A 2D stability analysis of the rock surrounding underground liquified natural gas storage cavern based on COMSOL Multiphysics

Underground liquified natural gas(LNG)storage is essential in guaranteeing national energy strategic reserves,and its construction is being accelerated.The stability of surrounding rock of underground LNG storage caverns under stress-low temperature coupling effect is the key factor determining the feasibility of LNG storage.First,a mathematical model used for controlling the stress-low temperature coupling and the processes of rock damage evolution is given,followed by a 2-D numerical execution process of the mathematical model mentioned above described based on Comsol Multiphysics and Matlab code.Finally,a series of 2-D simulations are performed to study the influence of LNG storage cavern layout,burial depth,temperature and internal pressure on the stability of surrounding rocks of these underground storage caverns.The results indicate that all the factors mentioned above affect the evolution of deformation and plastic zone of surrounding rocks.The research results contribute to the engineering design of underground LNG storage caverns.

Probabilistic analysis of tunnel face seismic stability in layered rock masses using Polynomial Chaos Kriging metamodel

Face stability is an essential issue in tunnel design and construction.Layered rock masses are typical and ubiquitous;uncertainties in rock properties always exist.In view of this,a comprehensive method,which combines the Upper bound Limit analysis of Tunnel face stability,the Polynomial Chaos Kriging,the Monte-Carlo Simulation and Analysis of Covariance method(ULT-PCK-MA),is proposed to investigate the seismic stability of tunnel faces.A two-dimensional analytical model of ULT is developed to evaluate the virtual support force based on the upper bound limit analysis.An efficient probabilistic analysis method PCK-MA based on the adaptive Polynomial Chaos Kriging metamodel is then implemented to investigate the parameter uncertainty effects.Ten input parameters,including geological strength indices,uniaxial compressive strengths and constants for three rock formations,and the horizontal seismic coefficients,are treated as random variables.The effects of these parameter uncertainties on the failure probability and sensitivity indices are discussed.In addition,the effects of weak layer position,the middle layer thickness and quality,the tunnel diameter,the parameters correlation,and the seismic loadings are investigated,respectively.The results show that the layer distributions significantly influence the tunnel face probabilistic stability,particularly when the weak rock is present in the bottom layer.The efficiency of the proposed ULT-PCK-MA is validated,which is expected to facilitate the engineering design and construction.

Heterogeneous information phase space reconstruction and stability prediction of filling body–surrounding rock combination

Traditional research believes that the filling body can effectively control stress concentration while ignoring the problems of unknown stability and the complex and changeable stress distribution of the filling body–surrounding rock combination under high-stress conditions.Current monitoring data processing methods cannot fully consider the complexity of monitoring objects,the diversity of monitoring methods,and the dynamics of monitoring data.To solve this problem,this paper proposes a phase space reconstruction and stability prediction method to process heterogeneous information of backfill–surrounding rock combinations.The three-dimensional monitoring system of a large-area filling body–surrounding rock combination in Longshou Mine was constructed by using drilling stress,multipoint displacement meter,and inclinometer.Varied information,such as the stress and displacement of the filling body–surrounding rock combination,was continuously obtained.Combined with the average mutual information method and the false nearest neighbor point method,the phase space of the heterogeneous information of the filling body–surrounding rock combination was then constructed.In this paper,the distance between the phase point and its nearest point was used as the index evaluation distance to evaluate the stability of the filling body–surrounding rock combination.The evaluated distances(ED)revealed a high sensitivity to the stability of the filling body–surrounding rock combination.The new method was then applied to calculate the time series of historically ED for 12 measuring points located at Longshou Mine.The moments of mutation in these time series were at least 3 months ahead of the roadway return dates.In the ED prediction experiments,the autoregressive integrated moving average model showed a higher prediction accuracy than the deep learning models(long short-term memory and Transformer).Furthermore,the root-mean-square error distribution of the prediction results peaked at 0.26,thus outperforming the no-prediction method in 70%of the cases.

