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Muon radiography, which relies on measuring the absorption and attenuation of muons as they pass through matters, offers a new imaging technique capable of revealing the internal structure of large objects. Recent technological advancement allows for the application or testing of muon radiography in various fields, including mining, civil engineering, security check, etc. This study investigates the factors that influence muon radiography, which is used in density inversion, through simulations and experiments. The materials considered for density inversion include water, standard rock, and iron. Our simulation studies show that the number of events detected and selected has an impact on the reconstruction results, and several factors, such as multiple Coulomb scattering processes, recording time, and spatial resolution, which influence the number of muons, must be taken into account when measuring the rock density. We design and conduct a laboratory scale experiment based on the simulation results. We filter the 220 h of recording signals through time coincidence and straight-line fitting to obtain the selected events. Our results reveal that the statistical error of muons survival ratio in recording time significantly impacts the inversion result and decreases the error can improve accuracy greatly. In the experiment, the deviation between the inversion mean value and the expected value can be reduced to 2.4%–2.9% for iron, 7% for water, and 1.5% for standard rock. This density inversion approach provides insight into future density detection of underground structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research mainly sought to evaluate the sediments of the Urmia lake bed to prevent their erosion and the possibility of improving the problematic saline fine soils in the region by the geo-polymerisation process. For this purpose, perlite and pumice materials, with pozzolanic properties and weight percentages of 3, 5, and 7, were separately mixed with soil, along with the calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) solution as a catalyst with 2%, 5%, and 7%. Then, the samples were cured for one day. Uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), direct shear, and consolidation tests were performed to assess the geotechnical properties of improved soil compaction. The results revealed that, compared to pumice, perlite could improve the behavioural properties of the studied soil. The inclusion of perlite and pumice, along with calcium hydroxide, increased the flexibility of the stabilised soil, as indicated by the brittleness index. Similarly, combining 3% perlite with 2% Ca(OH)2 could increase UCS at failure by 3.27 times. In addition, the mixture of 5% perlite with 7% Ca(OH)2 could enhance the shear strength by 3.3 times. Finally, combining 3% perlite with 5% calcium hydroxide reduced the swelling of the improved soil by 82%, and the consolidation settlement was decreased by 64% on average. Highlights: Sodium saline silty soil can cause many problems, such as settlement and swelling in ground and underground structures. The present research investigated the effects of perlite and pumice materials and calcium hydroxide as a catalyst on improving saline silty soil. The results revealed that perlite is more effective than pumice because of its pozzolanic properties. As a result of mixing perlite with saline silty soil along with calcium hydroxide, after curing, the skeleton of the soil particles changed from fine to coarse grains, modifying the characteristics of the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shear waves in underground longitudinal structures impose deformations that need to be accounted for in structural design. Simplified approaches for such structures typically consider the Winkler foundation model, assuming Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, which neglects shearing-induced distortions, especially significant when shear waves are a dominant component of the seismic motion. In order to overcome these limitations, Timoshenko beam models have been proposed in the literature. These approaches however depend on an appropriate determination of the ground springs. Existing analytical formulations often assume plane-strain conditions, inadequate for representing low frequencies and thus are not directly applicable for pseudo-static interaction analyses. The present paper develops analytical solutions to determine transverse and rotation Winkler springs for structures subjected shear waves. The proposed springs overcome the drawbacks of plane-strain models and can be construed as a generalisation of them. The springs are obtained as a function of the seismic wavelength and the ground-structure stiffness contrast. Results obtained are validated against solutions from the literature and numerical results from a full 3D finite-element model. A non-dimensional parametric study is also presented, that allow an expedited evaluation of ground springs for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic analysis of underground structures, such as tunnels, is crucial to ensure their safety and stability during seismic loading. This paper proposes a more general method of large elliptic arc assumption-based wave function expansion, which is attributed to the important role of the large circular arc assumption-based wave function expansion method in the elastic wave scattering problem. The study is conducted within elliptic coordinate systems, employing the Mathieu function and Mathieu function addition theorem. The applicability and limitations of this method are analysed by comparing it with the existing exact analytical solutions obtained through the mirror-based wave function expansion method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original stress equilibrium state of the soil is destroyed after the excavation of the double-line shield tunnel, resulting in the settlement of the stratum above the tunnel and bringing adverse effects on the surface buildings and subsurface pipelines near the tunnel. The reasonable prediction of subsurface settlement is significant for protecting adjacent underground structures. The wave propagation model is introduced to describe the settlement mechanism of the stratum above the tunnel based on random medium theory, and the subsurface settlement model of single-line tunnel is derived through the Fourier transform. The disturbance influence factor of double-line tunnel is defined, and the corresponding settlement model is established. The three-dimensional subsurface settlement models of single-line and double-line shield tunnels are proposed by introducing the surface displacement release rate of palm surface and maximum slope of surface vertical settlement. The models are verified using monitoring data, and the effects of the parameters on the model are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of large-scale tunnel construction and green energy mining toward the depths of the Earth, the study of the mechanical properties and the deformation, and fracture characteristics of the surrounding rock mass under high confining pressures and high temperatures has become an urgent requirement. Therefore, we compare and study the effects of different high temperatures and confining pressures on the mechanical behavior and fracture characteristics of rock samples under loading and unloading conditions. In this paper, uniaxial and triaxial compression tests of sandstone at high temperature, and the stress–strain curves of red sandstone under different temperatures and confining pressures, are obtained. On this basis, the characteristics of energy conversion in the process of rock deformation and failure are studied. The research results indicate that the high-temperature effect weakens the brittle characteristics and enhances the plasticity of red sandstone, and there is a certain lag in the time of rock failure relative to the stress reaching peak strength. The high confining pressure weakens the brittleness and enhances the plastic properties of red sandstone, enhancing the overall resistance of the rock to deformation and enhancing its ability to store elastic deformation energy. According to the law of energy evolution, a new strength criterion is established to describe the three-dimensional spatial critical state surface of macrofailure caused by rock fracture coalescence. The study of the mechanical properties and failure criteria of rocks under high temperatures and pressures from the perspective of energy not only has important value for deep resource extraction but also has important theoretical significance for deep underground engineering construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attenuation of impact inducer vibration is critical to the safety of underground protection structure, equipment