ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Geotechnical & Earth Resources
Engineering

CE 71.53 UNDERGROUND EXCAVATION

AND TUNNELING

HOMEWORK -1
EXAMINE 2D & Kirsch Solution

SUBMITTED BY: Jobayda Akhter (121022)

SUBMITTED TO: Prof. Noppadol Phien-Wej

 Underground Excavation and Tunnelling

Problem 1
A 10-m-diameter circular tunnel is excavated in a massive hard rock at a depth of 500 m. The
average density of the overburden is 26 kN/m3 and the horizontal stress to vertical stress ratio is
2.0.
Determine radial stress, circumferential stress and principal stresses and their orientations on the
tunnel wall and at distance of 5 m and 15 m above the tunnel crown and behind the spring line of
the tunnel.

Solution:

Depth, D = 500 m
Diameter of circular tunnel =10 m
a=5m
!"
Stress ratio, K= =2
!#

The average density of the overburden g = 26 kN/m3

Vertical stress, σ# = γD = (26 × 500) kN/m4 = 13000 kN/m4
Horizontal stress, σ" = kσ# = 2 × 13000 kN/m4 = 26000 kN/m4
Elastic solutions for behavior of circular opening in plane strain condition,

1+K a4 1−K a4 aL
Radial Stress, σB = σ# CD G H1 − 4 J + D G H1 − 4 4 + 3 L J (cos 2θ)P
2 r 2 r r

1+K a4 1−K aL
Tangential Stress, σT = σ# CD G H1 + 4 J − D G H1 + 3 L J (cos 2θ)P
2 r 2 r

1 a4 aL
Shear Stress, τBT = σ# C(K − 1) H1 + 2 4 + 3 L J (sin 2θ)P
2 r r

Principle stresses,

1 1
Maximum σZ = (σB + σT ) + [ (σB − σT )4 + τ4BT
2 4

1 1
Minimum σ4 = (σB + σT ) − [ (σB − σT )4 + τ4BT
2 4

Inclination to radial direction,

2τBT
tan 2α =
(σT − σB )
At the crown, θ=0̊
Distance r θ σr σθ τrθ σ1 σ2 tan 2a
5m 10.00 0.00 13406.25 32093.75 0.00 32093.75 13406.25 0.00
15 m 20.00 0.00 13330.08 27294.92 0.00 27294.92 13330.08 0.00

At the spring line, θ = 90̊

Distance r θ σr σθ τrθ σ1 σ2 tan 2a
5m 10.00 90.00 15843.75 16656.25 0.00 16656.25 15843.75 0.00
15 m 20.00 90.00 23232.42 14142.58 0.00 23232.42 14142.58 0.00
Problem 2
Utilize the 2-dimension boundary element program by Hoek et al to determine
stresses/displacement in a rock mass around an underground opening at a depth of 500 m as shown
below.
Rock mass properties are:

- Uniaxial compressive strength sc = 50 MPa

- Rock Type Sandstone-Greywacke

- a) Good quality mass GSI = 60

- b) Poor quality mass GSI = 25

- Bulk unit weight g = 0.026 MN/m3

- Ratio of horizontal to vertical stresses

In plane i) k = 1.0
ii) k = 2.0
Out of plane Kz = 1.0

Plot and compare conditions of stresses and displacements of the 4 cases of the two shapes
of tunnel cross section, i.e. straight invert and curved invert in term of,

a) Principal stresses
b) Strength factor
c) Total displacement
d) Shear strain
The rock mass modulus of deformation

𝐷 𝜎b cdefZg
𝐸^ = D1 − G ` × 10 Lg 𝐺𝑃𝑎 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝜎b < 100 𝑀𝑃𝑎 (𝐻𝑜𝑒𝑘 & 𝐵𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑛, 2002)
2 100

Assume Poisson’s ratio = 0.25

Disturbance factor is assumed as ‘0’

(Excellent quality-controlled blasting or excavation by TBM)
For good quality mass, GSI = 60,
Em = 12574.33 MPa

For poor quality mass, GSI = 25,

Em = 1676.81 MPa
Ratio of horizontal to vertical stresses
In plane i) k = 1.0
ii) k = 2.0
Out of plane Kz = 1.0

Analysis results from the software is attached as the photos.

