Exploring the feasibility of prestressed anchor cables as an alternative to temporary support in the excavation of super-large-span tunnel

Excavating super-large-span tunnels in soft rock masses presents significant challenges.To ensure safety,the sequential excavation method is commonly adopted.It utilizes internal temporary supports to spatially partition the tunnel face and divide the excavation into multiple stages.However,these internal supports generally impose spatial constraints,limiting the use of large-scale excavation equipment and reducing construction efficiency.To address this constraint,this study adopts the“Shed-frame”principle to explore the feasibility of an innovative support system,which aims to replace internal supports with prestressed anchor cables and thus provide a more spacious working space with fewer internal obstructions.To evaluate its effectiveness,a field case involving the excavation of a 24-m span tunnel in soft rock is presented,and an analysis of extensive field data is conducted to study the deformation characteristics of the surrounding rock and the mechanical behavior of the support system.The results revealed that prestressed anchor cables integrated the initial support with the shed,creating an effective“shed-frame”system,which successively maintained tunnel deformation and frame stress levels within safe regulatory bounds.Moreover,the prestressed anchor cables bolstered the surrounding rock effectively and reduced the excavation-induced disturbance zone significantly.In summary,the proposed support system balances construction efficiency and safety.These field experiences may offer valuable insights into the popularization and further development of prestressed anchor cable support systems.

Prestressed tensioning method and its application to testing anchor stress of anchor cables for side-slope stabilization

The anchor stress extent of a prestress anchor cable project has a direct relation with the project safety and performance. Prestressed tensioning method is a kind of nondestructive testing method, by which a reverse stretching load is applied on the external exposure section of anchor cable under construction or in service, and then the elongation variation of stress bars is measured to determine the anchor stress. We elaborated the theory and testing mechanism of prestressed tensioning method, and systematically studied key issues during the prestressed tensioning process of anchor cable by using physical model test, including the composition of tension stress-elongation curve, the variation of anchor stress, the compensation of locked anchor stress, and the judgment of anchor stress, and verified the theory feasibility of prestressed tensioning method. A case study on slope anchor cable of one highway project was conducted to further discuss on the test method, operation procedures and judgment of prestressed tensioning method on obtaining anchor stress, and then the test data of three situations were analyzed. The result provides a theoretical basis and technical base for the application of prestressed tensioning method to the evaluation of construction quality and operation conditions of anchor cable project.

ANALYSIS ON INCREMENTAL COHESION OF SURROUNDING ROCK DUE TO PRESTRESSED CABLE ANCHOR

A new method for determining the incremental cohesion △Cm of surrounding rock due to prestressed cable anchor is presented, and the formulas for △Cm are deduced and △Cm distributions also are discussed, based on the two anchorage effects, one is the effect with the prestressed vaIue △σ3 of cable anchor improving the stress state of surrounding rock and increasing the surrounding rock strength, the other is the fully encapsulated effect. The determined incremental cohesion △Cm is subiected to the model test and field measurement in the references, and coincides well with those tested results. The formulas for △Cm can be used in designing supoport parameters and related numerical analyses of prestressed cable anchor.

Study on damage-stress loss coupling model of rock and prestressed anchor cable in dry-wet environment

The loss of anchoring force is one of the problems to be solved urgently.The anchorage loss is a key factor causing the failure of anchoring engineering,so it is crucial to study the time-dependent variation of anchoring force.Alternating dry and wet(D-W)conditions have a significant effect on deformation of rock.The anchoring system is composed of anchoring components and rock mass,and thus rock deformation has a significant impact on the loss of anchoring force.Quantifying rock deformation under the effects of D-W cycles is a prerequisite to understanding the factors that influence loss of anchoring force in anchor bolts.In this study,we designed an anchoring device that enabled real-time monitoring of the variation in strain during D-W periods and rock testing.Nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)measurements showed that under D-W conditions,the increment in porosity was smaller for prestressed rock than unstressed rock.The trends of prestress loss and strain variation are consistent,which can be divided into three characteristic intervals:rapid attenuation stage,slow attenuation stage and relatively stable stage.At the same stress level,the rate of stress loss and strain for the soaking specimen was the highest,while that of the dried specimen was the lowest.In the same D-W cycling conditions,the greater the prestress,the smaller the strain loss rate of the rock,especially under soaking conditions.The characteristics of pore structure and physical mechanical parameters indicated that prestress could effectively suppress damage caused by erosion related to D-W cycles.The study reveals the fluctuation behavior of rock strain and prestress loss under D-W conditions,providing a reference for effectively controlling anchoring loss and ideas for inventing new anchoring components.

