Anisotropic creep behavior of soft-hard interbedded rock masses based on 3D printing and digital imaging correlation technology

Three-dimensional(3D)printing technology is increasingly used in experimental research of geotechnical engineering.Compared to other materials,3D layer-by-layer printing specimens are extremely similar to the inherent properties of natural layered rock masses.In this paper,soft-hard interbedded rock masses with different dip angles were prepared based on 3D printing(3DP)sand core technology.Uniaxial compression creep tests were conducted to investigate its anisotropic creep behavior based on digital imaging correlation(DIC)technology.The results show that the anisotropic creep behavior of the 3DP soft-hard interbedded rock mass is mainly affected by the dip angles of the weak interlayer when the stress is at low levels.As the stress level increases,the effect of creep stress on its creep anisotropy increases significantly,and the dip angle is no longer the main factor.The minimum value of the long-term strength and creep failure strength always appears in the weak interlayer within 30°–60°,which explains why the failure of the layered rock mass is controlled by the weak interlayer and generally emerges at 45°.The tests results are verified by comparing with theoretical and other published studies.The feasibility of the 3DP soft-hard interbedded rock mass provides broad prospects and application values for 3DP technology in future experimental research.

Design of the yielding support used highly deformable elements for a tunnel excavated in squeezing rock

Yielding support is often used in the squeezing tunnel to prevent damage to the lining induced by large deformation of the surrounding rock.Highly Deformable Elements(HDE)which is often installed along the circumferential direction of the shotcrete lining is a common type of yielding support.To determine the yield parameters of HDE,the support characteristic of the lining using HDE and the ground pressure considering strain-softening of soft rock were analyzed by an analytical method.The analytical solution showed that when considering the strain-softening of squeezing ground,the ground pressure has a non-zero minimum value.The minimum value of ground stress can be used to determine the constant yield stress of the HDE,and the corresponding deformation of the minimum ground pressure can be used to determine the deformation capacity of the HDE.Based on the variation in the design constant yield stress and yield displacement of HDE with the in-situ stress and the mechanical parameters of the soft rock,equations were proposed for determining of the yield parameters of the HDE.

Stress analysis of full-length grouted bolt under shear deformation of anchor interface

The bolt anchoring force is closely related to the shear properties of the anchor interface. The shear stress distribution of full-length grouted bolts is analyzed based on the stress-strain relationship among the bolt, grout, rock mass and bond interface,considering the shear properties of the grout and contact interface bonding behavior. In this case, the interfacial shear stress of the grout and rock mass and the bolt axial force are obtained under pull-out and normal working conditions. The results show that the peak shear stress of the interface with the shear deformation of the bond interface is significantly lower than that without it when the pull-out force is applied. When designing bolt parameters of grade IV and V rock mass, the relative deformation between the rock mass and anchor should be considered, with a “unimodal” to “bimodal” shear stress distribution.In the case of a low elastic modulus of rock masses,both the shear stress concentration and distribution range are obvious, and the neutral point is near the bolt head. As the elastic modulus increases, the shear stress concentration and distribution range are reduced, and the neutral point moves towards the distal end. As a result, the optimum length of fulllength grouted bolts can be determined by in-situ pull-out tests and decreases with the increased elastic modulus of the rock mass.