Scaling Wedges Tutorial 2-1

Scaling Wedges Tutorial

Unwedge always initially calculates the maximum sized wedges which

can form around an excavation.

This tutorial demonstrates how to scale down the size of the wedges, to
represent the actual size of wedges observed in the field. This is done
with the Scale Wedges option, which allows you to scale the size of
wedges according to field measurements such as joint trace lengths, joint
persistence, wedge face area etc.

Wedge scaling is important because the assumed wedge size can have a
significant effect on support requirements (e.g. pattern spacing,
positioning or orientation of bolts, and the thickness or strength of
shotcrete).

The model represents a section of an underground spiral access ramp.

Topics Covered

Scaling Wedge Size

Scaling All Wedges
Scaling Individual Wedges
Safety factor and Scaling

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 Scaling Wedges Tutorial 2-2

Model

For this tutorial we will start by reading in the file Tutorial 02 Scaling
Wedges.weg which you should find in the Examples > Tutorials folder in
your Unwedge installation folder.

Select: File Open

Navigate to the Examples > Tutorials folder in your Unwedge installation

folder and open the Tutorial 02 Scaling Wedges.weg file.

The model should appear as follows.

Figure 1: Maximum sized perimeter wedges for tutorial 2 example.

As you can see, all of the Perimeter Wedges (roof, sides and floor wedges)
are the maximum possible size for the excavation cross-section.

NOTE: the Plunge of the Tunnel Axis Orientation is 15 degrees, because

the model represents a section of an inclined ramp, rather than a
horizontal tunnel.

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 Scaling Wedges Tutorial 2-3

Scaling Wedges

To scale down the size of wedges, select the Scale Wedges option from
the Analysis menu.

Select: Analysis Scale Wedges

You will see the Scale Wedges dialog.

Wedge size can be scaled according to joint trace length, joint persistence
or wedge data (e.g. volume, face area etc). Although we can enter
multiple scaling parameters at the same time, lets enter parameters one
at a time, to see the results at each step.

Select the Joint 1 (Trace Length) checkbox, and enter a Scaling Value of 4
meters. Select OK.

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Your screen should look as follows.

Figure 2: Wedge size scaled by Joint 1 trace length = 4 meters.

Notice that all of the wedges have been scaled down in size. To indicate
that scaling has been applied to a wedge, the letter s is displayed beside
the wedge number (e.g. the roof wedge is numbered 8s). NOTE: if you
do not see the wedge numbers, go to Display Options, select the Wedge
View tab, and make sure the Wedge Numbers checkbox is selected.

Before we proceed further, select the Filter List button in the Sidebar.

1. In the Wedge Information Filter dialog, select the Defaults

button (so that only the Wedge Name, Factor of Safety and
Wedge Weight checkboxes are selected).

2. Now select the Scaled By checkbox and the Joint Trace

Lengths checkbox, as shown in the following figure. Select OK.

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 Scaling Wedges Tutorial 2-5

Now look at the Wedge Information panel in the Sidebar. NOTE:

For all wedges, Scaled By = Joint 1 Trace Length

For all wedges, Joint 1 Trace Length = 4 meters.

This is consistent with the single scaling value which we entered in the
Scale Wedges dialog (Joint 1 Trace Length = 4 meters).

At this point, we should note the following:

When we use the All Wedges scaling option (in the Scale Wedges
dialog), this does not necessarily mean that all wedges will be
scaled (i.e. reduced in size). It means that all wedges will be
CONSIDERED for scaling. Wedges will only be scaled if their
current dimensions are larger than one of the scaling parameters.
If the parameters of a wedge are already smaller than the scaling
parameters, then the wedge will not be affected by the scaling.

In the current example, all of the wedges were reduced in size, but in
general this will not necessarily be the case.

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 Scaling Wedges Tutorial 2-6

Figure 3: Wedge information after scaling by Joint 1 trace length.

Now lets enter one more scaling parameter.

Select: Analysis Scale Wedges

In the Scale Wedges dialog, select the Joint 2 (Trace Length) checkbox,
and enter a Scaling Value of 4 meters. Select OK.

Look at the Wedge Information panel in the Sidebar. The results are now
as follows:

For the Floor Wedge and the Roof Wedge, Scaled By = Joint 2
Trace Length, and Joint 2 Trace Length = 4 meters.

For the Lower Left and Lower Right wedges, Scaled By = Joint
1 Trace Length, and Joint 1 Trace Length = 4 meters.

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 Scaling Wedges Tutorial 2-7

For the Floor and Roof wedges, the Joint 2 trace length (scaling value) is
now the governing parameter (the Joint 1 trace length is less than 4
meters).

For the Lower Left and Lower Right wedges, the Joint 1 trace length
(scaling value) is still the governing parameter, since the Joint 2 trace
lengths are already less than 4 meters, therefore the Joint 2 trace length
scaling value does not affect these wedges.

This illustrates the following important points:

When you enter more than one Scaling Value, a given wedge is
ultimately scaled by only one parameter the parameter which
gives the smallest wedge size.

Furthermore, if Wedges to Scale = All Wedges (in the Scale

Wedges dialog), and you have entered multiple scaling values, the
governing scaling parameter can be different for different wedges.

Lets enter a third scaling parameter.

