Examine

2D

2D stress analysis for

underground excavations

Verification Manual

1989 - 2007 Rocscience Inc.

1 Stresses and Displacements around Circular

Excavations
1.1 Problem description
A circular opening with a diameter (a) of 0.5 m is considered in this example. The
vertical in-situ field stress (p) is assumed to be 10 MPa. Three different values of
horizontal in-situ field stress (Kp) were evaluated. They are:
-

Case 1: Kp = 0 MPa

Case 2: Kp = 10 MPa

Case 3: Kp = 20 MPa

The Youngs Modulus (E) and Poissons ratio () of the material around the opening is
10,000 MPa and 0.25 respectively. The stresses ( rr & ) and the total displacements
around the opening at = 0o are verified. Variation of with on the excavation
boundary is also confirmed. The model geometry is shown in Figure 1.1.

p = 10 MPa

ur

rr

r
r

Kp

Kp

2a = 1 m

p = 10 MPa

Figure 1.1 Model Geometry

1.2 Closed Form Solution

Stresses and displacements around circular openings can be solved analytically using the
Kirsch solution [1, 2]:

rr =

a2

a2
a4
p

cos 2
(
)
(
)
+

+
1
1
1
1
4
3
K
K

2
2
4

2
r
r
r

a2
p
(1 + K )1 + 2
2
r

r =

p
a2
a4

sin 2
(
)

K
1
1
2
3

2
4

2
r
r

ur =

a4
+ (1 K )1 + 3 4 cos 2
r

p a2
a2
(
)
(
)
(
)
+

1
1
4
1

cos 2
K
K

2
4G r
r

p a2
a2
u =
(1 K ) 2 (1 2 ) + 2 sin 2
4G r
r

For plane strain and isotropic conditions, the shear modulus (G) is defined as:

G=

E'
2 (1 + ')

E' =

E
1 2

where

'=

1.3 Results and Discussion

Figures 1.2 1.4 show the radial stress profiles and Figure 1.5 illustrates the total
displacement profiles for all three cases. Figure 1.6 demonstrates variation of on the
excavation boundary with . The results from Examine2D are compared to the analytical
solutions and are in good agreement.

35
Examine2D
Analytical Solution [1]

30

Stress (MPa)

25

rr

20

15

10

0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

1.4

1.6

Distance (m)

Fig. 1.2 Radial and Hoop Stress Profiles for Case 1

25
Examine2D

Analytical Solution [1]

Stress (MPa)

20

rr

15

10

0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

Distance (m)

Fig. 1.3 Radial and Hoop Stress Profiles for Case 2

1.4

1.6

20
18
16

Stress (MPa)

14
12
10
8

rr

Examine2D
2
Analytical Solution [1]
0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

1.4

1.6

Distance (m)

Fig. 1.4 Radial and Hoop Stress Profiles for Case 3

1.8
Examine2D
1.6
Analytical Solution [1]
Case 1 (Kp = 0 MPa)

Total Displacement (mm)

1.4

Case 2 (Kp = 10 MPa)

1.2

Case 3 (Kp = 20 MPa)

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

Distance (m)

Fig. 1.5 Total Displacements Profile

1.2

1.4

1.6

60
Case 1 (Kp = 0 MPa)

Case 2 (Kp = 10 MPa)

Case 3 (Kp = 20 MPa)

50

40

(MPa)

30

20

10

Examine2D

-10

Analytical Solution [1]

-20
0

30

60

90

120

150

180

210

240

270

300

330

360

(degree)

Fig. 1.6 Variation of with on the excavation boundary

1.4 References
1. B. H. G. Brady and E. T. Brown (1993), Rock Mechanics: for underground mining,
2nd Ed., London: Chapman & Hall.
2. H. G. Poulos and E. H. Davis (1974), Elastic Solutions for Soil and Rock Mechanics,
New York: John Wiley & Sons.

