Experimental Study on the Anisotropy of Layered Rock Mass under Triaxial Conditions

Weak and hard inhomogeneous rock formations are typically encountered during tunnel excavations. The physical and mechanical properties and geological conditions of these rock formations vary significantly; thus, it is crucial to investigate the mechanical characteristics of deep bedded composite rock formations. Three-dimensional (3D) scanning and 3D printing were used to prepare composite rock specimens to simulate natural rock laminae. Triaxial compression tests were conducted to determine the influence of the bedding angle, rock composition, and confining pressure on the mechanical properties of the composite rock specimens. The anisotropic strength characteristics and the damage patterns of the composite rock specimens were analyzed under different confining pressures, and the failure mechanism during triaxial loading was revealed. The results show that the damage of the composite rock specimens with a bedding structure depends on the bedding dip angle and the rock formation. The stress-strain curves and peak strengths of the composite rock specimens have anisotropic characteristics corresponding to their failure modes. As the bedding dip angle increases, the peak strength of the three groups of specimens first decreases and then increases under different confining pressure levels. The compressive strength has a nonlinear relationship with the confining pressure, and the difference between the compressive strengths of specimens with different inclination angles decreases as the confining pressure increases. The Hoek-Brown strength criterion is a good predictor of the nonlinear increase in peak strength of the composite rock specimens under different confining pressures. The specimen with a beta = 60 degrees dip angle shows the most significant increase in the strength difference with increasing confining pressure. The results can be used as a reference for testing and analyzing the anisotropic mechanical properties of bedded rock masses.