Three-Dimensional Simulation Analysis of Surrounding Rock

Pressure Characteristics in the Tunnel Excavation with ANSYS

Wan Biao

Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China

Keywords: ANSYS, Tunnel Excavation, Surrounding Rock Pressure Characteristics, Three-Dimensional Simulation.

Abstract: Tunnel excavation is quite a complex engineering, which requires professional and accurate measures of

geology and surrounding rock pressure analysis. Thus, it will ensure the quality and safety of engineering.

However, traditional simulation technology will not analyze surrounding characteristics in the tunnel

excavation deeply and thoroughly. Therefore, three-dimensional simulation analysis of surrounding rock

pressure characteristics in the tunnel excavation is conducted based on ANSYS. It solves relevant

technological problems in the tunnel excavation and ensures the quality and safety of engineering.

1 INTRODUCTION

With problems of strong geological dependence,

difficult excavation process and complex force

analysis, tunnel engineering is one of the relatively

complex types in civil engineering. To improve

engineering efficiency, quality and safety, the

developing technologies set technological

foundation for traditional tunnel excavation. It is the

same with three-dimensional simulation

technologies. Thus, fewer technological problems

occur in the engineering, which improves

engineering quality and safety to some extent.

However, some shortcomings still exist in the

traditional three-dimensional simulation

technologies, including poor visual effects and

incomplete functions. The problems are all needed

to be solved. Therefore, surrounding rock pressure

characteristics in tunnel excavation are emphasized

in the work based on the three-dimensional

simulation software ANSYS.

2 ADVANTAGES ANALYSIS AND

TECHNOLOGICAL THEORIES

OF ANSYS

ANSYS, with application and development

worldwide, is large common finite element analysis

software developed by America. Its largest

advantage is that it can share simple and important

data with multiple computer assisting design ports

through software. Thus, ANSYS is applied in wide

fields including engineering, railway, petrochemical

industry and aerospace. Meanwhile, many research

institutes regard it as standard teaching software

considering its simple and easy operations and

strong functions.

2.1 Advantage Analysis of ANSYS

ANSYS has many technological advantages, which

are mainly shown in the technological research and

application fields. ANSYS allows users to conduct

deeper researches in some physics fields to solve

problems easily. The advantages of ANSYS are

studied with the following analysis.

Firstly, ANSYS is applied in academic fields,

including fields of fluid, thermodynamics,

electromagnetics, system simulation and data

management. Therefore, ANSYS is of vital

influence to push forward the fields above.

Secondly, ANSYS is so flexible that it can meet

different needs of both companies and individuals.

The needs include complex analysis and calculation,

as well as simple desktop treatment and multinuclear

parallel calculation. Thus, ANSYS not only satisfies

requirements of high expansion, but also caters to

different customers.

Thirdly, ANSYS is flexible enough to realize the

efficient work transfixion. It is different from

popular data processing system and software in

database and data processing. However, it is greatly

applied and awarded due to its strong openness and

adaptability.

267

Biao W.

Three-Dimensional Simulation Analysis of Surrounding Rock Pressure Characteristics in the Tunnel Excavation with ANSYS.

DOI: 10.5220/0006023902670269

In Proceedings of the Information Science and Management Engineering III (ISME 2015), pages 267-269

ISBN: 978-989-758-163-2

267

2.2 Technical Theory Analysis of

ANSYS

ANSYS is widely applied for its obvious

advantages. How does the technical theory of

ANSYS come true? As ANSYS is closely connected

with its technical structure and theory, the discussion

on technical theories is emphasized.

ANSYS can conduct finite element calculation in

variety ways. The finite element structure includes

structure, power, electromagnetics and collision,

which explain why ANSYS is widely applied in the

industry.

ANSYS can be divided into three main parts in

theory.

2.2.1 Pre-processing Module of ANSYS

Pre-processing module is used for image grid

processing. In the module, ANSYS provides strong

data modeling and meshing functions. Therefore, it

is convenient for users to build finite model easily.

2.2.2 Analysis Calculation Module of

ANSYS

The analysis calculation module is the core part of

ANSYS. Therefore, the structuring and analyzing

will all be conducted in this part, including linear,

non-linear and field analysis.

2.2.3 Post-processing Module of ANSYS

Post-processing module reprocesses analyzing and

calculating results of images and grids, including

colors, data gradients and vectors. Besides, particle

streams can be exported in images and curves with

post-processing unit.

3 ANALYSIS OF SURROUNDING

ROCK PRESSURE

CHARACTERISTICS IN THE

TUNNEL EXCAVATION

The tunnel excavation is the key of engineering as it

is complex in techniques. Meanwhile, the

surrounding rock pressure analysis and solving has

always been the difficulties. Therefore, the main

technical treatment is to solve quality and efficient

problems through analyzing surrounding rock

pressure characteristics.

3.1 Physical Characteristics of

Surrounding Rock Pressure

The most important thing in analyzing tunnel

excavation is to solve problems of surrounding rock

pressure. Therefore, the discussion on surrounding

rock pressure comes first. Thus, concepts of

surrounding rock pressure need to be clarified.

