Comparison of seismic effects during deep tunnel excavation with different methods

The rapid release of strain energy is an important phenomenon leading to seismic events or rock failures during the excavation of deep rock.Through theoretical analysis of strain energy adjustment during blasting and mechanical excavation,and the interpretation of measured seismicity in the Jin-Ping Ⅱ Hydropower Station in China,this paper describes the characteristics of energy partition and induced seismicity corresponding to different energy release rates.The theoretical analysis indicates that part of the strain energy will be drastically released accompanied by violent crushing and fragmentation of rock under blast load,and this process will result in seismic events in addition to blasting vibration.The intensity of the seismicity induced by transient strain energy release highly depends on the unloading rate of in-situ stress.For mechanical excavation,the strain energy,which is mainly dissipated in the deformation of surrounding rock,releases smoothly,and almost no seismic events are produced in this gradual process.Field test reveals that the seismic energy transformed from the rock strain energy under high stress condition is roughly equal to that coming from explosive energy,and the two kinds of vibrations superimpose together to form the total blasting excavation-induced seismicity.In addition,the most intense seismicity is induced by the cut blasting delay; this delay contributes 50% of the total seismic energy released in a blast event.For mechanical excavation,the seismic energy of induced vibration(mainly the low intensity acoustic emission events or mechanical loading impacts),which accounts only for 1.5‰ of that caused by in-situ stress transient releasing,can be ignored in assessing the dynamic response of surrounding rock.     

The Assessment of Damage Around Critical Engineering Structures Using Induced Seismicity and Ultrasonic Techniques

—?Two large-diameter boreholes have been excavated vertically from the floor of a tunnel at the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory, Sweden. The two deposition holes will have simulated high-level radioactive waste canisters installed in them in an experiment undertaken to test the retrievability of waste from a proposed repository. Induced seismicity and other acoustic monitoring techniques have been used to investigate the Excavation Damaged Zone (EDZ) around the two holes. High-frequency acoustic emission (AE) monitoring has been used to delineate regions of stress-induced microfracturing on the millimetre scale. This has been shown to locate in clusters around the perimeter of the deposition hole at azimuths orthogonal to the far-field maximum principal stress. Three-dimensional velocity surveys have been conducted along ray paths that pass through the damaged region and through a stress-disturbed zone around the excavation. Induced microfracturing and stress disturbance have been observed as sharp decreases in velocity as the excavation proceeds through the rock mass. The combination of the high-resolution velocity measurements and the AE source locations has allowed the linking of the velocity measurements to a volume of excavation damaged rock. This has provided a quantitative estimate of the effect of the EDZ on the rock mass.     

Design of a model blasting system to measure peak p-wave stress

Literature review information and model scale rock blasting tests have been utilized to study the effects of some blast and fragmentation parameters on peak p-wave stress. A method for modelling scaled blasting in sandstone blocks with dimensions 515×335×215 mm³ has been presented. The dynamic and static properties of the sandstone are given. The results from model blasting experiments instrumented with pressure gauges are discussed. It is also shown there exists a useful correlation between blast, fragmentation parameters and peak p-wave stress.     

Improved Resolution of Ambient Flow through Fractured Rock with Temperature Logs

In contaminant hydrogeology, investigations at fractured rock sites are typically undertaken to improve understanding of the fracture networks and associated groundwater flow that govern past and/or future contaminant transport. Conventional hydrogeologic, geophysical, and hydrophysical techniques used to develop a conceptual model are often implemented in open boreholes under conditions of cross-connected flow. A new approach using high-resolution temperature (±0.001°C) profiles measured within static water columns of boreholes sealed using continuous, water-inflated, flexible liners (FLUTe™) identifies hydraulically active fractures under ambient (natural) groundwater flow conditions. The value of this approach is assessed by comparisons of temperature profiles from holes (100 to 200 m deep) with and without liners at four contaminated sites with distinctly different hydrogeologic conditions. The results from the lined holes consistently show many more hydraulically active fractures than the open-hole profiles, in which the influence of vertical flow through the borehole between a few fractures masks important intermediary flow zones. Temperature measurements in temporarily sealed boreholes not only improve the sensitivity and accuracy of identifying hydraulically active fractures under ambient conditions but also offer new insights regarding previously unresolvable flow distributions in fractured rock systems, while leaving the borehole available for other forms of testing and monitoring device installation.     

