Theoretical model and solution for the rheological problem of anchor-grouting a soft rock tunnel

The paper presents an analytical method for analysis of the soft rock tunnel, based on a model dividing soft rock tunnels into a region of anchor-grouting and a region of non-anchor-grouting surrounding rock. The Poynting-Thornson model and the Kelvin-Hooke model are applied to the region of non-anchor-grouting surrounding rock and the region of anchor-grouting, respectively. Stress expressions in the region of non-anchor-grouting surrounding rock and the region of anchor-grouting are obtained. Expanding the expression of displacements in the region of anchor-grouting into a Maclaurin series, and utilizing the cumulative displacement curve of the surrounding rock through observation, a theoretical model is set up. This model and its solution for the rheology problem of anchor-grouting a soft tunnel have been proved to be effective in practical engineering; according to the Mohr-Coulomb yield condition, a safe criterion for an anchor-grouting soft rock of a tunnel can be found. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.