Mechanical behavior and constitutive model of lining concrete in triaxial compression infiltration process under pore water pressure

Underground concrete structures are affected by groundwater, the effects of which are different from those of stress environments experienced by ground engineering concrete structures. This study experimentally and theoretically investigates the mechanical behavior, permeability evolution, and deformation failure mechanism of lining concrete under pore water pressure. Results show that an increase in pore water pressure promoted the coupling of seepage and stress fields in concrete. This caused the microcracks to propagate further, which led to a decrease in concrete strength and elastic modulus. Through triaxial compression infiltration, the concrete successively underwent initial compaction, linear elastic deformation, and nonlinear deformation after yielding. Accordingly, its permeability exhibited three trends: gradual decrease, stable development, and a sharp increase. The change in permeability was closely related to the number of pores and the development of microcracks in concrete. The concept of primary pore strain was proposed according to the characteristics of deformation and failure. Moreover, a triaxial compression infiltration constitutive model was derived for concrete based on the principle of effective stress. This model considers the influence of pore water pressure and the initial compaction characteristics. This study can be used to guide the design of lining concrete structures in underground engineering.