Stress arch bunch and its formation mechanism in blocky stratified rock masses

Stress arch is a common phenomenon occurring in continuous materials and has also l：een proved to have great influences on the self-stabilization of soils or rock masses after excavation. In this paper, based on UDEC simulation, stress redistribution after excavation is investigated for a kind of special discontinuous material, i.e. blocky stratified rock mass. A layered stress arch system is observed with each stress arch lying over another. This special phenomenon is defined herein as ＂stress arch bunch＂. Effects of dip angle of bedding plane, lateral pressure and joint offset on this stress arch bunch are studied. Its formation mechanism is also discussed based on voussoir beam theory.

Experimental and Numerical Study on Anchorage Strength and Deformation Properties of Blocky Rock Mass

This study experimentally and numerically investigated the anchorage properties,bolt force evolution,deformation and stress fields of blocky rock mass with various dip angles of joint surfaces under an applied axial load.The results show that due to bolt reinforcement,the axial stress-strain curves of anchorage blocky rock mass show typical strain-hardening characteristics,and comparedwithmodels without anchorage,the peak strength and elastic modulus increase by 21.56%and 20.0%,respectively.With an increase in axial stress,the lateral strain continuously increases,and restriction effects of bolts reduce the overall deformation of model surfaces.The axial stressstrain curves of anchorage blocky rock mass in the simulations present a“double peak strength”phenomenon due to bolt reinforcement,and the peak strength,second peak strength,residual strength,surface displacement field,as well as the principal stress fields all depend on the dip angles of joint surfaces.As a result of the bolt reinforcement effects,cone-shaped compression zones are produced in the models,and compression zones of adjacent bolts superimpose with each other to form anchorage belts,improving the overall bearing capacity of anchorage models.Obvious stress concentration can be observed at both bolt end and anchorage section.Not only the role of bolt support transfers the blocky rock mass to be a three-dimensional stress state through compression effects,but also it improves both tensile strength and shear resistance of both joint surfaces and the overall blocky rock mass.

Influence of degree of interlock on confined strength of jointed hard rock masses

The strength of jointed rock mass is strongly controlled by the degree of interlock between its constituent rock blocks.The degree of interlock constrains the kinematic freedom of individual rock blocks to rotate and slide along the block forming joints.The HoekeBrown(HB)failure criterion and the geological strength index(GSI)were developed based on experiences from mine slopes and tunneling projects in moderately to poorly interlocked jointed rock masses.It has since then been demonstrated that the approach to estimate the HB strength parameters based on the GSI strength scaling equations(called the‘GSI strength equations’)tends to underestimate the confined peak strength of highly interlocked jointed rock masses(i.e.GSI>65),where the rock mass is often non-persistently jointed,and the intact rock blocks are strong and brittle.The estimation of the confined strength of such rock masses is relevant when designing mine pillars and abutments at great depths,where the confining pressure is high enough to prevent block rotation and free sliding on block boundaries.In this article,a grain-based distinct element modeling approach is used to simulate jointed rock masses of various degrees of interlock and to investigate the influences of block shape,joint persistence and joint surface condition on the confined peak strengths.The focus is on non-persistently jointed and blocky(persistently jointed)rock masses,consisting of hard and homogeneous rock blocks devoid of any strength degrading defects such as veins.The results from this investigation confirm that the GSI strength equations underestimate the confined strength of highly interlocked and non-persistently jointed rock masses.Moreover,the GSI strength equations are found to be valid to estimate the confined strength of persistently jointed rock masses with smooth and non-dilatant joint surfaces.

Failure behavior and strength model of blocky rock mass with and without rockbolts

To better understand the failure behaviours and strength of bolt-reinforced blocky rocks,large scale extensive laboratory experiments are carried out on blocky rock-like specimens with and without rockbolt reinforcement.The results show that both shear failure and tensile failure along joint surfaces are observed but the shear failure is a main controlling factor for the peak strength of the rock mass with and without rockbolts.The rockbolts are necked and shear deformation simultaneously happens in bolt reinforced rock specimens.As the joint dip angle increases,the joint shear failure becomes more dominant.The number of rockbolts has a significant impact on the peak strain and uniaxial compressive strength(UCS),but little influence on the deformation modulus of the rock mass.Using the Winkler beam model to represent the rockbolt behaviours,an analytical model for the prediction of the strength of boltreinforced blocky rocks is proposed.Good agreement between the UCS values predicted by proposed model and obtained from experiments suggest an encouraging performance of the proposed model.In addition,the performance of the proposed model is further assessed using published results in the literature,indicating the proposed model can be used effectively in the prediction of UCS of bolt-reinforced blocky rocks.