Abstract The stress path during underground excavation is critical to the mechanical response of rock masses, and the excavation effects in front of a tunnel face cannot be ignored. In this study, a realistic stress path model was built to capture the actual behaviour of the surrounding rock during the entire excavation process. The key technical steps of the two-dimensional excavation simulations with this method were presented. This approach was applied to characterise the deformation and damage evolution of an experimental tunnel, where the soft rock under high stress experienced severe damage. The research results revealed the evolution of the excavation-induced deformation and damage, which was in good agreement with the results of field investigations and previous research. The cause of support failure was found to be that the growth process of the excavation damage zone (EDZ) was different from the convergence displacement, and the evolution of the EDZ did not receive sufficient attention during the design of the support. Corresponding suggestions for the improvement of support designs were put forward. The proposed method could provide key information for predicting the long-term performance and determining a reasonable design for the support of tunnels exposed to a high risk of destruction.

中文翻译：

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基于真实应力路径的深隧道开挖变形与损伤演化

摘要 地下开挖过程中的应力路径对岩体的力学响应至关重要，隧道掌子面前方的开挖效应不容忽视。在这项研究中，建立了一个现实的应力路径模型来捕捉整个开挖过程中围岩的实际行为。介绍了采用该方法进行二维开挖模拟的关键技术步骤。该方法用于表征实验隧道的变形和损伤演化，其中高应力下的软岩经历了严重的损伤。研究结果揭示了开挖引起的变形和损伤的演变过程，与现场调查和前人研究结果吻合较好。发现支护失效的原因是开挖损伤区（EDZ）的生长过程与收敛位移不同，支护设计时EDZ的演化没有得到足够的重视。提出了相应的支撑设计改进建议。所提出的方法可以为预测长期性能和确定暴露于高破坏风险的隧道的支护的合理设计提供关键信息。