Work

Modeling true three-dimensional creep responses of hard rocks considering the time-dependent damage: A constitutive relationship study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: In underground rock engineering, the three-dimensional (3D) stress state governs the time-dependent behavior of surrounding rocks, thereby directly affecting the long-term safety and stability of engineering structures. This study presents a novel true triaxial time-dependent constitutive model that characterizes nonlinear creep behavior governed by coupling of viscoplastic deformation and time-dependent damage. The model advances the 3D Hoek-Brown yield function by incorporating the azimuthal orientation of cracks. The coupled model is implemented using a numerical procedure that features an explicit nonlinear integration algorithm for updating the time-dependent damage factor. The model's effectiveness is validated by its accurate prediction of true triaxial creep test results for Jinping marble. The comprehensive constitutive model advances continuum damage mechanics, providing a scientific basis for analyzing and evaluating the long-term safety and stability of deep hard rock engineering.

Source: International Journal of Damage Mechanics

DOI: 10.1177/10567895261432394

Authors: Susheng Wang, Changdong Ding, Qiang Zhang, Jiuchang Zhang, Wanqing Shen

Institutions: Shaoxing University, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Université de Lille

Language: English

Topic: Rock Mechanics and Modeling

Subfield: Mechanics of Materials

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin

Awards: G1659176470, G1881042623, G3819491530, G8506787113