Monitoring Hydrogeologlcal Conditions in Fractured Rock at the Site of Canada's Underground Research Laboratory

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited is constructing an Underground Research Laboratory (URL) at a depth of 250m in a plutonic rock body near Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba. The facility is being constructed to carry out a variety of in situ geotechnical experiments as part of the Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program. A unique feature of the URL, in comparison to other similar facilities such as the Stripa Mine in Sweden, is that it is to be constructed below the ground water table in a previously undisturbed plutonic rock body. One of the main research objectives of the project is to develop and validate comprehensive three-dimensional models of the hydrogeology of the rock mass encompassing the URL site. These models will be used, before excavation of the URL shaft begins, to predict the hydrogeological perturbation that will be created by the excavation of the shaft and the horizontal working levels below the ground water table. As a model-validation exercise, these drawdown predictions will be compared with actual hydrogeological perturbations that will be monitored at the study area over the next several years by an extensive network of instrumented boreholes. Measurements made in an array of boreholes extending to depths of 1,000m on the 4.8 km² study area have established that the permeability distribution in three major extensive subhorizontal fracture zones controls the movement of ground water within the rock mass. Several types of multiple-interval completion systems have been installed in the boreholes to monitor the three-dimensional, physico-chemical hydrogeological conditions within the fractured rock mass. These include conventional piezometer nests and water-table wells that have been installed in shallow holes (less than 30m deep), and multiple-packer/ multiple-standpipe piezometers and multiple-interval casing systems installed in deeper holes (30 to 1,000m deep). An automated, electronic, piezometric pressure-monitoring system has been designed to collect continuous measurements from 75 isolated hydrogeological monitoring positions within the rock mass. Another 200 positions are being monitored frequently using a variety of techniques. Piezometric data have been collected from this monitoring network to establish baseline conditions prior to any excavation into the rock mass. These data have also been used to determine the steady-state, three-dimensional ground water flow regimes that exist at the URL site under natural conditions.     

Effect of stress interactions on anisotropic P-SV-wave dispersion and attenuation for closely spaced cracks in saturated porous media

Generally, local stress induced by individual crack hardly disturbs their neighbours for small crack densities, which, however, could not be neglected as the crack density increases. The disturbance becomes rather complex in saturated porous rocks due to the wave-induced diffusion of fluid pressures. The problem is addressed in this study by the comparison of two solutions: the analytical solution without stress interactions and the numerical method with stress interactions. The resultant difference of effective properties can be used to estimate the effect of stress interactions quantitatively. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the spatial distribution pattern of cracks strongly affects stress interactions. For regularly distributed cracks, the resulting stress interaction (shielding or amplification) shows strong anisotropy, depending on the arrangement and density of cracks. It has an important role in the estimation of effective anisotropic parameters as well as the incident-angle-dependency of P- and SV-wave velocities. Contrarily, randomly distributed cracks with a relative small crack density generally lead to a strong cancellation of stress interactions across cracks, where both the numerical and analytical solutions show a good agreement for the estimation of effective parameters. However, for a higher crack density, the incomplete cancellation of stress interactions is expected, exhibiting an incidence-angle dependency, slightly affecting effective parameters, and differentiating the numerical and analytical solutions.     

Experimental evidence for an ascending microflow of geogas in the ground

A microflow of free ascending gas has been observed in 26 out of 30 tested boreholes at three different sites. The flow rates vary between 60 × 10⁻⁴ and 4 cm³/min m² horizontally projected borehole area. Sampling has been made in ground boreholes as well as in holes drilled downwards from the lowest levels in two mines. The composition of the gas varies considerably. The main components of the gas are nitrogen, argon, oxygen and methane. Traces of heavier hydrocarbons are observed. At the site of the ground holes, only traces of methane are observed. In all sampled holes the existence of free oxygen is observed. The nitrogen/argon quotient is close to the atmospheric quotient in all sampled holes, indicating a partly atmospheric origin of the gas. The existence of methane and traces of heavier hydrocarbons indicates the existence of a second source.     

基于唐山7.8级地震探讨动态应力作用

运用三维非线性动态有限元方法(Non-linear Dynamic FEM)仿真模拟研究了菱形模型的动态应力作用,分析了1976年唐山7.8级地震.结果表明:(1)唐山地震前增强的中强地震产生的冲击力形成的应力波反射后发生半波损失, 成为动态的拉伸应力,通过减小内摩擦而引起岩石产生裂纹、局部破裂并发生串通,一方面触发地震,另一方面为孕育唐山地震积累能量,表现为正反馈过程.(2)唐山地震产生的冲击力加卸载存在时间差,造成加卸载冲击波相位不同,结果产生的动应力和围压叠加致使围压波动和下降,导致抗剪切强度降低,使初始破裂分别向北东、西南方向传播.(3)冲击力的卸载,相对于产生拉伸性的应力波,反射后发生半波损失,成为动态的压缩应力,致使围压增大并导致破裂停止;而动态应力在传播过程中衰减.因此,余震的发生是一个负反馈过程.     

