ABSTRACT

Safety of underground structures contacted with the rock mass such as a lining or support is provided in the design by strength computation. The basic principle in modern theory of underground structures design is that of joint contact interaction of the rock mass and the lining. In accordance with that principle the lining and the rock mass are elements of a united deformable “rock-support” system subjected to external loads and actions (Bulychev 1994, Bulychev & Fotieva 1999, 2001). According to the theory it has been established that the rock pressure or, more precisely, contact stresses on the interface between rock mass and support, is not fixed but depends from both technology and support stiffness. Due to that peculiarity underground structures methods have been recognised as not having analogies among other engineering structures in respect to the design.