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RocSupport > Tutorials

Tutorial 2 - Heavy Support in RocSupport

Topics covered in this tutorial:

• Carranza-Torres Solution Method

• Deterministic Analysis

• Tunnel and Rock Parameters

• Adding Support

Finished Product:

The finished product of this tutorial can be found in the Tutorial 02 Heavy Support.rsp file,
located in the Examples > Tutorials folder in your RocSupport installation folder.

1.0 Introduction

This tutorial demonstrates how to model a tunnel with much more serious stability problems
than you saw in Tutorial 1 - RockSupport Quick Start, requiring heavier support. The
Carranza-Torres solution method will be used to determine the Ground Reaction Curve.
Analysis will be Deterministic (all parameters assumed to be exactly known).

The model used in the analysis is a 10 meter diameter tunnel is to be constructed at a depth
of 75 meters in a rock mass whose strength is defined by the Hoek-Brown criterion with an
intact rock strength σci = 4 Mpa, constant mi = 12 and a Geological Strength Index = 17.

2.0 Model Creation

If you have not already done so, run RocSupport by double-clicking on the RocSupport
icon in your installation folder or by selecting Programs > Rocscience > RocSupport >

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RocSupport on the Start menu. If the RocSupport application window is not already
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maximized, maximize it now, so that the full screen is available for viewing the model.

To begin creating the model:

Select: File > New

When a new file is created, the Ground Reaction View is displayed. The view shows the
Ground Reaction Curve based on the default Tunnel and Rock Parameters.

2.1 Project Settings

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For this example, we will use the Carranza-Torres solution method, which must be selected
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in the Project Settings dialog.

1. Select Project Settings on the toolbar or the Analysis menu.

2. In the General tab, set Solution Method = Carranza-Torres (2004).

3. In the Project Summary tab, enter Tutorial 2 Heavy Support as the Project Title.

4. Click OK.

2.2 Tunnel and Rock Parameters

Recall that Tutorial 1 used the Duncan Fama Solution Method and, therefore, the Mohr-
Coulomb failure criterion. The Carranza-Torres (2004) solution method uses the Hoek-
Brown failure criterion to determine the Ground Reaction Curve and plastic zone radius.

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RocSupport
• Select - tunnel
Tunnel support…
and Rock Parameters Clickthe
from here to seeorthis
toolbar the page in full
Analysis context
menu.
The Tunnel and Rock Parameters dialog opens.

Our tunnel diameter is 10 meters, so the default Tunnel Radius of 5 meters is already
correct and does not need to be changed.

2.2.1 In-Situ Stress

The In-Situ Stress can be estimated from the Tunnel Depth.

1. Select the Estimate button beside the In-Situ Stress edit box.
The Estimate In-Situ Stress dialog appears.

2. Enter Tunnel Depth = 75 meters.

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3. Click OK.
The In-Situ Stress in the Tunnel and Rock Parameters dialog should now be 2.025.

2.2.2 Rock Parameters

1. Back in the Tunnel and Rock Parameters dialog, enter the following:

◦ Intact Compressive Strength (σci) = 4MPa

◦ GSI = 17

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◦ Intact Rock Constant mi = 12

NOTE: Built-in tables for selection of appropriate mi , GSI, intact UCS and D can be

accessed by selecting the “pick” buttons in the Tunnel and Rock Parameters
dialog. This is left as an optional exercise for the user to explore. See the previous tutorial
for a discussion of these tables.

2. Click the Calculator icon beside the Young’s Modulus of Rock Mass edit box to
calculate the Young’s Modulus of Rock Mass according to the Modulus Estimation
Method specified in the Project Settings dialog.
The value should now be 299 MPa. For help on this parameter, see RocSupport
Modulus Estimation Method Setting.

3. Click Apply to save your settings and run the analysis.

4. Click Close.

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3.0 Analysis Results (No Support)

The Ground Reaction Curve should appear as follows.

Note the Tunnel Final Convergence is 13.2%. This is a very high value of Tunnel
Convergence. A tunnel with these input parameters would have very serious stability

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problems. Very heavy support, installed as close as possible to the advancing face, would
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be necessary.

Now we'll look at the model through the Tunnel Section View.

• Select Tunnel Selection on the toolbar or Analysis menu.

Notice the very large Radius of Plastic Zone (26.4 m) around the unsupported tunnel.

