ABSTRACT
Underground spaces are in an increasing demand for a wide variety of applications ranging from transportation networks to ammunition storage facilities. Stability of such caverns is of prime importance due to high construction and maintenance costs involved. Major factors affecting stability are insitu rock stresses, geometrical and material properties of discontinuities and their distribution as well as groundwater flow. In this numerical study, the effect of groundwater flow on the stress distribution around a cavern located in a jointed and faulted media was analyzed. Systematic and random joints with fault zones were generated.The analysis was carried out in two stages, (a) undrained elastic deformation with a concrete lining, and (b) Elasto-plastic deformation caused by the drainage of groundwater into the cavern. The study revealed that the build up of pore water pressure around the cavern depends on the joint properties, their interconnectivity and the location of the fault zone.
