Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral

Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas

Basic underground excavation

ASSIGMENT #2

UNWEDGE – STABILITY ANALYSIS

OF WEDGES FOR UNDERGROUND
EXCAVATIONS

Name: Roberto Moncayo Andrade

Teacher: Ing. Roberto Chang

Paralel: 1
 1. Introduction:

Unwedge is a 3D stability analysis and visualization program for underground

excavations in rock containing intersecting structural discontinuities. Safety factors

are calculated for potentially unstable wedges and support requirements can be

modeled using various types of pattern and spot bolting and shotcrete. Use

Unwedge to quickly create a model, perform a safety factor analysis, place

reinforcement and interpret the results.

2. Objetives:

 Evaluate our system for an optimal factor security underground tunnel.

 Evaluate all the resources for an optimal economic analyze.

3. Spreadsheet:

Disc.Family Dip Dip direction Properties Phi/Tensile Strength/Cohesion

Limestone
78 148
1 1 35/29/6
2 81 186 chert 1 20/6.12/1.02
3 44 121 chert 1 20/6.12/1.02
Limestone
79 100
4 1 35/29/6
Limestone
57 330
5 1 35/29/6
Design Factor
Tunnel Axis Orientation Security
Trend:223 1.6
Plunge: 88
 4. Process:

 First we puta ll the information of our families in the program, in mi case I have 5

families of discontinuities (Graphic 1)

Graphic 1

 Then we complete with the “Joint properties” and the “general data”, with the
tunnel axis information and the friction factor, cohesion tensile strength that I
investigate for the introduce of the information. (Graphic 2, 3, 4), [1]
Graphic 2

Graphic 3
Graphic 4

 With all the information in our program we can analyze our system. And we can see

that the security factor in one wedge will cause future problems (the program

doesn’t focus with the wedge that we have in the floor for geomechanicals laws

systems.) (Annex 1) (Graphic 5).

Graphic 5

5. Analyses and resolution:

Now that we can see wedge 4 and have a knowledge about our material that is chert and its

quality of toughness or durability its very weak (fractures level Barely fractured and the

limestone is quite fractured). We need to reforce our tunnel.

 We wont put bolts into our system because the weight of our system is very weight

(annex 1) and it will be an economic spend for nothing. But in the case that we will

need to put bolts and for our material Quality I would use: the split set bolt, with a

column effect (Graphic 7) (for the Graphic 6)

 Graphic 6

Graphic 7

 For resolution we will spend our economic capital, adding layer in all the walls of

our tunnel, that increase our security factor. And made an economic good spend for
future safety chapters. (Annex 2) (Graphic 8). And with an partnership with the

cement industry Holcim. We spend 500 dolars per cubic meter that is high revenue.
 6. Annexes

Annex 1 Before I introduce the cementation to increase the Security Factor

Annex 2: After adding layer
Annex 3

7. Bibliography:

 https://www.rocscience.com/rocscience/products/unwedge
 http://geco.mineroartesanal.com/tiki-
download_wiki_attachment.php?attId=1202
 https://www.inti.gob.ar/cirsoc/pdf/publicom/Capitulo33.pdf
 http://www.varela.com.mx/arch/CostosPorMetroCuadradoDeConstruccion2.pdf