Different Approaches for Simulating Brittle Failure in Two Hard Rock Mass Cases: A Parametric Study

One of the aims of rock mechanics analysis is to predict fallouts in underground excavations. The objective of this paper was to study the relative importance of different strength parameters and their significance on the simulation of brittle failure and fallouts. This work was conducted as a parametric study, using numerical modelling and a number of approaches. The results were compared with observed fallouts. More obvious and distinct shear bands could be observed with decreased element sizes close to, and at, the boundary. The maximum shear strain was the most reliable indicator for fallout prediction. The results of the (instantaneous) cohesion softening friction softening models were sensitive to changes of the peak strength parameters and less sensitive to variations in residual parameters. The result from the cohesion-softening friction-hardening (CSFH) model, when using a peak cohesion equal to the intact rock strength, best captured the observed rock behaviour.