Research on Tunnel Surrounding Rock Stability Yields Insights on Optimization

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted by a team at Taiyuan University of Technology has focused on optimizing the stability of tunnel surrounding rock in the central Yunnan water diversion project. The study aimed to reduce construction costs and improve the construction schedule using numerical simulation and field monitoring methods. The research found that step excavation technology can effectively control the deformation of the tunnel surrounding rock, with deformation ranges of 32 mm to 35 mm for the top and bottom, 25 mm to 28 mm for the left shoulder, and 26 mm to 29 mm for the right shoulder.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study used numerical simulation and field monitoring methods to analyze the deformation behavior and instability mechanisms of tunnel surrounding rock in the central Yunnan water diversion project.
  • The research found that step excavation technology can effectively control the deformation of the tunnel surrounding rock, with specific deformation ranges for different areas.
  • The stability range of the tunnel surrounding rock was found to be about 25 m away from the palm surface, with a low level of concentrated stress on both sides of the tunnel.
  • The research was supported by the Basic Research Program of Shanxi Province and involved collaboration between Taiyuan University of Technology and other research institutions.
  • Key contributors to the research include Shaoqing Niu, Jinwen Wu, Jinchang Zhao, and Junjie Pei.
  • The research was published in the journal Applied Sciences and is available online with a DOI of 10.3390/app15115854.

Statistics:

  • The tunnel surrounding rock deformation ranges were 32 mm to 35 mm for the top and bottom, 25 mm to 28 mm for the left shoulder, and 26 mm to 29 mm for the right shoulder.
  • The stability range of the tunnel surrounding rock was about 25 m away from the palm surface.
  • The research was supported by the Basic Research Program of Shanxi Province.

Sources:

  • Optimal Lower Step Height of Tunnel Excavation Designs by Using the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (Applied Sciences, 2025,15(11):5854)
  • Taiyuan University of Technology
  • Basic Research Program of Shanxi Province
  • MDPI AG (publisher of Applied Sciences)