Evaluation of slope stability through rock mass classification and kinematic analysis of some major slopes along NH-1A from Ramban to Banihal, North Western Himalayas

The network of Himalayan roadways and highways connects some remote regions of valleys or hill slopes,which is vital for India’s socio-economic growth.Due to natural and artificial factors,frequency of slope instabilities along the networks has been increasing over last few decades.Assessment of stability of natural and artificial slopes due to construction of these connecting road networks is significant in safely executing these roads throughout the year.Several rock mass classification methods are generally used to assess the strength and deformability of rock mass.This study assesses slope stability along the NH-1A of Ramban district of North Western Himalayas.Various structurally and non-structurally controlled rock mass classification systems have been applied to assess the stability conditions of 14 slopes.For evaluating the stability of these slopes,kinematic analysis was performed along with geological strength index(GSI),rock mass rating(RMR),continuous slope mass rating(CoSMR),slope mass rating(SMR),and Q-slope in the present study.The SMR gives three slopes as completely unstable while CoSMR suggests four slopes as completely unstable.The stability of all slopes was also analyzed using a design chart under dynamic and static conditions by slope stability rating(SSR)for the factor of safety(FoS)of 1.2 and 1 respectively.Q-slope with probability of failure(PoF)1%gives two slopes as stable slopes.Stable slope angle has been determined based on the Q-slope safe angle equation and SSR design chart based on the FoS.The value ranges given by different empirical classifications were RMR(37-74),GSI(27.3-58.5),SMR(11-59),and CoSMR(3.39-74.56).Good relationship was found among RMR&SSR and RMR&GSI with correlation coefficient(R 2)value of 0.815 and 0.6866,respectively.Lastly,a comparative stability of all these slopes based on the above classification has been performed to identify the most critical slope along this road.

Stability mechanism and control of the pumpable supports in longwall recovery room

The load-bearing performance(LBP)of pumpable supports(PPS)is crucial for the stability of longwall pre-driven recovery room(PRR)surrounding rock.However,the unbalanced bearing coefficient(UBC)of the PPS(undertaking unequal load along the mining direction)has not been investigated.A mechanical model of the PRR was established,considering the main roof cantilever beam structure,to derive an assessment formula for the load,the failure criteria,and the UBC of the PPS.Subsequently,the generation mechanisms,and influencing factors of the UBC were revealed.Global sensitivity analysis shows that the main roof hanging length(l_(2))and the spacing between the PPS(r)significantly impact the UBC.A novel design of the PPS and the coupling control technology were proposed and applied to reduce the UBC of the PPS in the adjacent longwall PRR.Monitor results showed no failure of the PPS at the test site,with the UBC(ζ)reduced to 1.1 consistent with the design value(1.15)basically,fully utilizing the collaborative LBP of the PPS.Finally,the maximum roof-to-floor convergence of the PRR was 234 mm,effectively controlling the stability of the surrounding rock of the PRR and ensuring the mining equipment recovery.

Study on creep deformation and energy development of underground surrounding rock under four‐dimensional support

There is an urgent need to develop optimal solutions for deformation control of deep high‐stress roadways,one of the critical problems in underground engineering.The previously proposed four‐dimensional support(hereinafter 4D support),as a new support technology,can set the roadway surrounding rock under three‐dimensional pressure in the new balanced structure,and prevent instability of surrounding rock in underground engineering.However,the influence of roadway depth and creep deformation on the surrounding rock supported by 4D support is still unknown.This study investigated the influence of roadway depth and creep deformation time on the instability of surrounding rock by analyzing the energy development.The elastic strain energy was analyzed using the program redeveloped in FLAC3D.The numerical simulation results indicate that the combined support mode of 4D roof supports and conventional side supports is highly applicable to the stability control of surrounding rock with a roadway depth exceeding 520 m.With the increase of roadway depth,4D support can effectively restrain the area and depth of plastic deformation in the surrounding rock.Further,4D support limits the accumulation range and rate of elastic strain energy as the creep deformation time increases.4D support can effectively reduce the plastic deformation of roadway surrounding rock and maintain the stability for a long deformation period of 6 months.As confirmed by in situ monitoring results,4D support is more effective for the long‐term stability control of surrounding rock than conventional support.

Face stability analysis of circular tunnels in layered rock masses using the upper bound theorem

An analysis of tunnel face stability generally assumes a single homogeneous rock mass.However,most rock tunnel projects are excavated in stratified rock masses.This paper presents a two-dimensional(2D)analytical model for estimating the face stability of a rock tunnel in the presence of rock mass stratification.The model uses the kinematical limit analysis approach combined with the block calculation technique.A virtual support force is applied to the tunnel face,and then solved using an optimization method based on the upper limit theorem of limit analysis and the nonlinear Hoek-Brown yield criterion.Several design charts are provided to analyze the effects of rock layer thickness on tunnel face stability,tunnel diameter,the arrangement sequence of weak and strong rock layers,and the variation in rock layer parameters at different positions.The results indicate that the thickness of the rock layer,tunnel diameter,and arrangement sequence of weak and strong rock layers significantly affect the tunnel face stability.Variations in the parameters of the lower layer of the tunnel face have a greater effect on tunnel stability than those of the upper layer.

