Analysis of stresses, deformation and stability of tunnels for hydropower projects

Abstract

     The excessive stress and deformation of the hydropower tunnel and the stability of its surrounding rocks are main indicators which should be taken into consideration in the designing and construction of hydropower plant projects, especially the large and high underground item plants. The underground items of the plant are designed and arranged basing on the topography, geology and scale of the project. Simulating the process of constructing the underground work by FLAC3D to research stress field, deformation, and displacement so as to determine the elastic section of the tunnel clearly shows the rules of distributing the centralized stresses and the potential failure positions of the rocks surrounding the tunnel. Data analysis indicates that the locations of the tunnel junctions are the major element impacting to the excessive stress, deformation, and stability of the rocks surrounding the tunnel in the faults of stratigraphic layers.