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The Importance of deformation modulus on design of rocks with numerical modeling

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Abstract

The elasticity modulus of the rock material (Ei) is a parameter of these developed empirical formulas and is a constant value obtained from laboratory test. The rock material takes different Ei values under different stresses. The deformation modulus of rock mass (Em) is the parameter used in the design of rock structures and reveals the deformation properties of the rock mass. This behavior is affected by rock mass characteristics such as discontinuities, discontinuities properties and groundwater conditions, as well as the properties of rock material, which is the smallest unit of rock masses. The strength and deformation behavior of the rock material directly affect the deformation characteristic of the rock masses. Determination of the Em is done either by in-situ tests or estimates from empirical formulas developed by different researchers. The locations, where rock structures are built, can be different depths and different geological units. In this case, the amount of stress that the same rock structure is exposed at different depths will be different. Therefore, Ei will take different values under different stresses (depending on parameters such as depth, excavation-support geometry). When the Ei value, which varies depending on the depth, is used in the formulas developed by the researchers, different Em values will be calculated against different Ei values. Currently, designs are made with the classical method. In the classical method, the Ei value obtained from the deformability test performed in the laboratory is used in empirical formulas and Em is calculated. These Ei and Em values are fixed values. However, the Em value also changes depending on the stretch. In the new method proposed in this study, it is recommended to use the value of Em, which varies according to the stress conditions. This new method includes a function based on time-stress-deformation-strength was developed to calculate the Ei value, which takes different values at different stresses. The Ei values that can be changed by this function are used in the empirical formulas used in calculating Em. In the projects within the scope of the research, numerical modeling analyzes including the Em values obtained by this time-stress-deformation-strength dependent function and the Em values obtained by the classical method were performed and very important results were obtained.

Article highlights

  • Geotechnical studies have been carried out on different mining and tunnel projects and the rock mass properties have been revealed.

  • Time and stress dependent laboratory tests have been carried out on the rock materials taken from these projects.

  • With these experiments, deformation modules that change depending on time and stress were produced.

  • An empirical formula has been developed to calculate the varying deformation modulus depending on time and stress.

  • This formula was defined as a user defined material for a software (as sub-routine) used in rock structure designs.

  • With this formula, numerical modeling analyzes including varying deformation modules were made and compared with models made with constant deformation module.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by TUBITAK. Project number is 114M566. Authors would like to TUBITAK (The scientific and technological research council of Turkey) to give financial support. And, the authors also would like to thank to Dr. Marilena CARDU for providing to research opputunity in DIATI-Politecnico Di Torino from 01 Februay 2022.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mining Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

    C. Okay Aksoy

  2. Department of Mining Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    Güzin Gülsev Uyar Aksoy

  3. Torbalı Vocationary School, Mining Technology Division, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

    H. Eray Yaman

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  1. C. Okay Aksoy
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  2. Güzin Gülsev Uyar Aksoy
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Correspondence to Güzin Gülsev Uyar Aksoy.

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Aksoy, C.O., Aksoy, G.G.U. & Yaman, H.E. The Importance of deformation modulus on design of rocks with numerical modeling. Geomech. Geophys. Geo-energ. Geo-resour. 8, 103 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-022-00380-8

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