and personnel. Metamaterials and metastructures show great potential in terms of sound and impact attenuation. To effectively attenuate ground shock-induced vibration of underground protective structures, scaled shallow-buried annular metastructures with concrete–rubber layered structures were proposed and constructed. Underground explosion experiments were performed to investigate the vibration attenuation effect of annular metastructures with different layered structures. It is clear in this research only annular metastructures with concrete–rubber–concrete structures like annular metastructure model B6 have the most excellent wave attenuation performances, whose rubber layer thickness must be over 6 mm and hardness is 20 HA. Other layered structures with rubber layer thickness of 0.3 cm or with more layers cannot effectively attenuate the shock wave in this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since Artificial ground Freezing (AGF) appeared in the 1880s in the mining sector in Europe, it has been used for various construction applications worldwide. In recent years, it has been increasingly popular in urban projects due to its versatility and applicability to complicated site conditions. So far, it has been used to stabilize substrata to nearly 1,000 m below the ground surface, which is considered not possible for many other ground improvement technologies. Due to the growth in field applications, the practice and theories related to AGF have become more mature in the most recent two decades. The improvement in understanding of this topic is a result of lessons that have been learned through numerous projects, as well as a variety of comprehensive studies that have been completed. This paper reviews the existing practice, the recent development on AGF and the challenges of AGF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous development of underground engineering construction in China, it is particularly important to study the identification of structural plane characteristics of rock masses. In this study, three types of pseudo-rock specimens with structural plane interlayers were fabricated to analyze the patterns of drilling parameter changes in rock bodies with structural planes during the drilling process and to explore the characterization and identification methods of rock body structural planes. Gneiss, granite, and sandstone were used as rock materials, with gypsum mortar as the interlayer material for the structural planes in these three types of specimens. The indoor digital drilling equipment was utilized for conducting indoor digital drilling experiments. The variation patterns of drilling parameters in rock bodies with structural surfaces under different interlayer inclinations and thicknesses were analyzed. The relationship between the ratio of the change in rotational speed and drilling speed during the stable phase of the upper rock mass and the peak torque and peak drilling pressure has been established. The relationship between the structural plane inclination angle and the ratio of change in rotational speed and drilling speed has been determined. By utilizing the variation in these ratios, the impacts of the structural plane inclination angle and the thickness of the structural plane on the peak torque and peak drilling pressure have been elucidated. The research results provide a theoretical basis for the stability evaluation of rock masses with structural planes under drilling action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The aim of this work is to investigate the deformation and energy characteristics of skarn with different interlayer inclination angles under cyclic loading. The skarn samples with marble bands of various orientations (i.e., 30°, 45°, 60°, and 75°) were chosen as the test material. It is revealed from the testing results that the presence of interlayers changes the geomechanical properties of the rock, rock peak strength, and elastic modulus increases with increasing the interlayer inclination angle. Additionally, the growth rate of input energy exhibits an inverted “V” pattern with respect to the interlayer inclination angle. In terms of damage modes, intact marble and skarn predominantly exhibit tensile damage, whereas interlayered rocks exhibit a combination of tensile and shear failure pattern. Finally, a damage evolution model defined by axial strain is proposed and expressed to fit the experimental data. The results in this work would provide a crucial theoretical basis for the safety assessment of underground engineering constructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "pile–wall" structure, which considers conventional temporary retaining piles as parts of the underground structure in the normal working stage, has been practiced, but there are insufficient studies on the optimization of the design of the "pile–wall" structure and the influence of various factors on the structural stresses and deformations. In order to analyze the factors affecting the stresses and deformations of the "pile–wall" structure, the numerical simulation of the "pile–wall" structure was carried out with the help of finite element simulation software Plaxis 3D through the excavation of Wuhan Optics Valley Center City Distributed Energy Project. The research of stresses and displacements on the "pile–wall" structural under the influence of different factors were carried out. The results show that the number of pile–wall connection nodes, the pile–wall thickness ratio, and the pile–wall stiffness ratio have influences on the stresses and deformations of the "pile–wall" structure. The number of connection nodes which is 4, the pile–wall thickness ratio which is 1 : 0.3, and the pile–wall stiffness ratio which is 1 : 1 are the most reasonable for the deformation and force of pile–wall structure in the project. The research results have good reference and guiding significance for the actual "pile–wall" excavation engineering structure, and the purpose of energy‐saving and consumption‐reducing construction can be achieved by seeking the reasonable values of the three and optimizing the construction program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leakage at the bottom of an underground structure can compel ground water to form a converging flow, under which soil erosion may occur, thereby threatening the safety of the structure. Previous studies have shown that converging flow may induce backward erosion, and unravelling the mechanism behind this type of erosion was pivotal to mitigating disasters in practical engineering. Existing studies on this topic have been limited to monolayer erodible medium, while the mechanism behind the backward erosion of a multilayer erodible medium under converging flow remains unclear. In this study, both experimental tests and numerical simulations based on the validated computational fluid dynamics and the discrete element coupling method (CFD–DEM) were conducted to investigate the backward erosion of a multilayer sample under converging flow. The results demonstrated that the multilayer sample was eroded layer-by-layer, whereby residual layers could be observed at the bottom of the sample. The eroded regions in different layers were similar in shape but smaller in size for lower layers. In addition, particle exchange occurred among different layers during the erosion process. In general, lower-layer particles could directly ascend to upper layers in the eroded regions, whereas upper-layer particles mainly settled on the periphery of the eroded regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When an underground structure passes through a liquefiable soil layer, the soil liquefaction may pose a significant threat to the structure. A centrifuge shaking table test was performed to research the seismic response of underground structures in liquefiable interlayer sites, and a valid numerical model was obtained through simulation model test. Finally, the calibrated numerical model was used to perform further research on the influence of various distribution characteristics of liquefiable interlayers on the seismic reaction of underground structures. The key findings are as follows. The structure faces the most unfavorable condition once a liquefiable layer is located in the middle of the underground structure. When a liquefiable layer exists in the middle of the structure, the seismic reactions of both the underground structure and model site will increase with the rise of the thickness of the liquefiable interlayer. The inter-story drift of the structure in the non-liquefiable site is much smaller than that in the liquefiable interlayer site. The inter-story drift of the structure is not only associated with the site displacement and the soil-structure stiffness ratio but also closely associated with the slippage of the soil-structure contact interface under the condition of large deformation of the site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of reasonable input ground motions is a prerequisite for investigating the seismic response of near-fault structures. Currently, realistic near-fault pulse-like seismic records are lacking internationally. Moreover, the existing records exhibit distinct regional characteristics, which hardly meet the demand for seismic analysis of various engineering structures. Collecting and analyzing the pulse-like seismic records, a linear attenuation expression is proposed in this study to describe the time-varying frequency amplitude decay over duration. On this basis, a new model compatible with horizontal and vertical components is developed for near-fault ground motions. The model parameters are estimated for 100 near-fault records and regressed against the prediction equations. The variability and correlation of the ground motion in two directions are analyzed through the residual correlation matrix. Finally, taking a subway station as the engineering background, the effects of velocity pulse and vertical seismic motions on the underground structures are addressed through simulated motions and realistic records. Compared with existing approaches, the proposed method not only aligns with the time-frequency distribution characteristics of near-fault ground motions but also considers the correlation between horizontal and vertical components. In addition, consistent with the results from recorded ground motions, the synthetic motions yield enlarged seismic responses of the underground structure, thereby guaranteeing analysis accuracy for the engineered structures subjected to pulse-like ground motions. The inclusion of vertical excitation prominently amplifies the vertical displacement of the slab under pulse-like ground motions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting rock tunnel squeezing in underground projects is challenging due to its intricate and unpredictable nature. This study proposes an innovative approach to enhance the accuracy and reliability of tunnel squeezing prediction. The proposed method combines ensemble learning techniques with Q-learning and online Markov chain integration. A deep learning model is trained on a comprehensive database comprising tunnel parameters including diameter (D), burial depth (H), support stiffness (K), and tunneling quality index (Q). Multiple deep learning models are trained concurrently, leveraging ensemble learning to capture diverse patterns and improve prediction performance. Integration of the Q-learning-Online Markov Chain further refines predictions. The online Markov chain analyzes historical sequences of tunnel parameters and squeezing class transitions, establishing transition probabilities between different squeezing classes. The Q-learning algorithm optimizes decision-making by learning the optimal policy for transitioning between tunnel states. The proposed model is evaluated using a dataset from various tunnel construction projects, assessing performance through metrics like accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. Results demonstrate the efficiency of the ensemble deep learning model combined with Q-learning-Online Markov Chain in predicting surrounding rock tunnel squeezing. This approach offers insights into parameter interrelationships and dynamic squeezing characteristics, enabling proactive planning and support measures implementation to mitigate tunnel squeezing hazards and ensure underground structure safety. Experimental results show the model achieves a prediction accuracy of 98.11%, surpassing individual CNN and RNN models, with an AUC value of 0.98. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creep behavior of rocks has been broadly researched because of its extensive application in geomechanics. Since the time-dependent stability of underground constructions is a critical aspect of geotechnical engineering, a comprehensive understanding of the creep behavior of rocks plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safety of such structures. Various factors, including stress level, temperature, rock damage, water content, rock anisotropy, etc., can influence rocks' creep characteristics. One of the main topics in the creep analysis of rocks is the constitutive models, which can be categorized into empirical, component, and mechanism-based models. In this research, the previously proposed creep models were reviewed, and their main characteristics were discussed. The effectiveness of the models in simulating the accelerated phase of rock creep was evaluated by comparing their performance with the creep test results of different types of rocks. The application of rock's creep analysis in different engineering projects and adopting appropriate creep properties for rock mass were also examined. The primary limitation associated with empirical and classical component models lies in their challenges when it comes to modeling the tertiary phase of rock creep. The mechanism-based models have demonstrated success in effectively simulating the complete creep phases; nevertheless, additional validation is crucial to establish their broader applicability. However, further investigation is still required to develop creep models specific to rock mass. In this paper, we attempted to review and discuss the most recent studies in creep analysis of rocks that can be used by researchers conducting creep analysis in geomechanics. Highlights: Creep constitutive models for rocks were reviewed, and their main characteristics were discussed. The applications of creep analysis in geomechanics were explained, and some engineering projects were mentioned. The back analysis techniques using long-time measured monitoring data were successfully used for finding rock mass creep parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fracturing of rocks subjected to cryogenic treatment significantly impacts the stability and permeability of underground storage facilities for liquefied natural gas (LNG). However, existing fracturing damage models lack coverage across the entire spectrum of practical engineering conditions, spanning potential temperature ranges from room temperature to − 160 °C and saturation levels from 0 to 100%. Addressing this gap, this study utilizes cracked sandstone disks to investigate the fracture toughness of sandstone following cryogenic treatment to − 160 °C using the Brazilian splitting test. In the experimental setup, treatment temperatures are specified at 15, − 40, − 80, − 120, and − 160 °C, while saturations range from 0 to 100%. The experimental findings reveal that ultralow temperatures reduce the fracture toughness of saturated sandstone by approximately 30%, whereas for dry sandstone, this reduction is approximately 7.4%. This suggests a significant influence of different pore saturations on fracture toughness. A damage model, based on the Boltzmann function, is established to incorporate the effects of both temperature and saturation. This model accurately predicts the damage variable concerning treatment temperature and saturation. Generally, as temperature decreases, the damage variable also decreases, exhibiting two stages: rapid decrease followed by gradual decrease. The transition temperature, marking the division between these stages, tends to be lower in sandstone with higher saturation levels. The experimental results are further discussed within the context of the mineral compositions present in the sandstone, elucidating the thermal–mechanical mechanisms at play. Although the current damage model is specific to sandstone, the methodological approach is generalizable to generic rock types. The damage model's adaptability allows for testing fitting parameters for specific rock types or adjusting the relevant thermal coefficients. These findings and the developed model offer valuable insights for the reliable analysis of stability and permeability in LNG storage facilities or similar geologic engineering projects. Highlights: The Mode-I fracture toughness of sandstone under variable saturation conditions subjected to cryogenic temperatures of − 160 °C is investigated. Saturated sandstone experiences more than four times the amount of damage compared to dry sandstone under ultralow temperatures. A damage model is developed to incorporate the influences of both temperature and saturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporary seismic networks on Mt. Halla and Ulleung Island volcanoes were deployed, which employ broadband and geophone arrays to monitor potential volcanic activities and to estimate high-resolution magmatic structures beneath these volcanoes. The purpose of this paper is to introduce these networks and present early results through basic seismic analyses, suggesting the potential for future comprehensive seismological studies. The array in Mt. Halla