Numerical simulation on deformation character of surrounding rock masses of Changjiashan tunnel through the gob of coalmine

Based on the construction project of the Changjiashan tunnel of the freeway,the variety rule of surrounding rock masses of the tunnel through the gob of coalmine wasstudied by using of finite element methed(FEM).The status of the stress and strain,thevariety of the plastic area were simulated in the whole rock mass before and after thetunnel was excavated.The characters of stress and deformation of surrounding rockmasses were analyzed when the tunnel was built.It concluded from the numerical simula-tion that the influence on the tunneling is great when the tunnel passing through the gob ofcoalmine is excavated,and the relative measures should be taken.

Numerical analysis on stability of surrounding rock mass around deep roadway

Numerical simulations of the deep roadway were carried out through application of the strain-softening constitutive model. Differences between the deep and shallow roadway of the rock bearing structure were analyzed. Influences of the supporting resistance on the rock bearing structure at the deep roadway were discussed. The results show that there is alternation of strong and weak strength-softening region in the surrounding rock of deep roadway. However, the increase in the supporting resistance cuts down the size of strength-softening region of surrounding rock, decreases its strength-softening degree, and im- proves the stress distribution condition of the surrounding rock mass. It is concluded that the supporting resistance can raise the self-supporting ability of surrounding rock through controlling its strength-softening so as to make the rock bearing structure of deep roadway stable.

Research on the stability analysis and design of soil tunnel surrounding rock

The paper first analyzes the failure mechanism and mode of tunnel according to model experiments and mechanical calculation and then discusses the deficiency of taking the limit value of displacement around the tunnel and the size of the plastic zone of surrounding rock as the criterion of stability. So the writers put forward the idea that the safety factor of surrounding rock calculated through strength reduction FEM(finit element method) should be regarded as the criterion of stability,which has strict mechanical basis and unified standard and would not be influenced by other factors. The paper also studies the safety factors of tunnel surrounding rock (safety factors of shear and tension failure) and lining and some methods of designing and calculating tunnels. At last,the writers take the loess tunnel for instance and show the design and calculation results of two-lane railway tunnel.

GREY CLASSIFICATION FOR EVALUATING THE STABILITY OF DANGEROUS ROCK-BLOCK MASSES

This paper introduces a grey classifica- tion method forevaluating the stability of dangerous rock- block masses according tothe Grey System Theory. This method is applied to the stability ofthe V~# dangerous rock- block masses of Qingjiang water conservancyproject, and better results are abtained. The method which isadvanced in the article is very single and practical, and it can meetall kinds of project's demands.

Classification and Visualization of Surrounding Rock Mass Stability Based on Multi-Dimensional Cloud Model

The classification of the stability of surrounding rock is an uncertain system with multiple indices.The Multidimensional Cloud Model provides an advanced solution through the use of an improved model of One-dimensional Cloud Model.Setting each index as a one-dimensional attribute,the Multi-dimensional Cloud Model can set the digital characteristics of each index according to the cloud theory.The Multi-dimensional cloud generator can calculate the certainty of each grade,and then determine the stability levels of the surrounding rock according to the principle of maximum certainty.Using this model to 5 coal mine roadway surrounding rock examples and comparing the results with those of One-dimensional and Two-dimensional Cloud Models,we find that the Multi-dimensional Cloud Model can provide a more accurate solution.Since the classification results of the Multidimensional Cloud Model are difficult to be presented intuitively and visually,we reduce the Multi-dimensional Cloud Model to One-dimensional and Two-dimensional Cloud Models in order to visualize the results achieved by the Multi-dimensional Cloud Model.This approach provides a more accurate and intuitive method for the classification of the surrounding rock stability,and it can also be applied to other types of classification problems.

Slope stability assessment of an open pit using lattice-spring-based synthetic rock mass (LS-SRM) modeling approach

Discontinuity waviness is one of the most important properties that influence shear strength of jointed rock masses,and it should be incorporated into numerical models for slope stability assessment.However,in most existing numerical modeling tools,discontinuities are often simplified into planar surfaces.Discrete fracture network modeling tools such as MoFrac allow the simulation of non-planar discontinuities which can be incorporated into lattice-spring-based geomechanical software such as Slope Model for slope stability assessment.In this study,the slope failure of the south wall at Cadia Hill open pit mine is simulated using the lattice-spring-based synthetic rock mass(LS-SRM)modeling approach.First,the slope model is calibrated using field displacement monitoring data,and then the influence of different discontinuity configurations on the stability of the slope is investigated.The modeling results show that the slope with non-planar discontinuities is comparatively more stable than the ones with planar discontinuities.In addition,the slope becomes increasingly unstable with the increases of discontinuity intensity and size.At greater pit depth with higher in situ stress,both the slope models with planar and non-planar discontinuities experience localized failures due to very high stress concentrations,and the slope model with planar discontinuities is more deformable and less stable than that with non-planar discontinuities.