Numerical analysis on dynamic deformation mechanism of soils under blast loading

Soil is considered as a three-phase medium consisting of solid particles, water and air. Its behavior is very difficult to predict, especially under high rate blast loading. In this study, a new three-phase soil model for shock loading is employed to facilitate a full simulation of explosion and the subsequent stress wave propagation in soils. Upon validating the model, extended numerical calculations are carried out and the results are analyzed to demonstrate the change of characteristic parameters of the soils, the inherent distribution of the pressure on individual phases and hence the deformation mechanisms of the soils under blasting loading. Two primary deformation mechanisms exist, one is the deformation of the soil skeleton formed by the solid particles; the other is the deformation of all individual soil phases. It is found that the response of soil near the charge is dominated by the second mechanism while the first mechanism dominates in areas beyond a certain scaled range. The location of the transition zone depends primarily on the initial state of the soil. The results are useful for establishing rational and practical soil models for engineering applications concerning blasting.     

原地电阻率变化的实验

在野外原地对某些自然状态非饱和的土层及含裂隙矽化灰岩电阻率随应变的变化进行了实验.主要结果有:1)低应力下,随体积的压缩电阻率下降;体积膨胀时电阻率上升;2)所测岩、土层电阻率相对变化(/)对微小应变()的变化响应甚为敏感,裂隙岩层比土层更甚.放大系数(/)/与应变量有关,对10-4应变通常有一、二百倍,对10-5应变可达数百乃至上千倍;3)电阻率相对变化幅度随力源强度和尺度的增加而增加,随力源距离的增加而衰减.电阻率变化起始时间随距离的增加显示出滞后现象;4)水平各向同性土层,在应力作用下,不同方向电阻率变化不同,呈现出方向性.通常垂直最大压缩方向的电阻率 下降较多,平行方向的∥下降较小或略有上升,与压力呈45的45下降幅度介于中等.含裂隙矽化灰岩则不同,不同方向电阻率的变化不仅与压缩方向有关,而且还与裂隙方向有关.通常是∥下降较多.当压应力平行裂隙时, 也下降,但当压应力垂直裂隙时, 则明显上升.      

Evaluation of the range of horizontal stresses in the earth's upper crust by using a collinear crack model

Vertical stresses in the earth's upper crust may be evaluated by the depth times the average unit weight of the overlying rock mass; however, the horizontal stress is difficult to obtain. Rock usually contains joints or cracks, and its fracture toughness is limited. If the horizontal stress acting on a cracked rock body exceeds a certain range, the crack will propagate and lead to rock fracture; and if a cracked rock is stable, the horizontal stress must be within a certain range. Therefore, from the stability condition of cracks, the range of horizontal stress can be evaluated. In this paper, a collinear crack model is employed to establish the cracked rock stability condition, and our theoretical results generally agree with the in-situ measurement results. The theoretical results can well explain the phenomenon that the ratio of horizontal stress to vertical stress near crust surface is scattered in a wide range, but in deep zone, it is scattered in a narrow range.     

Variations of shear wave splitting in the 2013 Lushan Ms7.0 earthquake region

In this paper, variations of shear wave splitting in the 2013 Lushan Ms7.0 earthquake sequence were studied. By analyzing shear wave particle motion of local events in the shear wave window, the fast polarization directions and the delay time between fast and slow shear waves were derived from seismic recordings at eight stations on the southern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone. In the study region, the fast polarization directions show partition characteristics from south to north. And the systematic changes of the time delays between two split shear waves were also observed. As for spatial distribution, the NE fast polarization directions are consistent with the Longmenshan fault strike in the south of focal region, whereas the NW fast direction is parallel to the direction of regional principal compressive stress in the north of focal region. Stations BAX and TQU are respectively located on the Central and Front-range faults, and because of the direct influence of these faults, the fast directions at both stations show particularity. In time domain, after the main shock, the delay times at stations increased rapidly, and decreased after a period of time. Shear-wave splitting was caused mostly by stress-aligned microcracks in rock below the stations. The results demonstrate changes of local stress field during the main shock and the aftershocks. The stress on the Lushan Ms7.0 earthquake region increased after the main shock, with the stress release caused by the aftershocks and the stress reduced in the late stage.     

