ROCK-SUPPORT INTERACTIONS AND STRESS

CONTROLLED INSTABILITY
TA4121 UNDERGROUND STABILITY

By :

Padmanatha Adhiwijna 12120060

Mohammad Ikhwanul Yogaswara 12120073
Muhammad Agil Farhandi 12120094
Dylan Gema Kurniawan 12120140

MINING ENGINEERING STUDY PROGRAM

FACULTY OF MINING AND PETROLEUM ENGINEERING
INSTITUT TEKNOLOGI BANDUNG
2023
ASSIGNMENT 01 Rock-Support Interactions and Stress Controlled Instability

PROBLEMS:
A mine access tunnel with a radius of 5 m and at a depth of 150 m will be excavated through
poor rock mass with the following properties:
No. Parameter Symbol Value Unit
1 Tunnel radius R 5 m
2 Tunnel depth h 150 m
3 Unit weight g 20 kN/m3
4 Deformation modulus Em 900 MPa
5 Poisson's ratio v 0.2 -
6 Compressive strength s cm 1 MPa
7 Cohesion cm 0.5 MPa
8 Friction angle fm 35 degrees

Give the most suitable tunnel support system with a minimum FoS = 1.5 using the concept of
rock-support interactions!
1) Construct GRC and plastic zone Radius Rp curves!
2) Construct an LDP curve!
3) Construct the GRC, LDP, and SRC curves and show the SRC curves for the rockbolt,
steel set, and/or shotcrete!
4) Present the justification for the type of support recommended!

ANSWERS:
GRC (Ground Reaction Curve) is a graphical representation that shows the relationship between
ground reaction (pi) and displacement or deformation surrounding the excavated rock (ur). The
GRC is a fundamental and useful tool in assessing the stability and behavior of underground
structures, in this case, a mine access tunnel. The GRC typically represents how the ground reacts
to excavation and it can provide critical information about the rock’s strength and deformation
characteristics.
According to Duncan Fama (1993), we can use the following equation and parameters to determine
the GRC :
𝑅(1+𝑣)
𝑢𝑟 = (𝑝0 − 𝑝𝑖 ) ∗ 𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡 (1)
𝐸

𝑅(1+𝑣) 𝑅𝑝 2
𝑢𝑟 = [2(1 − 𝑣)(𝑝0 − 𝑝𝑐𝑟 ) ( 𝑅 ) − (1 − 2𝑣)(𝑝0 − 𝑝𝑖 )] ∗ 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡 (2)
𝐸

Each variable within the equation can be calculated through the following equation :
(2𝑝𝑜 − 𝜎𝑐𝑚 )
𝑝𝑐𝑟 = (3)
(1+𝑘)

(1+𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜙𝑚 )
𝑘= (1−𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜙𝑚 )
(4)

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TA4121 - UNDERGROUND STABILITY
ASSIGNMENT 01 Rock-Support Interactions and Stress Controlled Instability

1
2(𝑝 (𝑘−1)+𝜎
𝑜 𝑐𝑚 )
𝑅𝑝 = 𝑅 [(1+𝑘)((𝑘−1)𝑝 ] (𝑘−1) (5)
+𝜎
𝑖 𝑐𝑚 )

Based on the data given, we can calculate the parameters needed to make the GRC shown in the
following table :
Table 1. GRC Parameters

GRC Parameters
No. Parameter Symbol Value Unit
1 Tunnel radius R 5 m
2 Tunnel depth h 150 m
3 Density r 2000 kg/m3
4 In situ stress (hydrostatic) po 3 MPa
5 Internal pressure pi 0 MPa
6 Critical support pressure p cr 1.066 MPa
7 Maximum plastic zone radius Rp max 8.267 m
8 Maxium radial displacement ur max 4.439 cm
9 Rpmax/Ro Rp* 1.653 -
10 uro/urmax uo* 0.26 -
11 Radial displacement at face u ro 1.155 cm

After calculating the parameters for the GRC, we can determine the radial displacement on each
internal pressure point in the graph. It is however assumed the displacement for all sides of the
tunnel is the same at a distance from the tunnel face, x (m). The calculation is shown in the table
below.
Table 2. GRC Calculation Results

GRC Graph Points

Deformation Point p i (MPa) Rp (m) u r (cm)
1 3.00 5.00 0.00
Elastic
2 1.07 5.00 1.29
3 1.00 5.09 1.34
4 0.90 5.23 1.42
5 0.80 5.40 1.52
6 0.70 5.58 1.65
7 0.60 5.78 1.80
Plastic 8 0.50 6.02 1.99
9 0.40 6.30 2.24
10 0.30 6.63 2.55
11 0.20 7.04 2.97
12 0.10 7.57 3.56
13 0.00 8.27 4.44

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TA4121 - UNDERGROUND STABILITY
ASSIGNMENT 01 Rock-Support Interactions and Stress Controlled Instability

Based on the values calculated in Table 2. each of the points can be plotted into the following
graph and will form the GRC shown as follows.

