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Theoretical Analysis on Safety Thickness of the Water-Resistant Rock Mass of Karst Tunnel Face Taking Into Account Seepage Effect

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Abstract

We took into account the adverse influence of the karst water seepage effect on the water-resistant rock mass of karst tunnel face. Based on the upper-bound theorem of limit analysis and the Hoek–Brown failure criterion, we obtained the calculation method of the critical safety thickness of the water-resistant rock mass. We carried out a feasibility analysis, an analysis of influencing factors and a comparative analysis with previous related research achievements of this method. The results showed that: (1) With the decrease of surrounding rock grade, the safety thickness of water-resistant rock mass gradually increased, and the safety thickness of surrounding rock at all grades remained within a reasonable range. (2) The safety thickness decreased as the compressive strength, the tensile strength and parameter A increased, and it increased as the karst water pressure, the tunnel excavation height, and parameter B increased. (3) The change trend of the safety thickness with the influencing factors was completely consistent under the two conditions of considering and without considering the seepage effect, and the safety thickness with considering the seepage force was greater than that without considering the seepage force. Taking the Yunwushan Tunnel of Yiwan railway as an example, the critical safety thickness of the water-resistant rock mass was calculated and the calculated value was in good coincidence with the safety thickness adopted in the actual project. The research results are of great significance to prevent the occurrence of high pressure filling karst geological disasters such as water inrush in tunnels.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.: 51778215, U1810203), the National Key Basic Research and Development Plan (973 Plan) Project (Grant No.: 2013CB036003), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Fund (Grant No.: 2018M631114), and the Doctoral Fund of Henan Polytechnic University (Grant No.: B2020-41).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, Henan, China

    Jiaqi Guo, Wenlong Wu, Xiliang Liu & Xin Huang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and System Safety Traffic Engineering Structures, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang, 050043, Hebei, China

    Jiaqi Guo, Xin Huang & Zhengguo Zhu

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  1. Jiaqi Guo
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  2. Wenlong Wu
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  3. Xiliang Liu
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  4. Xin Huang
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  5. Zhengguo Zhu
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Correspondence to Wenlong Wu.

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Guo, J., Wu, W., Liu, X. et al. Theoretical Analysis on Safety Thickness of the Water-Resistant Rock Mass of Karst Tunnel Face Taking Into Account Seepage Effect. Geotech Geol Eng 40, 697–709 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-021-01916-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-021-01916-7

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