RESULTS OBTAINED BY EXAMINE 2D SOFTWARE

Input Parameters

Case 1 (In plane, k=1, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=25) Case 2 (In plane, k=1, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=60)
Case 3 (In plane, k=2, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=25) Case 4 (In plane, k=2, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=60)
 1. Principal Stresses
Principal stresses around the opening does not change with the strength of the rock mass (GSI).
For the purpose of the discussion, principle stress were presented in terms of the deviatoric
stresses.

• Principle Stress for Straight Invert Section (In plane, k=1, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=25 & 60)

Picture shows the deviatoric stress distribution around the opening under uniform stress
condition. Stress acting on the roof is higher compared to the stresses acting on the walls.
 • Principle Stress for Straight Invert Section (In plane, k=2, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=25 & 60)

In this case sigma 1 is horizontal. Therefore, according to the Krisch’s solution, large
concentration of stress is expected at the tunnel roof.
 • Principle Stress for Curved Invert Section (In plane, k=1, Out plane, kz=1, GSI= 25 & 60)

Uniform stress condition, since the opening is much curved than the straight one, the stress
distribution is uniform as the straight invert section.
 • Principle Stress for Curved Invert Section (In plane, k=2, Out plane, kz=1, GSI= 25 & 60)

High stress concentration in the tunnel roof due to high horizontal stresses.
 Discussion & Conclusion:

Principle Stresses

Tunnel
Straight Invert tunnel Curved Invert Tunnel
Section
Stress
K =1, kz= 1 K =2, kz= 1 K =1, kz= 1 K =2, kz= 1
Ratio
GSI GSI = 25 GSI = 60 GSI = 25 GSI = 60 GSI = 25 GSI = 60 GSI = 25 GSI = 60
Deviatoric
Stress 18.8160 45.3372 19.8511 47.5481
(MPa)
According to the above table, variation of deviatoric stress is depended on the stress ratio and
shape of the tunnel but not on GSI value. When stress ratio is increases, the value of 𝜎Z and 𝜎4 are
also increases.
Strength Factor (tension)
• Strength Factor for Straight Invert Section (In plane, k=1, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=25)

• Strength Factor for Straight Invert Section (In plane, k=1, Out plane, kz=1, GSI= 60)
• Strength Factor for Straight Invert Section (In plane, k=2, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=25)

• Strength Factor for Straight Invert Section (In plane, k=2, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=60)
• Strength Factor for Curved Invert Section (In plane, k=1, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=25)

• Strength Factor for Curved Invert Section (In plane, k=1, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=60)
• Strength Factor for Curved Invert Section (In plane, k=2, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=25)

• Strength Factor for Curved Invert Section (In plane, k=2, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=60)
 Discussion & Conclusion:

Strength Factor
The strength factor represents the ratio of material strength to induced stress at a given point. If
the strength factor is less than 1, this indicates that the stress in the material exceeds the material
strength.

Tunnel
Straight Invert tunnel Curved Invert Tunnel
Section
Stress
K =1, kz= 1 K =2, kz= 1 K =1, kz= 1 K =2, kz= 1
Ratio
GSI GSI = 25 GSI = 60 GSI = 25 GSI = 60 GSI = 25 GSI = 60 GSI = 25 GSI = 60
Strength
Factor
0.56 0.75 0.48 0.71 0.52 0.71 0.46 0.68
(minimum
on wall)

