Elasto-plastic coupling analysis of circular openings in elasto-brittle-plastic rock mass

This paper deals with elasto-plastic coupling solutions for the prediction of displacements around circular openings in elasto-brittle-plastic rock mass subject to hydrostatic stress. Both linear Mohr-Coulomb criterion and nonlinear Hoek-Brown criterion on the basis of a non-associated flow rule are considered. The restrictive condition between strength parameters and Young's modulus in post-failure region for rock materials is theoretically established. Meanwhile, the proposed restrictive condition is validated by FLAC(3D) code that the advanced elasto-plastic coupling model (EPCM) based on Mohr-Coulomb criterion is merged in. Finally, the elasto-plastic coupling dimensionless displacements of circular opening in elasto-brittle-plastic rock mass are analyzed with different deterioration degree of Young's modulus using two kinds of rocks. The results show that the deformation of rock mass increases obviously with the decrease of Young's modulus in the plastic region, but Young's modulus has little influence on the plastic region radius and stresses distribution form. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.