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In Situ Observation of Failure Mechanisms Controlled by Rock Masses with Weak Interlayer Zones in Large Underground Cavern Excavations Under High Geostress

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Abstract

A weak interlayer zone (WIZ) is a poor rock mass system with loose structure, weak mechanical properties, variable thickness, random distribution, strong extension, and high risk due to the shear motion of rock masses under the action of tectonism, bringing many stability problems and geological hazards, especially representing a potential threat to the overall stability of rock masses with WIZs in large underground cavern excavations. Focusing on the deformation and failure problems encountered in the process of excavation unloading, this research proposes comprehensive in situ observation schemes for rock masses with WIZs in large underground cavern on the basis of the collection of geological, construction, monitoring, and testing data. The schemes have been fully applied in two valuable project cases of an underground cavern group under construction in the southwest of China, including the plastic squeezing-out tensile failure and the structural stress-induced collapse of rock masses with WIZs. In this way, the development of rock mass failure, affected by the step-by-step excavations along the cavern’s axis and the subsequent excavation downward, could be observed thoroughly. Furthermore, this paper reveals the preliminary analyses of failure mechanism of rock masses with WIZs from several aspects, including rock mass structure, strength, high stress, ground water effects, and microfracture mechanisms. Finally, the failure particularities of rock masses with WIZs and rethink on prevention and control of failures are discussed. The research results could provide important guiding reference value for stability analysis, as well as for rethinking the excavation and support optimization of rock masses with WIZs in similar large underground cavern under high geostress.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos. 11232024 and 41320104005. Authors like to thank the staff of the China Three Gorges Project Corporation, East China Investigation and Design Institute, China Gezhouba Group Corporation, and Sinohydro Bureau 7 Co., Ltd, for their technical support. Authors also wish to thank Prof. Y.J. Cui, Prof. S.J. Li, Dr. D.P. Xu, and Mr. Z.B. Yao for their kind help.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China

    Shu-Qian Duan, Xia-Ting Feng, Quan Jiang, Guo-Feng Liu & Shu-Feng Pei

  2. Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education on Safe Mining of Deep Metal Mines, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China

    Xia-Ting Feng

  3. China Three Gorges Corporation, Beijing, 100038, China

    Yi-Lin Fan

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  1. Shu-Qian Duan
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  2. Xia-Ting Feng
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  3. Quan Jiang
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  4. Guo-Feng Liu
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  5. Shu-Feng Pei
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Correspondence to Xia-Ting Feng.

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Duan, SQ., Feng, XT., Jiang, Q. et al. In Situ Observation of Failure Mechanisms Controlled by Rock Masses with Weak Interlayer Zones in Large Underground Cavern Excavations Under High Geostress. Rock Mech Rock Eng 50, 2465–2493 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-017-1249-4

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