Overstressing has occurred near the sharp edges. This is due to the high stress concentration near
to sharp edges and the induced stress has overcome the compressive strength of the rock mass. The
results indicate that strength factor on the tunnel wall is less than 1, so overstressing has occurred
in all conditions.
Due to the increment of GSI from 25 to 60, the stability of the tunnel has improved due to
increment of the rock mass strength. When the GSI value is 25, overstressing has occurred at the
tunnel wall, but when GSI =60, overstressing has not occurred at the tunnel wall.
Besides, it is found that the stress ratio k also affect the strength factors. Under the same
overburden and rock properties, the models of different k value have different strength factor.
Models with k=2 value experienced greater difference in vertical and horizontal stress and thus
result in a lower strength factor (overstressing).
Total Displacement (m)
• Total Displacement of Straight Invert Section (In plane, k=1, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=25)

• Total Displacement of Straight Invert Section (In plane, k=1, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=60)
• Total Displacement of Straight Invert Section (In plane, k=2, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=25)

• Total Displacement of Straight Invert Section (In plane, k=2, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=60)
• Total Displacement of Curved Invert Section (In plane, k=1, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=25)

• Total Displacement of Curved Invert Section (In plane, k=1, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=60)
• Total Displacement of Curved Invert Section (In plane, k=2, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=25)

• Total Displacement of Curved Invert Section (In plane, k=2, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=60)
 Discussion & Conclusion:

Total Displacement (mm)

Displacement of tunnel under higher overburden is greater compared to tunnel under lower
overburden. This is because higher stress induced more displacement to the tunnel which can lead
to failure.

Tunnel
Straight Invert tunnel Curved Invert Tunnel
Section
Stress Ratio K =1, kz= 1 K =2, kz= 1 K =1, kz= 1 K =2, kz= 1
GSI GSI = 25 GSI = 60 GSI = 25 GSI = 60 GSI = 25 GSI = 60 GSI = 25 GSI = 60
16.46
48.85 6.51 118.83 15.85 49.65 6.62 123.40
Total (wall)
(wall) (wall) (wall) (wall) (wall) (wall) (wall)
Displacement 3.69
52.39 6.98 29.70 3.97 62.16 6.95 27.71
(max) (mm) (crown)
(crown) (crown) (crown) (crown) (crown) (crown) (crown)

According to the table and figure, when k = 2, the maximum total displacement is on the wall of
tunnel. While for model of k = 1, the displacement are nearly same around the tunnel boundary.
Under the same overburden and rock properties, the models of different k value have different total
displacement. Models with k=2 value experienced greater difference in horizontal and vertical
stress on the tunnel boundary, thus result in a higher total displacement compared with k=1.
In addition, the tunnel with weaker rock or lower rock modulus of deformation experienced greater
displacement.
Maximum Shear Strain
• Max. Shear Strain of Straight Invert Section (In plane, k=1, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=25)

• Max. Shear Strain of Straight Invert Section (In plane, k=1, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=60)
• Max. Shear Strain of Straight Invert Section (In plane, k=2, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=25)

• Max. Shear Strain of Straight Invert Section (In plane, k=2, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=60)
• Max. Shear Strain of Curved Invert Section (In plane, k=1, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=25)

• Max. Shear Strain of Curved Invert Section (In plane, k=1, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=60)
• Max. Shear Strain of Curved Invert Section (In plane, k=2, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=25)

• Max. Shear Strain of Curved Invert Section (In plane, k=2, Out plane, kz=1, GSI=60)
 Discussion & Conclusion:
Maximum Shear Strain

Tunnel
Straight Invert tunnel Curved Invert Tunnel
Section
Stress Ratio K =1, kz= 1 K =2, kz= 1 K =1, kz= 1 K =2, kz= 1
GSI GSI = 25 GSI = 60 GSI = 25 GSI = 60 GSI = 25 GSI = 60 GSI = 25 GSI = 60
Max. shear
16.87 2.25 37.76 5.03 17.69 2.35 40.77 5.43
Strain
(crown) (crown) (crown) (crown) (crown) (crown) (crown) (crown)
(max)mm

From the above table, we can see that shear strain is maximum where rock mass has less GSI
value. Besides, when k = 2 (bigger difference in horizontal and vertical stress), the both shapes of
tunnel section showed the lower shear strain value than k = 1.
In addition, in both shapes of the tunnel, the shear strain is maximum at crown (top and bottom).

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