Classification and rating of disintegrated dolomite strata for slope stability analysis

Although disintegrated dolomite,widely distributed across the globe,has conventionally been a focus of research in underground engineering,the issue of slope stability issues in disintegrated dolomite strata is gaining increasing prominence.This is primarily due to their unique properties,including low strength and loose structure.Current methods for evaluating slope stability,such as basic quality(BQ)and slope stability probability classification(SSPC),do not adequately account for the poor integrity and structural fragmentation characteristic of disintegrated dolomite.To address this challenge,an analysis of the applicability of the limit equilibrium method(LEM),BQ,and SSPC methods was conducted on eight disintegrated dolomite slopes located in Baoshan,Southwest China.However,conflicting results were obtained.Therefore,this paper introduces a novel method,SMRDDS,to provide rapid and accurate assessment of disintegrated dolomite slope stability.This method incorporates parameters such as disintegrated grade,joint state,groundwater conditions,and excavation methods.The findings reveal that six slopes exhibit stability,while two are considered partially unstable.Notably,the proposed method demonstrates a closer match with the actual conditions and is more time-efficient compared with the BQ and SSPC methods.However,due to the limited research on disintegrated dolomite slopes,the results of the SMRDDS method tend to be conservative as a safety precaution.In conclusion,the SMRDDS method can quickly evaluate the current situation of disintegrated dolomite slopes in the field.This contributes significantly to disaster risk reduction for disintegrated dolomite slopes.

Dynamic Mechanical Behavior and Numerical Simulation of an Ancient Underground Rock Mass under Impact Loading

To study the dynamic mechanical properties of tuff under different environmental conditions,the tuff from an ancient quarry in Shepan Island was prepared.The impact damage to the rock was tested using a triaxial dynamic impact mechanical testing system(TDIMTS)with different ground stresses,temperatures,and groundwater pressures.The time-strain relationship,dynamic stress-strain relationship,energy dissipation law,energy-peak strain relationship,and the impact damage pattern of the tuff specimens under impact air pressures were investigated.The TDIMTS experiment on ancient underground rock mass under impact loading was also simulated using the finite element analysis software LS-DYNA based on the Holmquist-Johnson-Cook(HJC)material model.The dynamic failure process,failure pattern and peak stress of tuff specimen were calculated.The simulation results obtained using the above methods were in good agreement with the experimental results.The results of the dynamic experiment show that with the same local stress,groundwater pressure,and temperature,the damage to the tuff specimens caused by blasting and quarrying disturbances gradually increases as the impact pressure increases.Under the same local stress,groundwater pressure,and temperature,the energy required to rupture the tuffs in ancient underground caverns is relatively small if the impact pressure is low accordingly,but as the impact pressure increases,the damage to the tuff caused by quarrying disturbance gradually increases.The damage gradually increases and the degree of damage to the tuff and the strain energy exhibit asymptotic growth when the tuff specimens are subjected to the greater strain energy,increasing the degree of rupturing of the tuff.In addition,the average crushing size decreases with increasing strain energy.By comparing the simulation results with the experimental results,it was found that the HJC model reflected the dynamic impact performance of tuff specimen,and the simulation results showed an evident strain rate effect.These results of this study can offer some guidance and theoretical support for the stability evaluation,protection,and safe operation of the ancient underground caverns in future.

Application of rock mass classification systems to rock slope stability assessment:A case study

The stability of rock slopes is considered crucial to public safety in highways passing through rock cuts, as well as to personnel and equipment safety in open pit mines. Slope instability and failures occur due to many factors such as adverse slope geometries, geological discontinuities, weak or weathered slope materials as well as severe weather conditions. External loads like heavy precipitation and seismicity could play a significant role in slope failure. In this paper, several rock mass classification systems developed for rock slope stability assessment are evaluated against known rock slope conditions in a region of Saudi Arabia, where slopes located in rugged terrains with complex geometry serve as highway road cuts. Selected empirical methods have been applied to 22 rock cuts that are selected based on their failure mechanisms and slope materials. The stability conditions are identified, and the results of each rock slope classification system are compared. The paper also highlights the limitations of the empirical classification methods used in the study and proposes future research directions.