volcano consists of five broadband sensors (JH array), and it has been operational around the Baengnokdam summit crater since October 2020. There was an additional linear geophone array (HL array) installed in September 2021 for detailed shallow subsurface imaging. Ulleung Island volcano had been under observation for two years since June 2021 with a network of nine broadband sensors (UL array) along its coast and in the Nari crater basin, complemented by a 52-geophone array (UG array) deployed in May 2022 for high-resolution subsurface studies. Despite the noisy environments typical of temporary setups, power spectral density analyses confirmed the quality of data as comparable to established reference noise models in permanent stations. Our study aimed to initiate studies uncovering seismic activities and structures beneath Mt. Halla and Ulleung Island volcanoes, specifically regarding volcanic activity. This approach detected no clear sign of volcanic seismicity on both islands, suggesting a period of magmatic dormancy. Seismic velocity variation (dv/v) analyses further indicated that environmental factors, rather than volcanic processes, influenced the changes in the physical properties of the underground structures. Conversely, the receiver function analysis and ambient noise data processing hinted at the presence of complex subsurface structures, potentially indicative of volcanic features, such as partial melting. Despite the lack of direct evidence for active magmatic processes, the collected seismic data provides a crucial baseline for future monitoring and a deeper understanding of the magmatic and tectonic dynamics beneath these volcanoes, offering valuable insights for ongoing volcanic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the energy dynamics of sandstone subjected to failure in conditions typical of deep underground construction. Research was conducted using both standard triaxial compression and cyclic loading–unloading techniques at six distinct confining pressures, with the objective of elucidating the deformation and failure processes of rock materials. The tests demonstrated that, regardless of the stress path, sandstone primarily fails through shear under different confining pressures, which also reduces the formation of secondary cracks. The energy transformation observed during cyclic loading and unloading processes exhibits a distinctive peak-like distribution, marked by an inflection point that indicates changes in energy distribution. In the initial stages of the loading cycle, the energy profile of the rock increases, characterized by a condition in which the energy stored elastically exceeds the energy dissipated. Nevertheless, subsequent to reaching peak stress, there is a rapid transmutation of elastic strain energy into other forms, culminating in a pronounced elevation in the ratio of dissipated energy, which ultimately achieves a state of equilibrium influenced by the confining pressures. The study introduces the energy consumption ratio (Ke) as a metric for assessing rock damage accumulation and stability, noting a critical pattern where Ke decreases and then spikes at the rock's failure point, with K = 1 identified as the critical threshold for failure. This comprehensive analysis illuminates the intricate relationship between energy distribution patterns and the stability of rock structures, thereby enhancing our understanding of failure mechanisms from an energetic perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The short-term scheduling of activities in underground mines is an important step in mining operations. This procedure is a challenging optimization problem since it deals with many resources and activities conducted in a confined working space. Moreover, underground mining operations deal with multiple uncertainties such as the variation of activity durations. In this paper, a constraint programming (CP) model is proposed for short-term planning in underground mines. The developed model takes into account the technical requirements of underground operations to build realistic mine schedules. Furthermore, two different approaches are proposed based on the CP model for robust short-term underground mine scheduling. The first approach aims to create a robust schedule using multiple scenarios of the problem. This stochastic CP model enables to find a set of ordered robust sequences of activities performed by each available disjunctive resource over several scenarios. In the second approach, a confidence constraint is introduced in the CP model to specify the probability that the schedule generated would not underestimate the duration of activities. The model allows the mine planner to control the risk level with which an optimized solution should be produced such that it can be implemented given the actual activity durations. The presented approaches are tested on real data sets of an underground gold mine in Canada. An evaluation model is designed to evaluate the robust performance of the proposed models. The experiments demonstrate that both scenario-based and confidence-constraint approaches outperform the deterministic model by generating schedules that are more robust to uncertainties in underground operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D magnetotelluric (MT) imaging detects underground structures by measuring electromagnetic fields. This study tackles two issues in the field: traditional methods' limitations due to insufficient forward modeling data, and the challenge of multiple solutions in complex scenarios. We introduce an enhanced 2D MT imaging approach with a novel self-attention mechanism, involving: 1. Generating diverse geophysical models and responses to increase data variety and volume. 2. Creating a Swin–Unet-based 2D MT Imaging network with self-attention for better modeling and relation capture, incorporating a MT sample generator using real data to lessen large-scale supervised training dependence, and refining the loss function for optimal validation. This method also includes eliminating MT background response to boost training efficiency and reduce training time. 3. Applying a transverse electric/transverse magnetic method for comprehensive 2D MT data response. Tests show that our method greatly improves 2D MT imaging's accuracy and efficiency, with excellent generalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undercutting anchors are structural elements used in construction and geotechnics to stabilize both structures and soils. Their main applications include stabilizing slopes and embankments, reinforcing foundations, and providing support during tunnel construction and other underground works. The authors propose the use of these anchors in rock mass detachment technology. This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the mechanism behind rock mass detachment using an undercutting anchor. Particular attention is given to the influence of parameters such as the fracture energy of the medium and the coefficient of friction between the medium and the anchor head on the detachment process of rock elements during anchor expansion in the drilled hole. Numerical FEM analysis was employed to model the effect of changes in the shape and size of failure cones under varying simulation conditions. The discussed problem is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of this anchor design under non-standard conditions, particularly in the unconventional destruction of rock media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic emissions (AEs) are produced by elastic waves generated by damage in solid materials. AE sensors have been widely used in several fields as a promising tool to analyze damage mechanisms such as cracking, dislocation movement, etc. However, accurately determining the location of damage in solids in a non-destructive manner is still challenging. In this paper, we propose a crack wave arrival time determination algorithm that can identify crack waves with low SNRs (signal-to-noise ratios) generated in rocks. The basic idea is that the variances in the crack wave and noise have different characteristics, depending on the size of the moving window. The results can be used to accurately determine the crack source location. The source location is determined by observing where the variance in the crack wave velocities of the true and imaginary crack location reach a minimum. By performing a pencil lead break test using rock samples, it was confirmed that the proposed method could successfully find wave arrival time and crack localization. The proposed algorithm for source localization can be used for evaluating and monitoring damage in tunnels or other underground facilities in real time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shallow-buried cavities and underground structures are inevitably subjected to transient perturbation