Surrounding rock pressure refers to the strength

arising from shape changes of rocks and supporting

in the space. Therefore, rock force and surrounding

rock deformation resistance arising from earth stress

can be regarded as surrounding rock pressure. The

pressure functions on the supporting, thus it causes

some damages. Generally speaking, surrounding

rock pressure arises from the supporting. However,

pressure without supporting will also cause

surrounding rock pressure. Narrowly speaking,

surrounding rock pressure refers to forces on

supporting.

3.2 Understanding and Influencing

Factors of Surrounding Rock

Pressure

Excavation has always been an important

engineering since ancient times. Especially,

grounding transportation cannot cater to people’s

needs due to fundamental demands of modern

society. Therefore, the railway and tunnel gives

transportation more definitions. However, people

begin to realize the surrounding rock pressure and

pay more attention to it when caves and tunnels

collapse and distort.

Thus, what measures should be taken

considering surrounding rock pressure? To solve the

problem, factors influencing surrounding rock

pressure need to be clarified. Generally, factors

include the following aspects:

Firstly, tunnel shapes, sizes, grounding structure

nearby and supporting are all the direct factors

influencing tunnel surrounding rock pressure. Thus,

the factors are directly connected with the formation

and future effects of surrounding rock pressure.

Secondly, construction of tunnel excavation has

large influences on surrounding rock pressure. In the

excavation, rocks used to be relatively static.

However, rocks are all influenced by each other

nearby. Thus, the whole integrity is stable. After the

excavation, surrounding stress environments change

with missing rocks. Thus, surrounding rock pressure

comes out. Besides, measurements of initial stress

are very important in the study of surrounding rock

pressure.

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Thirdly, direct influencing factors of balancing

force; when initial stress and environments are

damaged, forces need to be balanced. Thus,

surrounding rock pressure come out and find new

balancing point in the stressing process. All the

deformation and damages are the visual influencing

factors of surrounding rock factors.

4 ANSYS THREE-DIMENSIONAL

SIMULATION ANALYSIS OF

SURROUNDING ROCK

PRESSURE

CHARACTERISTICS IN THE

TUNNEL EXCAVATION

Pre-calculation and analysis is found necessary in

solving problems of surrounding rock pressure

through the analysis of ANSYS and pressure

forming factors. Thus, how the torque will change in

the excavation to influence the stability of tunnel?

With the help of three-dimensional simulation

software, pre-analysis of surrounding rock pressure

is conducted in the tunnel excavation.

4.1 Effects and Results of ANSYS

ANSYS is multi-functioning software based on data

processing techniques. In the tunnel excavation, pre-

analysis can be done in ANSYS. Meanwhile, the

largest characteristic of ANSYS is that it allows

users to realize complex functions with easy

operations. Besides, ANSYS realizes early estimates

to ensure complete operation with targets. In all,

ANSYS is deeply applied in tunnel excavation and

awarded good results with years’ analysis.

Three-dimensional simulation technique of

ANSYS realizes pre judgment and simulation of

tunnel excavation. Thus, workers’ efficiencies and

safety are protected. Besides, in the post

maintaining, ANSYS can also be used in simulation

to give early warnings to tunnel. In all, ANSYS is

very efficient, especially in the excavation of

railway and tunnel.

4.2 Realization of Surrounding Rock

Pressure with Three-Dimensional

Simulation

Geological environment, characteristics and

excavation ways are input with ANSYS. After pre-

processing, the information is calculated and

simulated. Then, the information is output to the

analyzing and calculation module, which deals with

information with data modeling. Finally, information

is transferred to post-processing unit, which shows

information with images and curves. Thus, users and

researchers can conduct three-dimensional

simulation by changing data. By changing original

data, ANSYS shows the corresponding surrounding

rock pressure with post-processing module when

sizes of tunnel change in excavation. Besides, early

warning of dangers and crisis is available when

operation errors and mistakes occur. Furthermore,

the distortion and damages of tunnel with changing

rock pressure can be simulated with ANSYS. Above

all, stress analysis of tunnel excavation can be

clearly shown in expected results with three-

dimensional simulation of ANSYS.

5 CONCLUSIONS

The theory and simulation characteristics of ANSYS

were analyzed in the work. Besides, surrounding

rock pressure characteristics in the tunnel excavation

were also discussed. The pre-simulation based on

ANSYS was meant to explain the outcome of tunnel

excavation. Thus, three-dimensional simulation

analysis dealt with surrounding rock pressure with

targets. Meanwhile, detailed, professional and

reliable plans ensured quality and safety of

engineering after solving hidden crisis. The

application of ANSYS was based on its strong

functions and easy operations. Furthermore, ANSYS

got better results of force analysis in the three-

dimensional simulation analysis.

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Three-Dimensional Simulation Analysis of Surrounding Rock Pressure Characteristics in the Tunnel Excavation with

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