fracture system based on direct shear tests: a case study
Authors: J. W. Guo
X. X. Yang
P. H. S. W. Kulatilake
W. T. Li
H. Y. Xue
Publication date: 01-01-2024
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment / Issue 1/2024
Print ISSN: 1435-9529
Electronic ISSN: 1435-9537
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-023-03533-5

Salinity effects on the consistency limits and shear strength of cohesive soils of the Red River, Fargo, North Dakota

Original Paper

Analysis of the interfacial landslide mechanism based on asperity theory: a case study of Baotou Aviation Industrial Park, Inner Mongolia

Original Paper

Estimating the complete in-situ stress tensor along deep tunnels with frequent rockbursts near a steep valley

Original Paper

Assessing the mechanical effects of vegetation on the stability of slopes with different geometries and soil types

Original Paper

Study on the water characteristics and microscopic mechanism of compacted silt considering the effect of stress

Original Paper

Dynamic mechanical characteristics of an artificial porous granite under various water saturation levels

Original Paper