from earthquakes or engineering activities during their life circle, leading to the occurrence of dynamic failure. The investigation presented by this paper concentrates on the dynamic responses triggered by an aperiodic transient P wave around a circular lined tunnel with an imperfect interface in a half-space and the spring model is employed to describe the interface between rock mass and liner. Resorting to the wave function expansion scheme, the large arc assumption, the Graf's addition theorem and the numerical inversion algorithm of Laplace transformation, the dynamic responses around a circular shallow lined tunnel with an imperfect interface are evaluated theoretically. The good agreement of time–history curves and contour snapshots for stress between the theoretical solutions and the numerical counterparts validates the analytical scheme. The effect of disturbance direction, embedment depth, thickness of liner and interface coefficients on the dynamic responses around the shallow-buried lined tunnel is analyzed. The results indicate that the positions of peak hoop dynamic stress concentration factor (DSCF) are approximately perpendicular to the perturbation direction. The DSCF distributions converge to be stable when the ratio of embedment depth to excavation radius exceeds 10.0. The thickness of the liner mainly affects the dynamic responses around the interface. Increase of elastic coefficient induces a decreasing DSCF in rock mass and an increasing counterpart in the liner. The results may provide the theoretical basis for the transient responses and aseismic design of underground tunnels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground cavities have complex spatial structures and geological settings, their arrangement is dense and crisscrossed. The construction system involves multiple work surfaces, levels, and processes. The close integration of construction simulation with actual production conditions is crucial for enhancing the guidance that simulation results provide for practical engineering. Therefore, from the perspective of optimizing construction organization and management, this article comprehensively considers various factors in the construction process, innovatively introduces the principle of production line balance and the concept of rule cycle, and combines technology and management, an underground cavities construction simulation system (UCCSS) is developed. In UCCSS, a hierarchical model is built and calculation are performed on models with different construction methods by modifying the parameters as per the actual engineering characteristics. The simulation results are comprehensively analysed to determine the optimal construction programme. An application case is proposed based on the construction organisation design of the long and parallel diversion tunnels at the CB Hydropower Station. The results show that the system has good practicality and credibility and can provide guidance for the construction organisation design of underground cavities with various features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sanya estuary passage project is the latest and highly technical underground project after the large shield underground construction, which is of great significance to the construction of the Hainan free trade port and underground space construction innovation. In this paper, we use finite element software to analyze the deformation, stress, and surface settlement of the pipe curtain structure during construction under two conditions (original riverbed line and maximum scour riverbed line) in order to provide guidance for the actual project. Numerical simulations show that due to excavation and unloading, the bottom and top of the pipe curtain structure are subject to tensile stress; the bottom rises, the top settles, and converges in the horizontal direction; under the original riverbed line condition, the displacement values of each index are larger; changing the riverbed line does not change the maximum and minimum main stress of the pipe curtain structure significantly, and the stiffness of the pipe curtain structure can meet the maximum water level and the maximum scour in two unfavorable conditions; the pipe curtain structure can meet the structural. The pipe screen structure can meet the structural load‐bearing requirements. Suggestions for the design and construction of the project: strengthen the thickness of the pipe curtain at the side wall position, that is, use larger diameter steel pipes; do a good job of antiseepage and anticracking of the concrete at the corner of the pipe curtain structure and the side wall position during the construction process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal seam mining causes fracture and movement of overlying strata in goaf, and endangers the safety of surface structures and underground pipelines. Based on the engineering geological conditions of 22,122 working face in Cuncaota No.2 Coal Mine of China Shenhua Shendong Coal Group Co., Ltd. a similar material model test of mining overburden rock was carried out. The subsidence of overburden rock was obtained through the full-section strain data of distributed optical fiber technology, and the characteristics of mining surface subsidence were studied. The Weibull model was used to adjust the mathematical form of the first half of the surface subsidence curve via the MMF function. On this basis, the prediction model of coal seam mining surface subsidence was established, and the parameters of the prediction model of surface subsidence were determined. The test results show that with the advancement of coal seam mining, the fit goodness of the surface subsidence prediction curve based on the MMF optimization model reaches 0.987. Compared with the measured values, the relative error of the surface subsidence prediction model is reduced to less than 10%. The model displays good prediction accuracy. The time required for settlement stability in the prediction model is positively correlated with parameter a and negatively correlated with parameter b. The research results can be further extended to the prediction of overburden "three zones" subsidence, and provide a scientific basis for the evaluation of surface subsidence compression potential in coal mine goaf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to obtain the failure mechanism of the rock stability under the influence of carbonaceous phyllite band in tailrace surge chamber of Jinchuan Hydropower Station, an insitu microseismic(MS)monitoring system was established. In the construction period, the temporal and spatial distribution of MS events and source parameters were acquired during the excavation in underground caverns. A 3D discrete element numerical model was built. Discrete fracture network(DFN)was added for the weak fault of the underground caverns to build joint fissure, and the displacement and plastic zone distribution were obtained. The synthetic MS events induced by the excavation validated the failure mode and damage of the weak fault. The results suggested that there was a strong correlation between the spatial distribution of insitu MS events and the failure region of rock. The source parameter energy ratio of transverse and longitudinal waves of MS events revealed that the main failure mode of tailrace surge chamber was tension failure. The maximum deformation and plastic zone were obtained by discrete element numerical simulation, and the result was mutually verified with the MS monitoring results. The synthetic MS events generated by DFN-discrete element coupling method revealed the potential failure area of rock, and the result was in good agreement with the actual spatial distribution of MS events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of surface subsidence induced by shallow buried excavation construction and the failure mode under ultimate state were not unclear. In view of this situation, a scaled model experiment based on particle image velocimetry(PIV)was conducted to simulate the construction process of shallow buried tunnels in sandy soil and Ⅴ-grade surrounding rock. PIV technology was used to analyze the deformation images of the surrounding rock during the construction process of the tunnel, and to obtain displacement cloud maps of geological deformation induced by construction disturbance. By analyzing the characteristics and gradual evolution of surface deformation induced by underground excavation construction disturbance, the shape and range of the failure surface and collapse induced by underground excavation tunnel construction in different strata under the limit state were summarized. The equation of the failure surface induced by the collapse of the arch top strata during underground excavation construction was derived by using the upper limit theorem of limit analysis and variational principle, and the