Shield Excavation Analysis: Ground Settlement & Mechanical Responses in Complex Strata

This study delves into the effects of shield tunneling in complex coastal strata, focusing on how this constructionmethod impacts surface settlement, the mechanical properties of adjacent rock, and the deformation of tunnelsegments. It investigates the impact of shield construction on surface settlement, mechanical characteristics ofnearby rock, and segment deformation in complex coastal strata susceptible to construction disturbances. Utilizingthe Fuzhou Binhai express line as a case study, we developed a comprehensive numerical model using theABAQUS finite element software. The model incorporates factors such as face force, grouting pressure, jack force,and cutterhead torque. Its accuracy is validated against field monitoring data from engineering projects. Simulationswere conducted to analyze ground settlement and mechanical changes in adjacent rock and segments acrossfive soil layers. The results indicate that disturbances are most significant near the excavation zone of the shieldmachine, with a prominent settlement trough forming and stabilizing around 2.0–3.0 D from the excavation. Theexcavation face compresses the soil, inducing lateral expansion. As grouting pressure decreases, the segmentexperiences upward buoyancy. In mixed strata, softer layers witness increased cutting, intensifying disturbancesbut reducing segment floatation. These findings offer valuable insights for predicting settlements, ensuring segmentand rock safety, and optimizing tunneling parameters.

Effects of thermal treatment on physical and mechanical characteristics of coal rock

To study the physical and mechanical properties of coal rock after treatment at different temperatures under impact loading, dynamic compression experiments were conducted by using a split Hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB). The stress–strain curves of specimens under impact loading were obtained, and then four indexes affected by temperature were analyzed in the experiment: the longitudinal wave velocity, elastic modulus, peak stress and peak strain. Among these indexes, the elastic modulus was utilized to express the specimens' damage characteristics. The results show that the stress–strain curves under impact loading lack the stage of micro-fissure closure and the slope of the elastic deformation stage is higher than that under static loading. Due to the dynamic loading effect, the peak stress increases while peak strain decreases. The dynamic mechanical properties of coal rock show obvious temperature effects. The longitudinal wave velocity, elastic modulus and peak stress all decrease to different extents with increasing temperature, while the peak strain increases continuously. During the whole heating process, the thermal damage value continues to increase linearly, which indicates that the internal structure of coal rock is gradually damaged by high temperature.

Mechanical and damage evolution properties of sandstone under triaxial compression

To study the mechanical and damage evolution properties of sandstone under triaxial compression, we analyzed the stress strain curve characteristics, deformation and strength properties, and failure process and characteristics of sandstone samples under different stress states. The experimental results reveal that peak strength, residual strength, elasticity modulus and deformation modulus increase linearly with confining pressure, and failure models transform from fragile failure under low confining pressure to ductility failure under high confining pressure. Macroscopic failure forms of samples under uniaxial compression were split failure parallel to the axis of samples, while macroscopic failure forms under uniaxial compression were shear failure, the shear failure angle of which decreased linearly with confin- ing pressure. There were significant volume dilatation properties in the loading process of sandstone under different confining pressures, and we analyzed the damage evolution properties of samples based on acoustic emission damage and volumetric dilatation damage, and established damage constitutive model, realizing the real-time Quantitative evaluation of samnles damage state in loading process.

Hydraulic properties of dune sand-bentonite mixtures of insulation barriers for hazardous waste facilities

The material and elastic properties of rocks are utilized for predicting and evaluating hard rock brittleness using artificial neural networks（ANN）. Herein hard rock brittleness is defined using Yagiz＇method. A predictive model is developed using a comprehensive database compiled from 30 years＇ worth of rock tests at the Earth Mechanics Institute（EMI）, Colorado School of Mines. The model is sensitive to density, elastic properties, and P- and S-wave velocities. The results show that the model is a better predictor of rock brittleness than conventional destructive strength-test based models and multiple regression techniques. While the findings have direct implications on intact rock, the methodology can be extrapolated to rock mass problems in both tunneling and underground mining where rock brittleness is an important control.

Evaluation of shale fracture toughness based on micrometer indentation test

It is an important mechanical parameter for fracture toughness that affects hydraulic fracturing.Some methods such as indoor test core and logging data interpretation are commonly used to obtain fracture toughness.These methods,however,have their own limitations.Liu's method has focused the mechanical properties of shale including fracture toughness based on micro-/nano-indentation experiments.Zeng's method has pointed that the former method of calculating fracture toughness ignores the maximum holding stage in the indentation-displacement curves,they point out and correct the fracture stress intensity factor model,but the final calculation of the fracture toughness of the numerical difference is of two orders of magnitude.In this paper,micro-indentation experiments were carried out to further analyze and correct the model by collecting and analyzing Longmaxi shale cuttings.After Zeng and Liu's methods are combined,the irreversible elastic energy by energy area actually was measured.To some extent,the difference between the two kinds of fracture toughness is reduced.