M.A. Chamanzad; M. Nikkhah
Abstract
Drilling and blasting have numerous applications in the civil and mining engineering. Due to the two major components of rock masses, namely the intact rock matrix and the discontinuities, their behavior is a complicated process to be analyzed. The purpose of this work is to investigate the effects of ...
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Drilling and blasting have numerous applications in the civil and mining engineering. Due to the two major components of rock masses, namely the intact rock matrix and the discontinuities, their behavior is a complicated process to be analyzed. The purpose of this work is to investigate the effects of the geomechanical and geometrical parameters of rock and discontinuities on the rock mass blasting using the UDEC software. To this end, a 2D distinct element code (DEM) code is used to simulate the stress distribution around three blast holes in some points and propagation of the radial cracks caused by blasting. The critical parameters analyzed for this aim include the normal stiffness (JKN) and shear stiffness (JKS), spacing, angle and persistence of joint, shear and bulk modulus, density of rock, and borehole spacing. The results obtained show that the joint parameters and rock modulus have very significant effects, while the rock density has less a effect on the rock mass blasting. Also the stress level has a direct relationship with JKN, JKS, bulk modulus, and the shear modulus has an inverse relationship with the rock density. Moreover, the stress variation in terms of spacing and joint angle indicates sinusoidal and repetitive changes with the place of target point with respect to the blast hole and joint set. Also with a decrease in the JKN and JKS values, the radial cracked and plastic zones around a blast hole show more development. With increase in the joint persistence, the plastic zones decrease around a blast hole.
Rock Mechanics
Seyed S. Mousavi; M. Nikkhah; Sh. Zare
Abstract
In this work, we tried to automatically optimize the cost of the concrete segmental lining used as a support system in the case study of Mashhad Urban Railway Line 2 located in NE Iran. Two meta-heuristic optimization methods including particle swarm optimization (PSO) and imperialist competitive algorithm ...
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In this work, we tried to automatically optimize the cost of the concrete segmental lining used as a support system in the case study of Mashhad Urban Railway Line 2 located in NE Iran. Two meta-heuristic optimization methods including particle swarm optimization (PSO) and imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA) were presented. The penalty function was used for unfeasible solutions, and the segmental lining structure was defined by nine design variables: the geometrical parameters of the lining cross-section, the reinforced feature parameters, and the dowel feature parameters used among the joints to connect the segment pieces. Furthermore, the design constrains were implemented in accordance with the American Concrete Institute code (ACI318M-08) and guidelines of lining design proposed by the International Tunnel Association (ITA). The objective function consisted of the total cost of structure preparation and implementation. Consequently, the optimum design of the system was analyzed using the PSO and ICA algorithms. The results obtained showed that the objective function of the support system by the PSO and ICA algorithms reduced 12.6% and 14% per meter, respectively.