collapse surface graph was drawn. The validity of the model test results was verified by comparing the range of collapse induced by underground excavation construction in the arch crown strata obtained from the model test with the theoretical calculation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deformation and failure of the surrounding rock mass is a key issue during the construction of large‐scale underground powerhouse, and large discontinuities are likely to cause this problem in the presence of complex geological structures. This article takes the right bank underground powerhouse of the Baihetan Hydropower Station as a case study. In this case, deformation mutation of the surrounding rock mass occurred in the south section of the main powerhouse, with the maximum deformation reaching 178 mm, and the deformation and failure of different parts showed differences. A comprehensive study integrating field survey, site monitoring, laboratory test and numerical simulation was carried out. By field survey and monitoring, characteristics of deformation and failure are described, and the spatiotemporal difference in deformation is analysed. The stress evolution during excavation is studied based on numerical simulations, the mechanical response of rock is derived through laboratory tests, and the mechanism of spatiotemporal difference is revealed. The results indicate that the main reason for the spatiotemporal difference is the presence of slightly inclining interlayer shear zone C4. In the south section, the excavation‐induced stress concentration at the arch was enhanced due to C4, with the maximum principal stress exceeding 70 MPa, and the high compressive stress here triggered the deformation mutation of surrounding rock mass. After undergoing a stress path from concentration to unloading, the surrounding rock mass at the downstream sidewall was seriously damaged, and its deformation also mutated under approximately vertical stress. The mutation resulted in the uneven spatial distribution, large increment and time‐dependent feature of deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The particle breakage effect in sand exerts a significant influence on the design of underground space structure. However, the existing theories seldom consider the breakage effect and often lack accurate descriptions of void ratio changes, leading to substantial errors in the numerical calculations compared to the actual scenario. This study employs the simple critical state sand model (SIMSAND) to account for the particle breakage effect and transforms the drained cylindrical cavity expansion problem into a set of first‐order ordinary differential equations described by the Lagrangian method. The analytical solution of the cylindrical cavity expansion problem is calculated using Matlab programming codes. Firstly, Fontainebleau sand is investigated to analyse the influence of initial stress, void ratio and specific volume around the cavity. The combined effects of initial stress and particle breakage on the soil around the cavities result in dilatancy characteristics and a reduction in void ratio. The stress path analysis reveals that the soil around the cavities only reaches a critical state under high initial stresses. Secondly, a plane strain numerical model is established for twice expansion to verify the calculation outcomes from the cylindrical cavity expansion theory. Finally, an axisymmetric cone penetration test (CPT) model is developed to analyse the theoretical and numerical solutions for expansion stress and sleeve friction. The research results indicate that the CPT in sand need to consider the particle breakage effect, especially under high stress conditions. Without considering particle breakage, the sleeve friction is overestimated. These research findings can offer guidance for geotechnical engineering applications, such as CPT, pressuremeter tests and predictions of bearing capacity for pile foundations in sand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article proposes a method of combining CloudCompare, RHINO, and FLAC3D software, aimed at building numerical models of underground objects of natural or engineering origin, based on the results of measurements made using terrestrial laser scanning technology. This technology is one of the most advanced in mine survey as it enables accurate mapping of even the most complex geometries of underground facilities. This opens wide possibilities in the construction of more accurate numerical models of the behavior of the rock mass around such underground objects. The results of simulation of the behavior of the rock mass around the analyzed excavations, obtained by performing numerical calculations, allow predicting unfavorable phenomena that may occur as a result of the destruction of the rock mass and which may threaten the safety of users of underground facilities, for example, caves, tunnels, and mining excavations. In this work, we carried out measurements using a terrestrial laser scanner and obtained a "point cloud" that reproduced the geometry of the underground facility. An example is a fragment of the adit St. Johannes, which is part of the underground tourist route "Geopark" St. Johannes Mine in Krobica in Lower Silesia in Poland in the neighborhood of Gierczyn and Przecznica. In the next step, the measurement results were processed, so that it was possible to import the generated geometry into the FLAC3D software and use it to build a numerical model of the adit, based on "brick" zones. The aim of the article is to present in detail the methodology of geometrization of numerical models of underground objects with complex geometry. The author wanted the method to be as easy to use as possible, give full control over the surface structure, and not require many numerical modeling programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic imaging of complicated underground structures with severe surface undulation (i.e., double complex areas) is challenging owing to the difficulty of collecting the very weak reflected signal. Enhancing the weak signal is difficult even with state-of-the-art multi-domain and multidimensional prestack denoising techniques. This paper presents a time–space dip analysis of offset vector tile (OVT) domain data based on the τ-p transform. The proposed N-th root slant stack method enhances the signal in a three-dimensional τ-p domain by establishing a zero-offset time-dip seismic attribute trace and calculating the coherence values of a given data sub-volume (i.e., inline, crossline, time), which are then used to recalculate the data. After sorting, the new data provide a solid foundation for obtaining the optimal N value of the N-th root slant stack, which is used to enhance a weak signal. The proposed method was applied to denoising low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) data from Western China. The optimal N value was determined for improving the SNR in deep strata, and the weak seismic signal was enhanced. The results showed that the proposed method effectively suppressed noise in low-SNR data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid progression in the current economic cities and the push for societal advancement are driving the development of tall, slim structures that require underground utility tunnels. These tunnels, known as underground services tunnels, are built beneath urban areas and house a variety of main pipelines for gas, heating, and electricity. They serve as underground walkways, high-voltage lines, drainage systems, and water supply networks. The construction of these underground tunnels is essential for facilitating the future growth of buildings and infrastructure without disrupting the streets where utilities were traditionally located in older city layouts. The increase of the quantity of deeply buried extra-long tunnels has increased quickly, leading to geothermal hazards emerging as a significant issue in engineering projects. This research has studied many approaches for ventilation or cooling of underground cable tunnels. Approximately 90% of the utilized techniques consisted of air ventilation, encompassing mechanical, natural, or a combination of both approaches. It is important to consider that this particular method is more commonly employed in regions with higher weather conditions similar to Egypt. Nonetheless, this approach efficiently sustains satisfactory indoor temperatures surrounding cables, guaranteeing that they stay below 40 °C. Nevertheless, in the particular climate region of Egypt, where outdoor temperatures can soar more to 40 °C, it became crucial to subject the air to cooling before it is supplied into the tunnel. The impact of the mist (FOG) system on tunnel cooling was also examined. However, it has been discovered that the humidity levels in tunnels rise excessively, despite the high initial