Stability classification model of mine-lane surrounding rock based on distance discriminant analysis method

Based on the principle of Mahalanobis distance discriminant analysis (DDA) theory, a stability classification model for mine-lane surrounding rock was established, including six indexes of discriminant factors that reflect the engineering quality of surrounding rock: lane depth below surface, span of lane, ratio of directly top layer thickness to coal thickness, uniaxial comprehensive strength of surrounding rock, development degree coefficient of surrounding rock joint and range of broken surrounding rock zone. A DDA model was obtained through training 15 practical measuring samples. The re-substitution method was introduced to verify the stability of DDA model and the ratio of mis-discrimination is zero. The DDA model was used to discriminate 3 new samples and the results are identical with actual rock kind. Compared with the artificial neural network method and support vector mechanic method, the results show that this model has high prediction accuracy and can be used in practical engineering.

Rock slope stability evaluation using kinematic and kinetic methods along the Kamyaran-Marivan road,west of Iran

Interest in rock slope stability in mountainous regions has increased greatly in recent years.This issue has become a topic of major interest for geoscientists and engineering professionals,as well as for private citizens and local administrators,in many parts of the world.This paper evaluates the stability of seven rock slopes along the KamyaranMarivan tourist road,Kurdistan province,Iran,using various methods.The two main reasons for performing this research were to determine whether different methods of stability analysis provide the same results,and to determine how different factors such as the presence of water,tension cracks,and seismic forces affect the stability of these rock slopes.Firstly,field investigations were performed to obtain the engineering characteristics of the rock masses,discontinuities,and intact rocks of the slopes.Secondly,laboratory tests were carried out on rock samples obtained from the slopes,to determine the engineering properties of the intact rocks.Then for each rock slope,the contour diagram of discontinuities and slope face was drawn in the Dips v.5.1 software environment,and the failure mechanism was determined based on the kinematic or stereographic method.Next,the factors of safety of the rock slopes were calculated using the limit equilibrium method,based on the failure mechanisms resulting from the kinematic method.The accuracy of the results obtained by these two methods was investigated using SWedge v.4.0 software.The results indicated that four rock slopes have a potential for plane,wedge,and toppling failure,and three others are stable.Also,it was found that the stability of the studied rock slopes decreases greatly in the presence of water,tension cracks,and seismic forces.

THE THEORY OF SUPPORTING BROKEN ZONE IN SURROUNDING ROCK

The first topic discussed in this paper is to evaluate the present supporting theories,among which the typical two are collapse arch and elasto-plastic theories. The former is rather limited in practical application,and the latter is built up on some assumptions which is inconsis-tent with the reality,for it is of no need to support a roadway of which the surrounding rock is in elasto-plastic state. The second topic is to prove the objective existence of the broken zone in surrounding rock(BZSR) by a series of laboratory experiments and field measurements. The paper indicates that the object to be supported mainly is the bulking or expanding force resulted from the development of BZSR. This is remarkably different from the existing points of view which have been generally recognized nowadays. So far ,this theory has been tested in supporting more than ten thousand meters roadways located in various strata and has proved itself to have a great technoeconomical benefit.

New methods of safety evaluation for rock/soil mass surrounding tunnel under earthquake

The objective of this work is to obtain the seismic safety coefficient and fracture surface and proceed with the seismic safety evaluation for the rock mass or soil mass surrounding a tunnel,and the limitation of evaluating seismic stability is considered using the pseudo-static strength reduction.By using the finite element software ANSYS and the strength reduction method,new methods of seismic safety evaluation for the rock mass or soil mass surrounding a tunnel are put forward,such as the dynamic finite element static shear strength reduction method and dynamic finite element shear strength reduction method.In order to prove the feasibility of the proposed methods,the results of numerical examples are compared with that of the pseudo-static strength reduction method.The results show that 1) the two methods are both feasible,and the plastic zone first appears near the bottom corners; 2) the safety factor of new method Ⅱ is smaller than that of new method I but generally,and the difference is very small.Therefore,in order to ensure the safety of the structure,two new methods are proposed to evaluate the seismic stability of the rock mass or soil mass surrounding a tunnel.A theoretical basis is provided for the seismic stability of the rock mass or soil mass and the lining surrounding a tunnel and also provided for the engineering application.