岩石裂纹附近的变形局部化与破坏——激光全息干涉法的应用

本文介绍了应用激光全息干涉法观测单轴压缩条件下裂纹附近的离面位移场和岩石的变形破坏过程。着重指出了裂纹构造活动与微裂隙丛集发育的变形局部化前兆在这种破坏过程中的相互关联,并就其所反映的震源物理本质进行了讨论。     

A Model for the Mechanical Behaviour of Bentheim Sandstone in the Brittle Regime

— The mechanical behaviour of Bentheim sandstone, a homogeneous quartz-rich sandstone with porosity of 22.8%, was investigated by triaxial compression tests conducted on dry samples. At confining pressures up to 35 MPa, the failure mode was characterized by a typical brittle deformation regime, as the samples showed dilatancy and failed by strain softening and brittle faulting. Previous studies have shown that the mechanical behaviour and failure mode of brittle porous granular rocks are governed by the time-dependent growth of microcracks. We analyse this process using the “Pore Crack Model” based on fracture mechanics analysis. It is consistent with the microstructure of porous granular rocks since it considers the growth of axial cracks from cylindrical holes in two dimensions. These cracks grow when their stress intensity factors reach the subcritical crack growth limit. Interaction between neighbouring cracks is introduced by calculating the stress intensity factor as the sum of two terms: a component for an isolated crack and an interaction term computed using the method of successive approximations. It depends on crack length, pore radius, pore density, and applied stresses. The simulation of crack growth from cylindrical holes, associated with a failure criterion based on the coalescence of interacting cracks, is used to compare the theoretical stress at the onset of dilatancy and at macroscopic rupture to the experimental determined values. Our approach gives theoretical results in good agreement with experimental data when microstructural parameters consistent with observations are introduced.     

深部岩体应力瞬态释放激发微地震机制与识别

从能量释放的角度讨论了深部岩体开挖激发微地震的机制. 研究表明, 伴随着爆破破岩新自由面形成而发生的岩体弹性应变能释放属于瞬态过程, 高地应力条件下爆破开挖产生的微地震由爆炸荷载和初始地应力(开挖荷载)瞬态释放耦合作用引起. 地应力瞬态释放激发的微地震可成为周围岩体振动的主要组成部分, 这有赖于岩体自身的蓄能能力、岩体开挖方式及开挖面的大小. 通过瀑布沟地下厂房爆破开挖过程中实测围岩地震信号的时能密度和幅值谱分析, 对地应力瞬态释放激发的微地震进行了识别. 耦合地震信号的低频成分主要由初始地应力瞬态卸荷引起,而高频成分主要由爆炸荷载引起. 应用数字信号处理的FIR滤波方法对耦合振动信号进行了初步分离,数值计算验证了分离结果的可靠性.      

弹性波在含双裂纹岩体中的传播分析

岩石和岩体是具有复杂细微观结构的非均匀介质.弹性波在岩体中传播时,与岩体细微观缺陷相互作用表现出弹性波的频散效应.为研究岩体内部细观结构对弹性波频散效应的作用,本文采用双裂纹模型:在模型内部,考虑裂纹间的相互作用对弹性波的影响,以分析弹性波在双裂纹体系间的多次散射作用;在双裂纹体系间,采用线性叠加分析法,以考虑岩体缺陷影响的局部化.对波动方程应用Green函数基本解,利用边界积分方法,将双裂纹体系作为内边界处理,得到相应的频散方程,由此对比分析了双裂纹体系在上述两种分析方法下的区别,进一步探讨了双裂纹体系参数、孔隙流体压力和卸荷对岩体频散特性的影响.     

Predicting horizontal velocities from well data

The Imperial College borehole test site consists of four boreholes with depths lying between 260 and 280 m. The boreholes intersect several cyclical sequences of sandstones, mudstones and limestones. The formations are highly laminated and ultrasonic measurements on preserved core have shown that the mudstones are intrinsically anisotropic. Little or no anisotropy is associated with the sandstones and limestones. A scheme is proposed to predict synthetic vertical and horizontal P- and S-wave logs. Combining (an)isotropic effective medium theories, the Gassmann equation and Backus averaging, the scheme extends previous sand-shale models to transversely isotropic rock formations. The model assumes that the anisotropy is due to layering and due to the preferred horizontal orientation of the clay minerals, pores and cracks within the mudstones. The pores and cracks within the sandstones and limestones are randomly orientated. After fitting the model to the ultrasonic data to obtain the unknown parameters, the model successfully predicts the sonic log and the direct arrival times from a cross-hole survey.     

