CV6316 – Planning & Development of Underground Space

in Rock Caverns

AY17-18 (Semester 2)

1st Assignment

10 March 2018
This cavern longitudinal direction shall be decided based on the rock joint set pattern and in-situ
stress condition obtained from site investigations thus ensuring the optimal stability of the
underground openings.

Principle based on rock joint set pattern

In principle, the cavern longitudinal direction shall be perpendicular as much as possible to the
dominant major rock joint set. When there are two dominant major joint sets, the cavern
longitudinal axis shall be along the bi-section line of the maximum intersection angle between the
two dominant major joint sets. The purpose is to reduce the risk of rock wedge failure at the
cavern roof. For example, when there is only one vertical joint set and the cavern longitudinal
direction is parallel to it (Figrue 1(a)), the rock blocks above the cavern roof may fall down into
the cavern. On the other hand, when the cavern longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the
vertical joint set (Figrue 1(b)), the rock blocks above the cavern roof are stable.

Cavern

(a) (b)

Figure 1 Sketch of the relationship between cavern longitudinal direction and rock joint set
(a) The cavern longitudinal direction parallel to the dominant major rock joint set
(b) The cavern longitudinal direction perpendicular the dominant major rock joint set
Principle based on in-situ stress condition

The rock mechanics study shows that cavern with height larger than span always has a stress-
driven stability problem. The cavern wall has larger deformation compared with the roof
especially with the high horizontal in-situ stress (Figure 2).

Figure 2 The displacement contour of the underground rock cavern with high wall
Based on the in situ stress measurements, the relationship of maximum ( ) and minimum ( )
horizontal in-situ stresses and vertical stress ( ) is > > .

Figure 3 Sketch of in situ stress in the rock mass

In order to mitigate the effect of the horizontal in-situ stress on the cavern wall
displacement/stability, shall be perpendicular to the cavern longitudinal direction, which
means the URC cavern longitudinal direction should be as parallel as possible to .
Cavern Direction Determination

For this case in the assignment, there are 2 fracture sets i.e. 270/45 and 090/45, both of
fracture sets have the same strike direction, i.e. N-S. The cavern longitudinal direction shall be
perpendicular as much as possible to the dominant major rock joint set, so the cavern
longitudinal direction shall be along W-E based on the rock joint set pattern.

The direction of the maximum principal stress is horizontal, west-east. The cavern longitudinal
direction shall be parallel to the maximum principal stress, so the cavern longitudinal direction
shall be along W-E based on the in-situ stress condition.

The investigation results show that the cavern longitudinal direction determined by the two
principles coincide with each other. So finally the cavern longitudinal direction shall be along
W-E which will achieve the optimal stability of the underground openings

Cavern Shape Determination

Three different cavern shapes are considered. These cavern shapes were:
a. A mushroom shaped cavern with a concrete arch
b. A conventional horseshoe shaped cavern with vertical sidewalls and
c. An elliptical cavern designed for optimal stress distribution in the surrounding rock mass.

Based on the analysis by other researcher, the mushroom shaped cavern with the concrete
roof arch was not an acceptable design. The analysis indicated that extensive overstressing of
the concrete arch would occur. The best stress distribution was given by the elliptical cavern
but it was judged that the amount of support required to stabilise this and the horseshoe
shaped cavern would not be significantly different. Consequently the conventional horseshoe
shaped vertical cavern was chosen for the final shape. It was considered that this would make
for the simplest construction procedure and that the overall underground complex would be
cheaper than that involving an elliptical cavern.

1) Rock Burst Risk

For this case, =0.5, there will be moderate rock burst risk.

2) Groundwater Inrush
This underground cavern locates at a 500m depth below the ground surface. If the cavern
clashes with fault zone which may link with the groundwater system. The maximum possible
water pressure is 5MPa, the water inflow rate into the cavern may be very huge.