11-03-2020 | Research Article-Civil Engineering | Issue 5/2020

Theoretical and Experimental Study on Rock Resistance Coefficient of Soft Rock Tunnel Considering Creep Effect
Abstract
Creep deformation properties of soft rock are studied based on the visco-elastoplastic model. Combining with the generalized Hoek–Brown criterion, the calculation formula for rock resistance coefficient (RRC) of soft rock tunnel is deduced based on the creep effect, and the formula is applied to Tianjiashan tunnel, which is a typical soft rock tunnel. Besides, the influences of creep effect and tunnel buried depth on RRC are discussed. As shown in the results, the RRC which takes creep effect into consideration is declined, and the RRC decreases with the increase of tunnel depth and in situ stress. After the creep effect of surrounding rock is fully developed, the values of RRC are from 140.92 to 24.09 MP m−1 at different buried depth, which indicates that although soft rock tunnels have poor stability, the surrounding rock still possess certain elastic resistance and self-bearing capacity.