Figure 1. Ground Reaction Curve and Radius of Plastic Zone

The next step for determining the support needed for stability is to construct the LDP (Longitudinal
Displacement Profile) curve. LDP curve is a graphical relationship between the radial
displacement against the distance from the tunnel face.

Figure 2. Tunnel advancement illustration

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TA4121 - UNDERGROUND STABILITY
ASSIGNMENT 01 Rock-Support Interactions and Stress Controlled Instability

According to Vlachopoulos and Diederichs (2009), The equation used to determine the radial
displacement is written as follows :
∗ ∗ 𝑥
𝑢𝑟 = 𝑢𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑥 (𝑢𝑟𝑜 𝑒 𝑥 ); 𝑓𝑜𝑟 ≤0 (6)
𝑅
3𝑥∗
− 𝑥
∗ 2𝑅∗𝑝
𝑢𝑟 = 𝑢𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑥 (1 − (1 − 𝑢𝑟𝑜 ) 𝑒 ) ; 𝑓𝑜𝑟 ≥0 (7)
𝑅

Where,
𝑅(1+𝑣) 𝑅𝑝 𝑚𝑎𝑥 2
𝑢𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = [2(1 − 𝑣)(𝑝0 − 𝑝𝑐𝑟 ) ( ) − (1 − 2𝑣)(𝑝0 − 𝑝𝑖 )] (8)
𝐸 𝑅

𝑅𝑝 𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑢𝑟𝑜 1 𝑥 𝑅𝑝 𝑚𝑎𝑥
∗
𝑢𝑟𝑜 = = 3 𝑒 −0.15 𝑅 ; 𝑥∗ = ; 𝑅𝑝∗ = (9)
𝑢𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑅 𝑅

By using the equation above, we can calculate the LDP where the results are shown by the table
below.
Table 3. LDP Calculation Results

LDP Graph Points

Point x* = x/R exp(x/R ) exp(-3/2(x*/Rp* )) x (m) u r (cm)
1 -6.00 0.002 - -30.0 0.003
2 -5.50 0.004 - -27.5 0.005
3 -5.00 0.007 - -25.0 0.008
4 -4.50 0.011 - -22.5 0.013
5 -4.00 0.018 - -20.0 0.021
6 -3.50 0.030 - -17.5 0.035
7 -3.00 0.050 - -15.0 0.057
8 -2.50 0.082 - -12.5 0.095
9 -2.00 0.135 - -10.0 0.156
10 -1.50 0.223 - -7.5 0.258
11 -1.00 0.368 - -5.0 0.425
12 -0.50 0.607 - -2.5 0.700
13 0.00 1.000 1.000 0.0 1.155
14 0.50 - 0.635 2.5 2.353
15 1.00 - 0.404 5.0 3.114
16 1.50 - 0.256 7.5 3.597
17 2.00 - 0.163 10.0 3.904
18 2.50 - 0.104 12.5 4.099
19 3.00 - 0.066 15.0 4.223
20 3.50 - 0.042 17.5 4.302

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TA4121 - UNDERGROUND STABILITY
ASSIGNMENT 01 Rock-Support Interactions and Stress Controlled Instability

21 4.00 - 0.027 20.0 4.352

22 4.50 - 0.017 22.5 4.384
23 5.00 - 0.011 25.0 4.404
24 5.50 - 0.007 27.5 4.417
25 6.00 - 0.004 30.0 4.425
26 6.50 - 0.003 32.5 4.430
27 7.00 - 0.002 35.0 4.434
28 7.50 - 0.001 37.5 4.436
29 8.00 - 0.001 40.0 4.437
30 8.50 - 0.000 42.5 4.438
31 9.00 - 0.000 45.0 4.439
32 9.50 - 0.000 47.5 4.439
33 10.00 - 0.000 50.0 4.439

Based on the results we have obtained from the calculation, the deformation and the distance
from tunnel face is now plotted into the graph as following.

Figure 3. Longitudinal displacement profile graph

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TA4121 - UNDERGROUND STABILITY
ASSIGNMENT 01 Rock-Support Interactions and Stress Controlled Instability

To determine the support will be used in this case, we can plot the radius of the tunnel and the
internal support pressure at the chosen equilibrium point shown below.

Figure 4. Type of supports graph

Based on the graph, the type of supports chosen is Wide Flange Rib H-Beam - W200×71/W8×48,
Shotcrete or Concrete Lining with a 0.1 m thickness, and 19 mm Rockbolts. For each type of
support chosen will be analysed using Support Reaction Curve with all the calculated parameters
shown in the table below.

