Author(s)

Mian Sohail Akram^*, Kamran Mirza, Muhammad Zeeshan, Muhammad Ali, Luqman Ahmed

Institute of Geology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

This study illustrates the classification of the rock mass and evaluation of rock squeezing, rock burst potential, deformation modulus along the proposed tunnel alignment of small hydropower in Swat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. The field and laboratory studies were conducted to classify the rock mass by using geomechanical classification systems i.e. Rock Mass Rating (RMR), tunneling quality index (Q), Rock Mass Index (RMi). The empirical relations classified the ground as non-squeezing and minor to non-squeezing conditions, respectively. Whereas, other methods depict minor to medium bursting potential along chainage 1+000 to 4+000 m, while results along chainage 2+400 - 2+800 m present medium to high bursting potential. Furthermore, numerical analyses were carried out by RS³ for elastic and plastic conditions in order to assess the total displacement of each section in unsupported and supported conditions. The results gave maximum displacement along chainage 2+400 - 2+800 m (19.2 mm in unsupported and 16mm in supported condition) and minimum displacement along chainage 0+876 - 1+000 m (1.4 mm in unsupported and 1.3 mm in supported condition). Hence, the estimated support by empirical methods has been optimized by using numerical analyses for the stability of rock mass along the tunnel.

Tunnel, Rock Squeezing, Rock Burst, Rock Mass Characterization, Numerical Analyses

Akram, M. , Mirza, K. , Zeeshan, M. , Ali, M. and Ahmed, L. (2018) Geotechnical Investigation and Prediction of Rock Burst, Squeezing with Remediation Design by Numerical Analyses along Headrace Tunnel in Swat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Open Journal of Geology, 8, 965-986. doi: 10.4236/ojg.2018.810058.