2 Stresses and Displacements around Elliptical

Excavations
2.1 Problem description
An elliptical opening with a dimension (W x H) of 1 m x 0.5 m is considered in this
example. The vertical in-situ field stress (p) is assumed to be 10 MPa. Three different
values of horizontal in-situ field stress (Kp): 0, 10 MPa and 20 MPa, were evaluated. The
vertical stresses (yy) and horizontal stresses (xx) along the x-axis are verified. The
model geometry is shown in Figure 2.1.

p = 10 MPa

W=1m

Kp

H = 0.5 m

p = 10 MPa

Figure 2.1 Model Geometry

Kp

2.2 Results and Discussion

Figures 2.2 to 2.4 show the vertical and horizontal stress profiles of the three cases. The
results from Examine2D are compared to the analytical solutions and are in good
agreement.

60
Examine2D
Analytical Solution [1]

50

yy

Stress (MPa)

40

xx

30

20

10

0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

Distance (m)

Fig. 2.2 Vertical and Horizontal Stress Profiles for Kp = 0

1.4

1.6

45
Examine2D
40
Analytical Solution [1]

yy
35

xx

Stress (MPa)

30

25

20

15

10

0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

1.4

1.6

Distance (m)

Fig. 2.3 Vertical and Horizontal Stress Profiles for Kp = 10 MPa

35
Examine2D

yy

30

Analytical Solution [1]

xx

Stress (MPa)

25

20

15

10

0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

1.4

Distance (m)

Fig. 2.4 Vertical and Horizontal Stress Profiles for Kp = 20 MPa

1.6

2.3 References
1. B. H. G. Brady and E. T. Brown (1993), Rock Mechanics: for underground mining,
2nd Ed., London: Chapman & Hall.
2. H. G. Poulos and E. H. Davis (1974), Elastic Solutions for Soil and Rock Mechanics,
New York: John Wiley & Sons.

3 Vertical Stresses and Relative Surface Displacements

due to an Infinite Strip of Uniform Loading
3.1 Problem description
This problem verifies the vertical stresses beneath an infinite strip footing subjected to
uniform loading. The relative vertical displacements at the surface due to the strip footing
were also evaluated. The model geometry is shown in Figure 3.1. The results are
compared to the analytical solution [1]. The material below the strip footing has a
Youngs Modulus (E) of 10,000 MPa and a Poissons ratio () of 0.25.
1 MPa

Point 1

Point 3

Point 2

1m

1m
2b = 2 m
Figure 3.1 Model Geometry

3.2 Closed Form Solution

For the general case shown below:
2b
q
x

(x, z)

z
Figure 3.2 General Case of Uniform Loading on an Infinite Strip

Vertical stress at any point (x, z) is given by:

z =

[ + sin cos ( + 2 )]

and relative vertical displacement on the surface can be solved analytically by using:

z (0, 0) z ( x, 0) =

2q 1 2
E

) [(x b)ln x b (x + b)ln x + b + 2b ln b]

3.3 Results and Discussion

Figure 3.3 shows vertical stress profiles underneath the three points given by Examine2D
compared to the analytical solutions [1]. Figure 3.4 illustrates the relative vertical
displacements along the surface predicted by Examine2D compared to that from [1].
Vertical Stress (MPa)
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

0.0

Depth (m)

1.0

Point = 1

2.0

3.0
Point = 2

4.0
Examine2D
Point = 3
5.0

Fig. 3.3 Vertical Stress Profiles

Analytical Solution [1]

1.2

Distance from Center (m)

0

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

6.0E-04

Relative Vertical Displacement (m)

5.0E-04

4.0E-04

3.0E-04

2.0E-04

1.0E-04

Examine2D
Analytical Solution [1]

0.0E+00

Fig. 3.4 Relative Vertical Displacement Profiles

3.4 References
1. H. G. Poulos and E. H. Davis (1974), Elastic Solutions for Soil and Rock Mechanics,
New York: John Wiley & Sons.