cost involved, particularly in lengthy tunnels. Consequently, it is not regarded as a viable method for cooling cables. Its sole application lies in serving as a fire suppression system for cable tunnels. Approximately 10% of the conducted research employed water cooling, which involved circulating cold water through pipes located next to the cables in rows. As a result of convection heat transfer, the air surrounding the cables in the tunnel is effectively cooled. It was found from this study that mechanical air cooling (ventilation) is the most efficient way of dealing with heat dissipated from cables by convection inside tunnels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock bolts play a critical role in ground support in mining, tunneling and construction. Being able to obtain timely information on rock bolt load condition and deformation could help immensely in safeguarding workers' safety, optimization of ground support system, and ensuring stability and longevity of underground structures. The objective of this work was to develop a practical ultrasonic rock bolt sensing technology for monitoring axial load and deformation of a full-bodied rock bolt in both elastic and plastic deformation regimes. To this end, empirical mathematical models involving simultaneous use of times of flight of longitudinal and shear ultrasonic waves propagating along the axial direction of the rock bolt were developed, sensors were designed and fabricated, and laboratory studies were conducted. The results showed that the technology was able to measure load change, provide early detection of yield, and measure both plastic and total elongations of the rock bolt undergoing a pull test. Additionally, sectional load and elongation information could be obtained by applying the technology to rock bolts divided into sections by drilled holes along their shanks, therefore, providing the capability to assess the condition of grouted bolts at different depths within a rock mass. This work has laid the groundwork for the deployment of the technology in the field. Highlights: Empirical models based on simultaneous use of times of flight of longitudinal and shear ultrasonic waves were proposed for condition monitoring of full-bodied rock bolts Methods for instrumenting full-bodied rock bolts were developed Calibration methods for determining values of parameters used in the empirical models were established Pull testing showed that the technology could measure load changes within and beyond the elastic limit, detect yield, and measure plastic and total elongations of the rock bolt Sectional load and elongation information could be obtained by applying the technology to rock bolts divided into sections by drilled holes along their shanks [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple processing approaches were applied to magnetotelluric data from the Mahallat geothermal field in central Iran to evaluate the dimensionality and geoelectric strike of the subterranean structures, as well as to comprehend the overall geometry of the targeted reservoir. While conventional smooth inversion methods can generate reliable models, their application, in the absence of initial information, may lead to unrealistic outcomes, especially in media with sharp resistivity contrasts. Consequently, a conventional smooth inversion, alongside the sharp boundary inversion techniques, is applied on real data through two profiles in order to investigate and compare the subsurface structural features. Ultimately, by adopting a target-oriented modelling approach, this study utilises the sharp boundary method to deduce a more suitable configuration for the characteristics of the geothermal reservoir. Thus, to a large extent, this approach can facilitate the interpretational complications of underground geothermal structures. Correspondingly, this research led to recognising a hydrothermal reservoir with a proper layout at a depth of 1,800 and 1,200 m underneath profiles A and B, respectively. Moreover, deeper reservoirs were identified and depicted as conceptual geological models obtained through the incorporation of sharp boundary inversion results and geological information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water leakage defects often occur in underground structures, leading to accelerated structural aging and threatening structural safety. Leakage identification can detect early diseases of underground structures and provide important guidance for reinforcement and maintenance. Deep learning-based computer vision methods have been rapidly developed and widely used in many fields. However, establishing a deep learning model for underground structure leakage identification usually requires a lot of training data on leakage defects, which is very expensive. To overcome the data shortage, a deep neural network method for leakage identification is developed based on transfer learning in this paper. For comparison, four famous classification models, including VGG16, AlexNet, SqueezeNet, and ResNet18, are constructed. To train the classification models, a transfer learning strategy is developed, and a dataset of underground structure leakage is created. Finally, the classification performance on the leakage dataset of different deep learning models is comparatively studied under different sizes of training data. The results showed that the VGG16, AlexNet, and SqueezeNet models with transfer learning can overall provide higher and more stable classification performance on the leakage dataset than those without transfer learning. The ResNet18 model with transfer learning can overall provide a similar value of classification performance on the leakage dataset than that without transfer learning, but its classification performance is more stable than that without transfer learning. In addition, the SqueezeNet model obtains an overall higher and more stable performance than the comparative models on the leakage dataset for all classification metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Korea, the demand for complete underground installation of power distribution equipment installed on roads and green areas is increasing. In addition, KEPCO is making efforts to build a more reliable system for the underground distribution system. To meet these needs, this paper proposes the S-substation. In the S-substation, an RMU, a large power transformer, and an LV-Board (including ATCB and MCCB) are installed within the underground structure. This paper proposes three models to apply the S-substation to the underground distribution system. Power flow analysis is conducted for each model by simulating a variety of loads and DERs, and the frequency fluctuations are also examined under different distribution system events. An economic analysis is also conducted to select the optimal model. The economic analysis focuses on VOLL and construction costs. Based on power flow and economic analysis, one model is selected, and the underground distribution system that the model is applied is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method utilizing an embedded sensing system to determine the dynamic load is proposed to address the problem of not being able to directly obtain the dynamic load time history of a crawler driving structure in the harsh underground working environment of a coal mine roadheader robot. A crawler driving structure and its embedded sensing system are designed. A rigid–flexible coupling simulation model of the roadheader robot is established, and the dynamic load time history parameters of the crawler obtained from the simulation and test data are compared and analyzed. Results show that the load fluctuation of the tested track plate at the idler and sprocket is significant. By contrast, the fluctuation of the free segment is minimal. The load fluctuation range of the support segment of the hard road is −5–15 MPa, and that of the soft sand road is −10–25 MPa. Moreover, the track plate exhibits noticeable warping and winding phenomenon relative to the road wheel on the soft sand road. The changing trend of the crawler dynamic load time history obtained from simulation and test is relatively consistent. This study provides a reference for the crawler driving structure's structural optimization and reliability research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering Planning is the primary task of underground engineering. The planning dimension of underground engineering still remains at the two-dimensional level, lacking a technical platform for processing and analyzing multi-dimensional and multi-source information. Especially due to insufficient information under hidden geological conditions, the quality of subsequent design and construction cannot be guaranteed. BIM + GIS can achieve the unification and technical application of data at the macro scale and three-dimensional models at