Select: Analysis Scale Wedges

In the Scale Wedges dialog, select the Joint 3 (Trace Length) checkbox,
and enter a Scaling Value of 4 meters. Select OK.

Look at the Wedge Information panel in the Sidebar:

For all wedges, Scaled By = Joint 3 Trace Length

For all wedges, Joint 3 Trace Length = 4 meters.

The Joint 3 Trace Length scaling value (4 meters) is now the governing
scaling parameter for all wedges. Notice that the actual Joint 1 and Joint
2 trace lengths for all wedges are now less than 4 meters.

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 Scaling Wedges Tutorial 2-8

Figure 4: Wedge size scaled by Joint 3 trace length = 4 meters.

NOTE: if you go back to the Scale Wedges dialog, and turn OFF the
checkboxes for Joint 1 Trace Length and Joint 2 Trace Length, and select
OK, the results will not change, since the Joint 3 Trace Length scaling
value gives the smallest wedge size for all perimeter wedges.

Position of Scaled Wedges

For perimeter wedges which span multiple segments of the Opening
Section (e.g. the Roof wedge in this example), Unwedge uses an algorithm
which searches for the wedge with the maximum volume for the given
Scaling Value(s). An iterative process is required to find this wedge. This
determines the position of the scaled wedge on the perimeter.

In this example, if you compare Figure 2 and Figure 4, notice that the
Roof Wedge is off to one side in Figure 2 and is approximately centered in
Figure 4. The different positions of the Roof Wedge are due to the
Unwedge searching algorithm and the different scaling values used for
each case.

For wedges which are formed on a single flat surface of the excavation
boundary, the searching algorithm is not applicable, and the scaled
wedge position will be approximately centered on the surface.

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 Scaling Wedges Tutorial 2-9

Scaling Individual Wedges

So far in this tutorial, we have considered all wedges for scaling, using
the same set of scaling values (i.e. in the Scale Wedges dialog, the Wedge
to Scale option was set to All Wedges).

It is also possible to consider individual wedges for scaling. This allows

you to enter independent scaling values for any desired wedge(s). To
select individual wedges for scaling:

You can select the desired wedge from the Wedge to Scale drop-
list in the Scale Wedges dialog.

You can also right-click directly on a wedge, and select Scale

Wedge for that particular wedge from the popup menu, as shown
in the following figure. This will display the Scale Wedges dialog
with the wedge already selected in the dialog.

For example:

1. Right-click on the Roof Wedge, and select Scale Wedge: 8 Roof

from the popup menu, as shown in the above figure.

2. In the Scale Wedges dialog, select the Joint 2 Trace Length

checkbox and enter a scaling value of 3 meters. Select OK.

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3. Now look at the Wedge Information panel. The Roof wedge is now
scaled by the Joint 2 Trace Length = 3 meters. All other wedges
are still scaled according to the Joint 3 Trace Length scaling
value entered with the All Wedges scaling option.

Figure 5: Roof wedge scaled independently using Joint 2 Trace Length = 3.

You can scale any or all wedges individually, in this manner. When you
select individual wedges to scale, the Scaling Value parameters are
entered independently for each wedge, and the dialog will remember
the Scaling Values you have entered for each wedge.

NOTE: if you specify Scaling Values for All Wedges, AND for individual
wedges, at the same time in the Scale Wedges dialog, the program will
use the Scaling Value which gives the smallest wedge, for any given
wedge.

Resetting the Maximum Wedge Size

To reset all wedges to the maximum size, select the Maximize button in
the Scale Wedges dialog. This will clear all of the Scaling Values, for All
Wedges and also for any individual wedge Scaling Values you have
entered.

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Safety Factor and Scaling

We will now briefly discuss the effect of scaling the wedge size on the
wedge safety factor and support requirements.

Effect of Joint Strength

Frictional Strength Only if the shear strength of the joint
planes is purely frictional (cohesion = 0), then changing the size
of an unsupported wedge will NOT change the safety factor. You
can verify this for the current example (the Joint Shear Strength
of all joints is given by Phi = 30 degrees, cohesion = 0).

Friction and Cohesion if the shear strength of the joint

planes includes a non-zero cohesion, then the safety factor of a
wedge will, in general, depend on the size of the wedge.

Other parameters water pressure, field stress and other

parameters can also influence the dependence of wedge size and
safety factor.

Support
If support has been applied to a wedge (e.g. bolts or shotcrete), then in
general, changing the size of a wedge will affect the safety factor. This
can be due to several factors:

The wedge size may affect the number of bolts which intersect a
wedge (pattern bolting).

The wedge size will affect the relative embedded lengths of a bolt.
For a bonded bolt, the length which passes through the wedge,
and the length embedded in the rock mass will determine the
support force applied to the wedge.

If shotcrete has been applied, then the wedge size will have a
direct effect on the exposed perimeter length of the wedge face.
This has a direct effect on the support force which is applied by
the shotcrete.

In conclusion, wedge scaling is of particular importance during support

design, since the assumed wedge size can have a significant effect on the
pattern spacing, positioning or orientation of bolts, and the thickness or
strength of shotcrete.

Wedge support is discussed in the next tutorial. That concludes this

tutorial on scaling wedge size in Unwedge.

Unwedge v.3.0 Tutorial Manual