Strut-and-Tie Method as a Basis for Optimization of Hoop Prestressed Tendons in Abnormally Shaped Anchorage Zone of Cable-Stayed Bridge Pylon

Based on full-scale segment model tests of the abnormally shaped anchorage zone of the Maling River cable-stayed bridge pylon and FEM analysis, its mechanical and deformation properties were obtained, and the validity of FEM analysis was verified. An optimal layout of prestressed tendons in the anchorage zone was obtained by using the strut-and-tie method （STM）. The comparison FEM analysis between the full-scale segment model and the optimal prestressed tendons model show that： the optimal model not only saves prestressed tendons, but also achieves the same cracking resistance; STM method is reliable and accurate in the analysis of the abnormally shaped anchorage zone of cable-stayed bridge pylon.

Mechanism of high-preload support based on the NPR anchor cable in layered soft rock tunnels

The control of large deformation problems in layered soft rock tunnels needs to solve urgently.The roof problem is particularly severe among the deformation issues in tunnels.This study first analyzes the asymmetric deformation modes in layered soft rock tunnels with large deformations.Subsequently,we construct a mechanical model under ideal conditions for controlling the roof of layered soft rock tunnels through high preload with the support of NPR anchor cables.The prominent roles of long and short NPR anchor cables in the support system are also analyzed.The results indicate the significance of high preload in controlling the roof of layered soft rock tunnels.The short NPR anchor cables effectively improve the integrity of the stratified soft rock layers,while the long NPR anchor cables effectively mobilize the self-bearing capacity of deep-stable rock layers.Finally,the high-preload support method with NPR anchor cables is validated to have a good effect on controlling large deformations in layered soft rock tunnels through field monitoring data.

Seismic stability of expansive soil slopes reinforced by anchor cables using a modified horizontal slice method

Earthquake-induced slope failures are common occurrences in engineering practice and pre-stressed anchor cables are an effective technique in maintaining slope stability,especially in areas that are prone to earthquakes.Furthermore,the soil at typical engineering sites also exhibit unsaturated features.Explicit considerations of these factors in slope stability estimations are crucial in producing accurate results.In this study,the seismic responses of expansive soil slopes stabilized by anchor cables is studied in the realm of kinematic limit analysis.A modified horizontal slice method is proposed to semi-analytically formulate the energy balance equation.An illustrative slope is studied to demonstrate the influences of suction,seismic excitations and anchor cables on the slope stability.The results indicate that the stabilizing effect of soil suction relates strongly to the seismic excitation and presents a sine shape as the seismic wave propagates.In higher and steeper slopes,the stabilizing effect of suction is more evident.The critical slip surface tends to be much more shallow as the seismic wave approaches the peak and vice versa.

Case study on the mechanics of NPR anchor cable compensation for large deformation tunnel in soft rock in the Transverse Mountain area,China

A study was conducted to analyze the deformation mechanism of strongly weathered quartz schist in the Daliangshan Tunnel,located in the western Transverse Mountain area.A large deformation problem was experienced during the tunnel construction.To mitigate this problem,a support system was designed incorporating negative Poisson ratio(NPR)anchor cables with negative Poisson ratio effect.Physical model experiments,field experiments,and numerical simulation experiments were conducted to investigate the compensation mechanical behavior of NPR anchor cables.The large deformations of soft rocks in the Daliangshan Tunnel are caused by a high ground stress,a high degree of joint fracture development,and a high degree of surrounding rock fragmentation.A compensation mechanics support system combining long and short NPR anchor cables was suggested to provide sufficient counter-support force(approximately 350 kN)for the surrounding rock inside the tunnel.Comparing the NPR anchor cable support system with the original support system used in the Daliangshan tunnel showed that an NPR anchor cable support system,combining cables of 6.3 m and 10.3 m in length,effectively prevented convergence of surrounding rock deformation,and the integrated settlement convergence value remained below 300 mm.This study provides an effective scientific basis for resolving large deformation problems in deeply buried soft rocks in western transverse mountain areas.

