Three dimensional anisotropic rockmass response and tunnel support interaction

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Construction of long (to 60km), large (>10m) diameter tunnels for rail, road and hydraulic networks is a $30 billion industry worldwide. Many of these tunnels traverse highly foliated or laminated ground conditions. Other tunnels, in hard rocks, experience induced anisotropy (spalling). These conditions, combined with anisotropic stresses can generate high anomalous loads and moments in liners and arch support. Canadian companies are involved in many of these overseas projects and a number of projects encounter similar conditions in Canada (Niagara-Beck tunnel, La Ronde Mine, Highway tunnels in B.C). This proposal combines a synthesis of international experience, behavioural testing and state-of-the-art numerical analysis, to better constrain ground response predictions and optimize support design in order to provide competitive benefit to Canadian tunnelling and mine development. The research plan involves 7 new graduate theses (4 MSc, 3 PhD), plus the completion of 3 thesis projects already in progress, organized into 5 project themes: