Experimental Study on the Mechanical Characteristics of Thin-Bedded Rock Masses Due to Water-Absorption Softening and Structural Effects

Huichen Xu, Chengyu Miao, Chengwei Zhao, Dong Wang () and Xiaoming Sun ()
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Huichen Xu: College of Mechanical and Architectural Engineering, Taishan University, Taian 271000, China
Chengyu Miao: State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, China
Chengwei Zhao: State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, China
Dong Wang: State Key Laboratory of Mining Disaster Prevention and Control Co-Founded by Shandong Province and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China
Xiaoming Sun: State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 16, 1-16

Abstract: The efficient exploitation of deep-buried resources and the penetration of deep tunnels are related to the sustainable development of energy and security, and the stability of the surrounding rock of deep-buried tunnels is an important issue to study. Therefore, the mechanical characteristics of thin-bedded rock masses due to water-absorption softening and structural effects were studied. The results show that the uniaxial compressive strength tends to decrease first and then increase with the rise in layer inclination, and an overall U-shaped distribution is presented. The water-absorption and softening mechanism of slate, which is a typical thin-bedded rock masses, involves water entering the slate along the weak surface of the layer. Then, the expansion of water absorption and the expansion perpendicular to the layer caused by the action of clay minerals causes cracks along the layer surface near the weak surface of the layer, which is macroscopically manifested as a decrease in strength. Through the single weak-surface theory, the layer-inclination range of 25–79° is determined for shear failure. The universal distinct element code can accurately and intuitively reflect the failure mode of rock samples affected by moisture content and structural effects.

Keywords: mechanical characteristics; thin-bedded rock; structural effects; water absorption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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