Negative Poisson's ratio anchor cable support for fault tunnels with different inclination angles under earthquake

It is inevitable to encounter fault zones in tunnel construction.These faults can lead to significant deformations and potential collapses of the surrounding rock in the tunnel.Therefore,it is crucial to study the influence of different fault angles on tunnel deformation.The Tabaiyi Tunnel,located in Yunnan Province of China passes through a multi-stage fault zone.The dynamic response characteristics of the surrounding rock in the Tabaiyi Tunnel were studied under various fault dip angles and the most unfavorable angle was identified.Physical model tests were conducted using two types of anchor cables with specific parameters.Additionally,a relationship between the engineering rock mass and energy absorption by the anchor cables was established,demonstrating the advantages of negative Poisson's ratio(NPR)anchor cables.Experimental results indicate that stress concentration tends to occur at the junctions between faults and the surrounding rock mass.Tunnels supported by NPR anchor cables effectively mitigate amplification effects,achieving energy absorption increases of up to 87%compared to positive Poisson's ratio(PR)anchor cables.Furthermore,the highest acceleration amplification was observed at a fault dip angle of 45°,with peak acceleration reaching twice that of the original input wave,indicating that this angle should be avoided in tunnel design.These findings provide valuable insights for the safe management of tunnels traversing fault zones.

Three-dimensional limit variation analysis on the ultimate pullout capacity of the anchor cables based on the Hoek-Brown failure criterion

Only simplified two-dimensional model and a single failure mode are adopted to calculate the ultimate pullout capacity(UPC)of anchor cables in most previous research.This study focuses on a more comprehensive combination failure mode that consists of bond failure of an anchorage body and failure of an anchored rock mass.The three-dimensional ultimate pullout capacity of the anchor cables is calculated based on the Hoek-Brown failure criterion and variation analysis method.The numerical solution for the curvilinear function in fracture plane is obtained based on the finite difference theory,which more accurately reflects the failure state of the anchor cable,as opposed to that being assumed in advance.The results reveal that relying solely on a single failure mode for UPC calculations has limitations,as changes in parameter values not only directly impact the UPC value but also can alter the failure model and thus the calculation method.

Instability mechanism of mining roadway passing through fault at different angles in kilometre-deep mine and control measures of roof cutting and NPR cables

The angle α between the fault strike and the axial direction of the roadway produces different damage characteristics. In this paper, the research methodology includes theoretical analyses, numerical simulations and field experiments in the context of the Daqiang coal mine located in Shenyang, China. The stability control countermeasure of "pre-splitting cutting roof + NPR anchor cable"(PSCR-NPR) is simultaneously proposed. According to the different deformation characteristics of the roadway, the faults are innovatively classified into three types, with α of type I being 0°-30°, α of type II being 30°-60°, and α of type III being 60°-90°. The full-cycle stress evolution paths during mining roadway traverses across different types of faults are investigated by numerical simulation. Different pinch angles α lead to high stress concentration areas at different locations in the surrounding rock. The non-uniform stress field formed in the shallow surrounding rock is an important reason for the instability of the roadway. The pre-cracked cut top shifted the high stress region to the deep rock mass and formed a low stress region in the shallow rock mass. The high prestressing NPR anchor cable transforms the non-uniform stress field of the shallow surrounding rock into a uniform stress field. PSCR-NPR is applied in the fault-through roadway of Daqiang mine. The low stress area of the surrounding rock was enlarged by 3-7 times, and the cumulative convergence was reduced by 45%-50%. It provides a reference for the stability control of the deep fault-through mining roadway.

Deformation mechanism of rock mass and prestressed anchor cable support technology of Haidong soft rock tunnel

The Haidong Tunnel is one of the four soft rock tunnels of the Central Yunnan Water Diversion Project(CYWDP),where large deformation hazards of soft rock occur frequently,which seriously affect construction safety.The effect of highly prestressed anchor cable support was studied based on the active support test in the No.3 branch tunnel of Haidong Tunnel.Firstly,the geological conditions and failure causes were analyzed on the basis of the results of geological survey,in-situ test,and rock laboratory test.Then,the Mohr circle form of the highly prestressed anchor cable active support theory for the support of bedded rock mass was given in combination with the excavation compensation method.It is considered that the prestress active compensation value required for the bedded rock mass is larger than that for the homogeneous rock mass.The deformations of rock mass under both passive and active supports were analyzed by numerical simulations.Furthermore,the'pressure bubble'mechanical model for anchor cable support of bedded rock mass in Haidong Tunnel is given.Field monitoring results show that the highly prestressed anchor cable support can control rock mass deformation well,with a maximum deformation of about 200 mm.The prestressed anchor cable is effective in the bedded stratum,which makes the stress of rock mass uniform and reduces the risk of failure of steel arches due to local bias.Meanwhile,the expansion of plastic zone was efficiently controlled,which is of positive significance for the overall stability of rock mass.

