Evaluation of Performance of Expansive Material for Restoration of Underground Cavity and Stress Release Zone

Abstract

Recently, the number of ground subsidence resulting from underground cavity has been increased. Accordingly, the importance of restoration of stress release zone around the underground cavity has been emphasized. The stress release zone is composed of low density soils having extremely low stiffness and degree of compaction, which can lead to additional cavity expansion and collapse of overlying ground. Therefore, in this study, the suitability of restoration method of underground cavity using expansive material for reinforcement of stress release zone around the cavity is verified. The basic physical properties and expansion characteristics of the expansive material were examined. The experiment equipment capable simulating of stress release zone was developed and is used to investigate the effect of expanding material on stress release zone. The stress release zone was simulated using the spring in numerical analysis. The factors of the volume ratio of the underground cavity to the expansion material, the degree of stress relaxation, and the shape of the cavity were varied in numerical simulations, and the behavior of stress release zone was analyzed based on the numerical analysis results. Analysis variables are factors that affect each other. Also, filling of underground cavity and capacity of restoration of stress release zone were confirmed when the expansive material was inserted into underground cavity.