Design of tunnel linings in a creeping rock

SummaryThe effect of long term rock deformation on lining pressure is considered using different concepts of rock behaviour. These include the conventional characteristic-line or convergence-confinement method, modified to allow for rock ageing, and lining-rock interaction methods using models of linear-viscoelastic, linear-elastic linear viscous, and linear elastic non-linear viscous rock behaviour. Calculations of lining pressures show that the former tends to underestimate, compared with the latter.