Numerical simulation analysis of the influence of karst cave orientation and surrounding rock properties on tunnel excavation

Abstract

The underground distribution of complex karst geology in the Zhangjiajie region of China poses a significant threat to the construction safety of tunnels, not only increasing project investments but also severely impacting the stable operation of engineering construction. This paper, based on ABAQUS numerical simulation, explores the influence of karst caves around tunnels in different orientations of surrounding rock environments through the rock strength, stress field, and dimension of surrounding rock mass. The results are as follows: (1) With the decrease in cohesive strength of the cave surrounding rock, the stability of the tunnel is enhanced. (2) The maximum displacement of the lower cave is 0.02011 m, greater than that of the side cave, which is 0.01965 m; the maximum principal stress of the lower cave is 7.457 MPa, greater than that of the side cave, which is 7.423 MPa. The lower cave has a greater impact on tunnel construction and can further reduce the stability of the karst tunnel surrounding rock. This paper has researched the influence of caves on tunneling through surrounding rock and investigated the effects of cave orientation, cohesive strength, and other parameters on tunnel construction. It provides theoretical guidance for tunnel alignment and pre-processing of concealed caves.