Dynamic response of a slope reinforced by double-row antisliding piles and pre-stressed anchor cables

Large-scale shaking table tests were conducted to study the dynamic response of a slope reinforced by double-row anti-sliding piles and prestressed anchor cables. The test results show that the reinforcement suppressed the acceleration amplification effectively. The axial force time histories are decomposed into a baseline part and a vibration part in this study. The baseline part of axial force well revealed the seismic slope stability, the peak vibration values of axial force of the anchor cables changed significantly in different area of the slope under seismic excitations. The peak lateral earth pressure acting on the back of the anti-sliding pile located at the slope toe was much larger than that acting on the back of the anti-sliding pile located at the slope waist. The test results indicate an obvious load sharing ratio difference between these two anti-slide piles, the load sharing ratio between the two anti-sliding piles located at the slope toe and the slope waist varied mainly in a range of 2-5. The anti-slide pile at the slope waist suppressed the horizontal displacement of the slope surface.

Reliability analysis of prestressed anchors in rock slopes of open-pit mines

Prestressed anchor cables are widely used for slope reinforcement,but the loss of prestress makes it difficult to guarantee the reinforcement effect.Anchor cable prestress degradation was considered as a stochastic process,and the probability density function of this process was established using gamma theory and impact theory respectively.Combined with the failure threshold,the probability density was integrated to find the time-dependent reliability of the anchor cable.Based on the monitoring data of the prestress degradation of the anchor cable,parameters in the probability density function were solved by the maximum likelihood method,and the time-varying reliability and service life of the anchor cable were obtained analytically.The applicability of two degradation theories,gamma stochastic process and impact theory,was compared.The results showed that the probability density curves of both degradation models were normally distributed and the error of reliability results did not exceed 0.06.The life prediction results of the gamma stochastic process were closer to the actual life of 400 h than the 500 h of the impact theory,and the probability curves of the anchor cable life also indicated that the impact theory overestimated the service life probability of the anchor cable.Taking the anchor cable reinforcement within the slope of the Dagushan open-pit mine as an example,and the results verify the feasibility of using gamma theory to predict the degradation of anchor cables and provides theoretical support for prevention of the degradation of anchor cables in the slope of an open-pit mine under the action of external forces.

Optical Fiber Grating Sensor for Force Measurement of Anchor Cable

The development of the sensor suitable for measuring large load stress to the anchor cable becomes an important task in bridge construction and maintenance. Therefore, a new type of optical fiber sensor was developed in the laboratory - optical fiber grating sensor for force measurement of anchor cable （OFBFMAC）. No similar report about this kind of sensor has been found up to now in China and other countries. This sensor is proved to be an effective way of monitoring in processes of anchor cable installation, cable cutting, cable force regulation, etc, with the accurate and repeatable measuring results. Its successful application in the tie bar cable force safety monitoring for Wuhan Qingchuan bridge is a new exploration of optical fiber grating sensing technology in bridge tie bar monitoring system.

Shaking table test of seismic responses of anchor cable and lattice beam reinforced slope

As a combined supporting structure,the anchor cable and lattice beam have a complex interaction with the slope body.In order to investigate the seismic behaviors of the slope reinforced by anchor cable and lattice beam,a largescale shaking table test was carried out on a slope model(geometric scale of 1:20)by applying recorded and artificial seismic waves with different amplitudes.The acceleration and displacement of the slope,the displacement of lattice beam and the axial force of anchor cable were obtained to study the interaction between the slope and the supporting structure.The test results show that:(1)the acceleration responses of the slope at different relative elevations display obvious nonlinear characteristics with increasing of the peak ground acceleration(PGA)of the inputted seismic waves,and the weak intercalated layer has a stronger effect on acceleration amplification at the upper part of the slope than that at the lower part of the slope;(2)the frequency component near the second dominant frequency is significantly magnified by the interaction between the slope and the supporting structure;(3)the anchor cables at the upper part of the slope have larger peak and residual axial forces than that at the lower part of the slope,and the prestress loss of the anchor cable first occurs at the top of the slope and then passes down;(4)the peak and residual displacements inside the slope and on the lattice beam increase with the increase of relative elevation.When the inputted PGA is not greater than 0.5 g,the combined effect of anchor cable and lattice beam is remarkable for stabilizing the middle and lower parts of the potential sliding body.The research results can provide a reference for the seismic design of such slope and the optimization of supporting structure.

