Analytical modeling of complex contact behavior between rock mass and lining structure

Based on the nondestructive test data of operating railway tunnels in China, this paper summarizes the basic characteristics of the complex contact behavior between the rock mass and lining structure. The contact modes are classified into dense contact, local non-contact, and loose contact. Subsequently, the corresponding mechanical model for each contact mode is developed according to its mechanical characteristics using the complex variable method. In the proposed mechanical model, a special algorithm is introduced to detect whether the local non-contact zone is re-contacted. Besides, a novel conformal mapping method is also proposed to accurately calculate the mechanical response of the concrete lining. Finally, the accuracy of the proposed method is verified by comparing it with the finite element method(FEM). Several parameter investigations are conducted to analyze the effects of different contact modes on the rock-lining interaction. The results show that:(i) the height of the local noncontact area does not have a significant effect on the contact stress distribution if no re-contact occurs;(ii) backfill grouting can reduce the local stress concentration caused by poor contact modes;and(iii) reducing the friction coefficient of the interface can lead to a more uniform distribution of internal forces in the concrete lining.

Mechanical properties of lattice grid composites

An equivalent continuum method only considering the stretching deformation of struts was used to study the in-plane stiffness and strength of planar lattice grid com- posite materials. The initial yield equations of lattices were deduced. Initial yield surfaces were depicted separately in different 3D and 2D stress spaces. The failure envelope is a polyhedron in 3D spaces and a polygon in 2D spaces. Each plane or line of the failure envelope is corresponding to the yield or buckling of a typical bar row. For lattices with more than three bar rows, subsequent yield of the other bar row after initial yield made the lattice achieve greater limit strength. The importance of the buckling strength of the grids was strengthened while the grids were relative sparse. The integration model of the method was used to study the nonlinear mechanical properties of strain hardening grids. It was shown that the integration equation could accurately model the complete stress-strain curves of the grids within small deformations.