Numerical modelling of resolution and sensitivity of ERT in horizontal boreholes

Resistivity in horizontal boreholes can give useful detailed information about the geological conditions for construction in rock, i.e. in front of a tunnel bore machine. This paper is an attempt to identify a suitable methodology for an effective measuring routine for this type of geophysical measurements under actual construction site conditions.Prior to any measurements numerical modelling was done in order to evaluate the resolution of different electrode arrays. Four different arrays were tested; dipole–pole, cross-hole dipole–dipole, cross-hole pole–tripole and multiple gradient array. Additionally the resolution of a combination of cross-hole dipole–dipole and multiple gradient was assessed. The 2D sensitivity patterns for various arrangements of the cross-hole dipole–dipole and multiple gradient array were examined. The sensitivity towards inaccurate borehole geometry and the influence of water in the boreholes were also investigated. Based on the model study the cross-hole dipole–dipole array, multiple gradient array and a combination of these were found to give the best result and therefore were used for test measurements in horizontal boreholes. The boreholes were 28.5 m long and drilled 6.5 m apart. Prototypes of semi-rigid borehole cables made it possible to insert multi electrode cables in an efficient way, allowing fast measurement routines. These measurements were then studied to determine their accuracy and applicability. The results showed a high resistivity rock mass at the site. A transition from high resistivity to slightly lower resistivity coincides well with a change in lithology from gneiss-granite to gneiss. It is likely that the shotcrete on the tunnel wall is seen as a low resistivity zone.The measurements are a valuable tool, but further development of the cables and streamlining of measuring routines have to be performed before the resistivity tomography can be used routinely in pilot holes during construction in rocks.     

Seismic velocity changes during fracture and frictional sliding

Fracture and frictional sliding are considered as phenomena involving brittle failure. Brittle failure is preceded by the formation of small (subcritical) cracks. In non-water-saturated rock, the distribution, shape and size of these suberitical cracks determine the change in the physical properties prior to failure. A model is proposed which suggests that the spatial and temporal distribution, shape and size of subcritical cracks within a stressed rock depend upon the rate of deformation and the volatile content.As a rock is stressed beyond about 50 percent of its ultimate failure stress, dilatancy is initiated. With increasing stress a broad zone of cracks develops within the dilatant region. The seismic velocities through this zone decrease markedly and the cracks grow more numerous., changing in size and shape. Before brittle failure of the rock occurs, the subcritical cracks interact, leading to a concentration of the zone. During the stage when the zone narrows, the seismic velocities in crease in the surrounding volume due to local rotation of stresses and consequent closure of some cracks. In most laboratory experiments the stage during which the velocity increases and the now intense deformation zone becomes narrow is very short and difficult to observe experimentally. At very low strain rates and with volatiles present, the crack growth and subsequent interaction lead to the narrowing of the intense deformation zone and therefore to an observable increase in velocity.The above is based upon an interpretation of a number of experiments. Using optical holography we have observed the development and subsequent intensification of a deformation zone. Ultrasonic velocity measurements showed a distinct anomaly (decrease followed by an increase) before failure. The anomaly was only detectable at our lowest experimental strain rates (3×10^–8/sec).     

The bridgman ring paradox revisited

The Bridgman ring experiment, in which a hard rubber ring slipped over a steel rod was observed to split when subjected to a hydrostatic confining pressure, was repeated with Pyrex glass rings. Three cases were studied, in which (a) both ring and rod were unjacketed, (b) the inner wall of the ring was sealed from the pressure medium and (c) both rod and ring were completely jacketed. In the first two cases the ring was observed to split abruptly, with a single axial crack when confining pressure reached a critical level. In the third case no abrupt failure occurred, but a number of axial cracks were found to have formed, grown stably, but not penetrated the outer wall of the ring. The first two cases are explained by hydraulic fracturing of the ring. Observations and analysis indicate that in the third case the cracks started at flaws on the inner surface of the ring and propagated outwards in a stable manner. This case, in which a tensile crack propagates in an all-around compressive stress field, provides some insight into axial cracking of rock in triaxial compression and tensile failure of rock under radial shock loading.