COMPUTER-AIDED-DESIGN OF UNDERGROUND EXCAVATIONS IN JOINTED ROCK

Abstract

Stability analysis of rock blocks that may be formed by excavating jointed rock masses is traditionally performed using the stereographic projection technique. However, such technique is prone to human errors, and existing alternative analytical methods are rather tedious and time consuming. In this paper, a computer aided approach is proposed with the prime objective that the entire analysis is automated on a microcomputer. Computer aided design features such as determination of discontinuity orientation based on borehole data, stability analysis of rock blocks involving multiple discontinuity sets, and determination of optimum excavation direction, optimum plunge of rock reinforcement and the most critical direction of earthquake force are provided. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.