An improved overload limit equilibrium method of rock blocks

Authors

Guo-feng XIAO, State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China

Abstract

The lifting mode is one of the failure modes of finite movable blocks proposed by block theory. Although direct collapse is the most common failure mode in underground engineering, there is still a lack of suitable quantitative stability analysis methods, resulting in the scarcity of necessary theoretical support for the excavation and reinforcement design of underground engineering. To this end, an improved stability analysis method for rock blocks considering progressive damage is proposed. Main improvements include: introducing overload base and overload direction to quantify the reserve load; proposing two options of overload base which are Tan and Scal; and setting the overload direction on the boundary sector of the joint pyramid. The example verification results show that the improved method is fully compatible with the existing safety factor algorithm for the wedge failure mode. It realizes the quantitative stability analysis of the lifting mode. Finally, the stiffness assignment method and its sensitivity are discussed.

Graphic Abstract

Recommended Citation

XIAO, Guo-feng (2023) "An improved overload limit equilibrium method of rock blocks," Rock and Soil Mechanics: Vol. 44: Iss. 2, Article 6.
DOI: 10.16285/j.rsm.2022.5371
Available at: https://rocksoilmech.researchcommons.org/journal/vol44/iss2/6