the micro scale. Therefore, based on BIM + GIS, the technical architecture of an underground engineering auxiliary planning and design platform was established, Taking the underground pipe gallery project as an example, simulation analysis was conducted A comprehensive model integrating engineering and three-dimensional geology has been established. Based on the three-dimensional spatial conflict analysis results of geological and underground pipe gallery engineering, optimization design was carried out. The research results can clearly demonstrate the correlation between underground pipe gallery engineering and geographical environment, enabling planners to carry out planning and design work from both macro and micro perspectives, improving the technical level of planning and design, and providing new avenues for innovation in underground engineering planning and design technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of seepage control is faced in the construction of large underground powerhouse cavern systems. To reduce leakage and improve the permeability stability of the surrounding rock, a complex seepage control system, including drainage hole arrays, drainage tunnels, and grouting curtains, was designed for the Wunonglong underground powerhouse caverns. In this study, we performed a seepage field numerical analysis of the Wunonglong underground powerhouse caverns system to optimize the seepage control system. A three-dimensional numerical model was established considering the complex seepage control system and the geological conditions. A steady seepage analysis method, with a variational inequality formulation, was adopted in order to calculate the long-term seepage field. A drainage substructure method was used to simulate the seepage behavior of the densely arranged drainage hole arrays. The seepage control effects of single and double grouting curtains were compared to determine a reasonable curtain layout scheme. The effect of the drainage system on the seepage control of the powerhouse caverns is further discussed. The findings offer reliable insights into the seepage behavior of underground powerhouse caverns and provide a reference for the design and construction of similar underground powerhouse cavern systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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To calculate the surrounding soil pressure applied to shallow underground structures in layered soils, a new calculation method suitable for shallow underground works in layered soil is proposed by introducing the horizontal slice method (HSM). Through comparison with traditional methods and measured data, the rationality and accuracy of the proposed method are demonstrated. Model parameters, model assumptions, and limitations of the proposed method are also discussed. The research results find that the vertical soil pressure obtained from the proposed method is close to the results of Bierbaum's theory and method in the Chinese "Code for Design of Railway Tunnel", all showing a linear growth trend, but the lateral earth pressure derived from the proposed method shows a nonlinear distribution. The vertical pressure is linearly positively correlated with internal friction angle, cohesion, and burial depth, while it is linearly negatively correlated with the equivalent friction angle. The lateral earth pressure decreases with an increase in the internal friction angle and cohesion at the same depth, while it increases with an increasing equivalent friction angle. For layered soil, lateral stress undergoes abrupt changes of different degrees at the soil layer boundary and the burial depth boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of rock mass quality significantly impacts the design and construction of underground and open-pit mines from the point of stability and economy. This study develops the novel Gromov-Hausdorff distance for rock quality (GHDQR) methodology for rock mass quality rating based on multi-criteria grey metric space. It usually presents the quality of surrounding rock by classes (metric spaces) with specified properties and adequate interval-grey numbers. Measuring the distance between surrounding rock sample characteristics and existing classes represents the core of this study. The Gromov-Hausdorff distance is an especially useful discriminant function, i.e. a classifier to calculate these distances, and assess the quality of the surrounding rock. The efficiency of the developed methodology is analyzed using the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) technique. Seven existing methods, such as the Gaussian cloud method, Discriminant method, Mutation series method, Artificial neural network (ANN), Support vector machine (SVM), Grey wolf optimizer and Support vector classification method (GWO-SVC) and Rock mass rating method (RMR) are used for comparison with the proposed GHDQR method. The share of the highly accurate category of 85.71% clearly indicates compliance with actual values obtained by the compared methods. The results of comparisons showed that the model enables objective, efficient, and reliable assessment of rock mass quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Anchors of various designs are crucial, especially in mining and underground construction, where they stabilise the excavation and prevent the movement of rocks. They make it possible to control the direction of cracking during explosions, limit the dispersion of rock material and minimise damage from vibrations. The use of anchors increases the safety and efficiency of work in difficult geological conditions. The authors propose the use of modified anchor construction for the detachment of rock lumps. The paper presents the results of a numerical analysis carried out using the finite element method (FEM) on the effect of the angle of the anchor conical head of a new breakout design on the formation of the detachment crack trajectory influencing the range and, consequently, the volume of detached rock output. The analysis was carried out with a view to explaining the mechanism of separation of lumps of rock by the anchor treated as a mining tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the dynamic response and rock mass damage characteristics of cavities with different shapes under blasting loads, this paper, through a combination of model tests and numerical simulations, studies the stress distribution, strain, failure modes, and blasting fragment size distribution of cavities with different shapes subjected to blasting loads. The results show that under the action of blasting loads, the presence of cavities with different shapes significantly affects the blasting effects and rock mass damage. Spherical cavities exhibit excellent blast resistance, whereas rectangular and triangular cavities are prone to stress concentration at their tips, which in turn promotes rock mass damage and failure. Subsequent analysis of the blasting fragment sizes reveals that rectangular and triangular cavities yield more favorable blasting results than spherical cavities. The research findings provide important theoretical foundations and practical guidance for the design and construction of underground engineering blasting, contributing to enhancing engineering safety and promoting the sustainable development of the underground engineering industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are preferred for constructing tunnels, particularly for underground mass transit railways, because of their speed, minimal environmental impact, and increased safety. However, TBM tunneling involves unavoidable risks, necessitating careful assessment and management for successful project completion. This study presents a novel hybrid risk-analysis method for tunnel construction using TBMs. The proposed method integrates fault tree analysis (FTA) and the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (fuzzy AHP). FTA was employed to calculate the probabilities of risk occurrences, while fuzzy AHP was utilized to determine the consequences of the risks. These probability and consequence values were used to calculate continuous risk levels for more accurate risk analysis. The proposed method was applied to a real case of metro line construction. The results demonstrated that the proposed method effectively analyzes the risks, accurately reflecting decision support data. The risks were categorized based on the continuous risk levels in descending order. The most significant risk was the deterioration of the TBM. The benefits of this study provide project managers and stakeholders involved in underground construction with a new risk-analysis method that enhances work safety and facilitates the timely execution of urban tunnel construction projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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