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4.0 Adding Supports

Now we'll add supports, using the Support Parameters dialog. Let’s start with I section
steel sets (254 mm depth, 10450 mm2 area, weighing 82 kg / m), spaced at 1.5 m, and
installed at a distance of 3 m from the face.

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RocSupport
1. Select - tunnel
Support support…
Parameters Clickorhere
on the toolbar to see thismenu.
the Analysis page in full context

2. Select the Steel Sets tab and select the Add Support check box.

3. Select I section rib from the Type dropdown list.

4. Make sure Section depth = 254 is selected.

5. Set Out of Plane spacing = 1.5m.

6. Under Support Installation, select Distance from Tunnel Face and enter 3m.

7. Click Apply to save the support parameters you have entered and re-run the analysis.

8. Click Close.

5.0 Analysis Results (with Support)

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RocSupport
• Select - tunnelReaction
the Ground support… view. Click here to see this page in full context

The Ground Reaction and Support Reaction should appear as follows:

Select the Tunnel Section View and view the analysis summary in the Project Info
Textbox.

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RocSupport - tunnel
Select: support…
Analysis > Tunnel Section Click here to see this page in full context

Compared to the unsupported results, the Steel Set support has:

• Decreased the plastic zone radius (26.4 to 14.6 m)

• Decreased the final Tunnel Convergence (13.2 to 3.8 %)

• Factor of safety for the support is 2.5.

NOTE: Even with support, the tunnel is still surrounded by a large plastic zone radius. However, the
final convergence has been significantly reduced, and the Factor of Safety for the Steel Sets indicates
that the loading is well within the support capacity.

6.0 Additional Support

Let’s now see the effect of adding a layer of shotcrete in addition to the steel set support.

1. Select Support Parameters on the toolbar or the Analysis menu.

2. In the Support Parameters dialog, select the Shotcrete tab.

3. Select the Add Support check box and select 100 mm Thickness shotcrete.

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4. Note the combined Maximum Support Pressure (1.034) and Maximum Support
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Strain (0.118 %), of the shotcrete and the steel sets

5. Select Apply and then Close.

NOTES:

• The safety factor of the combined support system has more than doubled (2.5 to 7.3).

• However, this has not significantly reduced the final Tunnel Convergence or the
Plastic Zone Radius.

Let’s look at the Ground Reaction / Support Reaction plot to examine why the
shotcrete support has not affected the final convergence or Plastic Zone Radius.

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If we compare the combined Support Reaction curve, to the curve for the Steel Sets alone,
you will note the following:

• the additional shotcrete support, has approximately doubled the Maximum Support
Pressure, hence the Factor of Safety increase from 4.3 to 7.3.

• However, the intersection point of the Ground Reaction and Support Reaction curve,
has not changed significantly, hence there is no significant change in the final Tunnel
Convergence or Plastic Zone radius.

In this example, the intersection of the Ground Reaction and Support Reaction is affected
primarily by the Distance From Face (entered in the Support Parameters dialog). We did not
change this value when we added the shotcrete support.

6.1 Support Installation

As a final exercise, enter different values for the Distance from Face in the Support
Parameters dialog (e.g. 2 meters, 1 meter etc), and select Apply to re-calculate and view
the results.

Notice that changing the Distance from Face shifts the origin of the Support Reaction curve.
This DOES have an effect on final Tunnel Convergence, Plastic Zone Radius, and Factor of

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Safety for the Support. The Factor of Safety decreases as the Distance From Face
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decreases, because the Support takes a greater load as it is installed closer to the face.

Note: support installation can also be specified directly as a value of tunnel convergence or
wall displacement. In this case, the longitudinal deformation profile function is not used.

The user is encouraged to experiment with the Support Parameters dialog. Parametric
analysis can be performed very quickly, by adding or removing support, changing support
parameters, and selecting Apply to re-calculate the results. Observe the effects on the
Support Reaction Curve.

7.0 Comment on Tutorial 2

A tunnel with the input parameters used for this example, would certainly require very
detailed final support design, which would include numerical analysis such as finite element.

A rock-support interaction analysis of such a tunnel, as demonstrated here using

Nonetheless, valuable insight into the tunnel behaviour can be gained from the use of
RocSupport even in such cases. Quick parametric analysis is very easy to perform in
RocSupport, allowing the user to vary all input parameters, and view the effect on the
results.

NOTE: See Appendix in Tutorial 1 for estimating support requirements.

This concludes Tutorial 2 Heavy Support.

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