Effects of Rock Bolting on Stress Distribution around Tunnel Using the Elastoplastic Model

To ensure the stability of a tunnel during construction, rock bolts are usually installed, which affects the stress distribution around the tunnel. Therefore, it is necessary to study the effects of rock bolting on the stress distribution around the tunnel. In this article, the effects of rock bolting on the stress distribution around the tunnel, including the position and orientation of bolts, the overburden depths, and the bolt lengths, are simulated using the ANSYS software with an elastoplastic model. The effect of multiple bolts of 2 m and 1 m lengths on the stress distribution in the roof and on the lateral sides of a tunnel and at different overburden depths is considered. An important finding is that the tensile stress region that is very dangerous for rock in the bottom of the tunnel grows rapidly with increasing overburden depths when rock bolts are installed only in the roof or on the lateral sides of a tunnel. The determination of the length of the rock bolt used around a tunnel is dependent on the loads and the integrity of the rock mass around the tunnel. In addition, rock bolting around the tunnel can obviously reduce the coefficients and the size of the region of stress concentration, especially when installed in high-stress areas. This fact is very important and essential for the design of tunnels and ensures engineering safety in tunnel engineering.