Study on range interval distance of prestressed anchor bars using update backpropagation neural network

Taking the practical reinforced engineering of a reinforced soil retaining wall as an example, which located in Shandong Province and set on 104 national highway, the stress spread behaviors of the anchor bars in the preforced proceeding were tested. According to the test data, and by use of the update backpropagation (BP) algorithm neural network(NN), the test method and it’s mechanism were studied by the network, then the learning results show the mean square error(MSE) only at the 2 55% level, and the proof testing results show the MSE at 4 38% level (the main aim is to build a NN directly from the in situ test results (the learning phase)). Ipso facto, the learning and adjustment abilities of the NN permit us to develop the test data, subsequently, 36 test data were acquired from the NN. By use of the provide data, as well as the failure situation and carried loading capacity of the retaining wall, finally, the choice the reasonable range interval distance of prestress cement grouting anchor bars were carried out, and the result was 2 m×2 m.

Negative Poisson's ratio and peripheral strain of an NPR anchor cable

Materials with a negative Poisson’s ratio effect perform significantly better than traditional materials for rock mass impact resistance,shear resistance,and energy absorption.Based on these advantages,a negative Poisson’s ratio anchor cable(NPR anchor cable)with high elongation and constant resistance was developed and successfully applied in the field of mine disaster control.However,theoretical and experimental research on the negative Poisson’s ratio effect and peripheral strain characteristics of NPR anchor cables is currently incomplete.This study used several theories and methods,such as static tensile,peripheral strain measurement,and static negative Poisson’s ratio measurement,to investigate the radial deformation law of an NPR anchor cable and the negative Poisson’s ratio characteristics.Experimental results elucidated constant resistance changes in an NPR anchor cable during operation,the motion of the constant resistance body in the constant resistance sleeve,and the deformation law of the constant resistance sleeve.Negative Poisson’s ratio characteristics of the NPR anchor cable and its superior energy absorption characteristics were verified and it provided a theoretical and experimental basis for energy absorption mechanisms of an NPR anchor cable.

Numerical simulation of rockburst disaster and control strategy of constant resistance and large deformation anchor cable in Gaoloushan tunnel

The Gaoloushan Tunnel in Longnan City,Gansu Province,China,frequently experiences rockburst disasters due to high in-situ stress.Managing rockburst in deep-buried tunnels remains a challenging issue.This paper employs RFPA(Rock Failure Process Analysis)software to establish a calculation model of constant resistance and large deformation(CRLD)anchorages and analyzes the effects of different support methods and pre-stress levels on rockburst.We simulate the process of tunnel rockburst disasters and find that ordinary anchor support incurs rockburst on the right arch waist and arch top,forming a V-shaped explosion pit.CRLD anchor support has several advantages in rockburst control,such as more uniform stress distribution in the surrounding rock,a uniform distribution of plastic zones,less noticeable damage to the tunnel,and effective control of the arch top displacement.The effectiveness of the CRLD anchor support under varying pre-stress conditions shows that a higher prestress results in a smaller plastic zone of the surrounding rock and arch top displacement and a lower number of acoustic emission signals,which better explains the excavation compensation effect.Moreover,adding long anchorages in the deep surrounding rock area can better control rockburst and reduce surrounding rock deformation.Based on these findings,we propose a comprehensive control system that combines long and short anchorages and provides the optimal scheme based on calculations.Therefore,by using high-prestress CRLD anchor support and the combination of long and short anchorages at critical positions,we can enhance the integrity of the surrounding rock,effectively absorb the energy released by the surrounding rock deformation,and reduce the incidence of rockburst disasters.

High prestress truss cable support principle and its application in large cross section coal roadway

With the enlarge of cross section of roadway, the radius of plastic area and broken area increase, and the tensile stress and shear stress distributing in roof coal-rock layers relevantly increase, which induce support effect not obvious for ordinary bolt（cable）. While bounding point and support structure of the truss cable is in vertex angle of roadway, and supplies coal-rock layers in bounding area with the horizontal and vertical pressure, so it settles the support problems in large cross section coal roadway. From the point of view of mechanics, gave emphasis on the invalid mechanics of ordinary bolt （cable） in large cross section coal roadway and supported mechanics of prestress truss cable. The author successfully used this technique in Wuyang Mine, and had the huge economic efficiency and the social benefit.