TBM excavation-induced deformation and failure of jointed surrounding rock: mechanisms and control measures
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Open-type tunnel boring machines improve roadway excavation efficiency, but their front structure delays complete support near the excavation face. This delay can trigger severe instability in rock masses containing persistent joints. Using the Yuandian No. 2 Coal Mine as an engineering case, this study applies a three-dimensional Ubiquitous-Multiple-Joint model to conduct a comparative sensitivity analysis of progressive TBM excavation and delayed support. The effects of joint orientation, the number of joint sets, and joint bonding strength are evaluated through plastic-zone and displacement responses. For vertically dipping joints, increasing the strike angle from 0° to 90° increases the plastic-zone volume from 14.0 to 41.0 m 3 and the maximum displacement from 12.5 to 58.9 mm. Increasing the number of joint sets from one to three enlarges the plastic-zone volume by 384.5% and the maximum displacement by 224.8%, while shifting the response from matrix shear failure to joint-controlled and mixed failure. Increasing the bonding-strength ratio from 0 to 0.2 reduces the plastic-zone volume by 62.4% and the maximum displacement by 75.5%. Within the simulated cases, joint-related failure becomes limited at bonding-strength ratios of 0.8 and 1.0. These sensitivity trends, together with field geological observations and construction constraints, inform a site-specific control scheme combining advance grouting, primary support, and secondary reinforcement. Field monitoring shows that displacement rates decline markedly 60–80 days after excavation and subsequently stabilize. The results indicate how measurable joint characteristics are associated with instability patterns and provide qualitative guidance for site-specific support during open-type TBM excavation.
Source: Frontiers in Physics
Authors: Xinran Xue, Kai Zhang, Bosong Yu, Lianjie Fu
Language: English
Topic: Rock Mechanics and Modeling
Subfield: Mechanics of Materials
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,077
OpenAlex ID: W7223339458