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TA4121 - UNDERGROUND STABILITY
ASSIGNMENT 01 Rock-Support Interactions and Stress Controlled Instability

Table 4. SRC Parameters for 0.1 m Shotcrete

SRC Parameters (Shotcrete)

No. Parameter Symbol Value Unit
Thickness t shot 0.1 m
Cross-sectional area A shot 3.110177 m2
Young's modulus E shot 30 GPa
2 Poisson's ratio v shot 0.2
Compressive strength s shot 35 MPa
Stiffness K shot 126.28 Mpa/m
Maximum support pressure p smax,shot 0.693 MPa

Where the maximum support pressure and stiffness for shotcrete is determined by the equation
below :
𝜎𝑐𝑐 (𝑟𝑜 −𝑡𝑐 )2
𝑝𝑠𝑐 = [1 − ] (10)
2 𝑟𝑜2

𝐸𝑐 (𝑟𝑜2 −(𝑟𝑜 −𝑡𝑐 )2 )

𝐾𝑠𝑐 = (11)
2(1−𝑣 2 )(𝑟𝑜 −𝑡𝑐 )𝑟𝑜2

After calculating the maximum support pressure and the stiffness of the shotcrete, we can calculate
the graph points based on the maximum support pressure and the radial displacement.
Table 5. Shotcrete SRC graph points

Point p i (MPa) u r (cm)

1 0 2.35
2 0.693 2.90
3 0.693 4.44

Table 6. SRC Parameters for W200x71

SRC Parameters (H-Beam)

No. Parameter Symbol Value Unit
Spacing between steel sets s 1 m
Section depth H set 0.216 m
Cross-sectional area A set 0.0091 m2
Moment Inertia I set 0.000106 m4
1
Young's modulus E set 207 GPa
Compressive strength s set 245 MPa
Stiffness K set 75.35 MPa/m
Maximum support pressure p smax,set 0.446 MPa

Where the maximum support pressure and stiffness for H-Beam is determined by the equation
below :

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TA4121 - UNDERGROUND STABILITY
ASSIGNMENT 01 Rock-Support Interactions and Stress Controlled Instability

𝐴𝑠 𝜎𝑦𝑠
𝑝𝑠𝑠 = (12)
𝑠𝑖 𝑟𝑜

𝐸𝑠 𝐴𝑠
𝐾𝑠𝑐 = (13)
𝑠𝑖 𝑟𝑜2

After calculating the maximum support pressure and the stiffness of the shotcrete, we can calculate
the graph points based on the maximum support pressure and the radial displacement.
Table 7. H-Beam SRC graph points

Point p i (MPa) u r (cm)

1 0 2.35
2 0.446 2.94
3 0.446 4.44

Table 8. SRC Parameters for 19 mm Rockbolts

SRC Parameters (Rockbolts)

No. Parameter Symbol Value Unit
Diameter of the bolt db 19 mm
Length of the bolt lb 3 m
Ultimate load from pull-out test T bf 0.354 MN
Young's modulus of bolt Eb 207 GPa
3
Bolt spacing in longitudinal direction sl 1 m
Bolt spacing in circumferential direction sc 1 m
Stiffness Kb 19.56348 MPa/m
Maximum support pressure of bolt p smax,bolt 0.354 MPa

Where the maximum support pressure and stiffness for Rockbolts is determined by the equation
below :
𝑇𝑏𝑓
𝑝𝑠𝑏 = 𝑠𝑖 𝑠𝑐
(14)

𝐸𝑠 𝜋𝑑𝑏2
𝐾𝑠𝑏 = (15)
4𝑙𝑠𝑖 𝑠𝑐

After calculating the maximum support pressure and the stiffness of the shotcrete, we can calculate
the graph points based on the maximum support pressure and the radial displacement.
Table 9. Rockbolts SRC graph points

Point p i (MPa) u r (cm)

1 0 2.35
2 0.354 4.16
3 0.354 4.44

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TA4121 - UNDERGROUND STABILITY
ASSIGNMENT 01 Rock-Support Interactions and Stress Controlled Instability

After calculating all the SRC graph points, we can now plot the GRC, LDP, and SRC in one graph
to determine the factor of safety using each supports this method is called as the Convergence –
Confinement Method.

Figure 5. Convergence - Confinement Method

The safety factor for each support is calculated by dividing the maximum support pressure and
the value which the SRC and GRC intersects.
Table 10. FoS Calculation for each support

Type of Support FoS

Shotcrete 2.31
H-Beam 1.65
Rockbolts 2.08

For the type of ground support chosen, based on the graph and our calculations of safety factor
and maximum support pressure, the chosen ground support to reinforce this tunnel is 0.1 m thick
Shotcrete, the Shotcrete has the highest factor of safety and highest maximum support pressure.
With high maximum support pressure, it will hold the radial displacement around the tunnel even
better.

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TA4121 - UNDERGROUND STABILITY