An Analytical Model for Fully Grouted

Rock Bolts in Soft Rock Tunnel

Jing-zhou Wen
Engineer, Yunnan Science & Technology Research Institute of Highway,
Kunming, China
e-mail: wenjingzhou117@163.com

Hai-tao Su
Senior Engineer with Professorships , Yunnan Science & Technology Research
Institute of Highway,Kunming, China
e-mail: sht888@21cn.com

Xiao-qi Tan
Senior Engineer with Professorships , Yunnan Science & Technology Research
Institute of Highway,Kunming, China
e-mail: yngks-txq@163.com

De-biao Ning
Senior Engineer, Yunnan Science & Technology Research Institute of
Highway,Kunming, China
e-mail: ningdebiao@163.com

Chun-yu Zhang
Senior Engineer, Yunnan Science & Technology Research Institute of
Highway,Kunming, China
e-mail: chunyuzhang@163.com

ABSTRACT
It is of great importance for studying mechanical effect of initial support system in tunnel
engineering when analyzing distribution and variation of fully grouted rock bolt’s stress under
in soft and weak surrounding rock. The bolt’s axial displacement differential equation is
established according to the stress equilibrium in a small section of a rock bolt and the shear
stress transfer mechanism of anchorage body interfacial layer between rock bolt and soft rock
mass. Then the axial load distribution function and the shear stress distribution function on the
interface of the fully grouted bolt are obtained by solving the differential equation under the
interaction between rock bolt and surrounding rock mass. The reaction of the shear stress on
interface of the fully grouted bolt on the surrounding rock is assumed to be symmetric radial
action. The plastic zone radius of circular tunnel for bolt-shotcrete support can be solved by
means of soft rock yield condition. According to the analysis, it is shown that selection of
supporting time has great influence on anchoring effect and release displacement. Based on
the monitoring date of rock bolt in the tunnel of Beizha in Yunnan Province of China, the
result of proposed model can be in good agreement with the experimental date.
KEYWORDS: Tunnel engineering, Soft rock, Fully grouted rock bolt, Anchorage
body interfacial layer , Analytical solution.

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 Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. M 2830

INTRODUCTION
Rock bolts have been widely used for rock reinforcement in tunnel and underground
engineering for a long time. Bolts reinforce rock masses through restraining the deformation
within the rock masses. The rock bolting is accepted as an effective support way when the
excavation of a tunnel often encounters the soft and broken rock mass in China. In order to
improve bolting design and application, it is necessary to have a good understanding of behaviour
of rock bolts in soft and broken rock masses. Many researchers have carry out research and
design work on rock bolts through field monitoring, laboratory tests, analytical studies and
numerical modeling. For these studies, Freeman(1978) performed pioneering work in studying
the mechanical behavior and performance of fully grouted rock bolts in the Kielder experimental
tunnel. He obtained both the loading process of the bolts and the distribution of stresses along the
bolts. For his research result, the concepts of "neutral point" , "pick-up length" and "anchor
length" can obtain. Late on, Wang(1983) also proposed the concept of "neutral point". Windsor
(1997)proposed the concept that a reinforcement system comprises four principal components:
the rock, the reinforcing element, the internal fixture and the external fixture. Li and
Stillborg(1999) proved that the mechanism of rock bolt is in fact superposition force due to the
relationship between of rock bolt and rock mass. Cai .et al(2004) put forward an analytical model
for rock bolts based on an improved Shear-Lag Model. However, these analyses of rock bolt have
not considered the factor of the interface layer between rock bolt and rock mass.
The aim of this paper is to develop analytical model for fully grouted rock bolts in soft and
broken rock tunnel. The analytical model can consider the factor of interface layer between rock
bolt and rock mass. The analytical model can be developed according to the stress transfer
mechanism and deformation coordination of anchorage body interfacial layer between rock bolt
and surrounding rock.

THE ANCHORING SYSTEM OF FULL GROUTED

ROCK BOLT AND INTERFACIAL STRESS
When the excavation of tunnel encounters the soft and broken rock mass, rock bolts usually
will be arranged in the surrounding rock. Due to excavation of surrounding rock, stress
redistribution will cause to the hole interior ministry extrusion deformation of surrounding rock.
Therefore, rock deformation must be has put its internal anchor constraints. In this way,
deformation of the surrounding rock will make the bolt produces internal force.
In effect, rock bolts can restrain the deformation of rock mass due to the interfacial shear
stress is transfer from the anchored bolt to the rock mass around it through the coherent material.
As a result, the axial force of rock bolt can increase. According to the above loading process of
rock bolt, the anchoring interface layer of the coherent material is essential for mechanical effect
and performance of bolt supporting.
According to construction sequence and process of rock bolt in soft rock tunnel, it must be
drilling on the cave walls and injecting capsule resin or cement mortar after the excavation of the
soft rock masses. Then the rock bolt finishes the installation. From the process of rock bolt
installation, it is concluded that the interface layer between soft rock masses and rock bolt can
transfer interface stress so that the soft and broken rock mass in tunnel can improve and enhance.
Following basic assumptions are made to the simplified analysis model: ①Anchor is in elastic
state, and to ignore other factors, assumes that the anchor only produces axial deformation;② The
grouted layer of cement mortar or capsule resin also is in state of the elastic deformation, due to
 Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. M 2831

its anchorage interface layer thickness is very thin and only produces shear deformation, and can
completely bonding between rock bolt and surrounding rock masses; ③Tunnel surrounding rock
is in the different states including soften and plastic flow and elastic, including anchor in the
plastic zone of the area, the rock bolt is the same.
Base on the below three basic assumptions, it can be analysis single anchor in soft rock mass
of tunnel(see Fig.1).

Figure 1: Bolt in surrounding rock

In fact, the anchoring system of fully grouted rock bolt in tunnel consists of rock bolt, soft
rock masses and grouted layer. The system is shown as Fig.2.

Figure 2: Anchoring system of fully grouted rock bolt

Consider a thin slice of the grouted rock bolt from the a rock installed within a rock mass (see
Fig.1), dr, which will be used to study the interaction between the bolt and the rock. Then the thin
slice of the bolt-reinforced rock is shown in Fig.3.

Figure 3: Stress components in a small section of a bolt

The equilibrium equation of axial stress is expressed as Eq. (1), the direction of positive load
 Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. M 2832

as shown in Fig.3.
ds s 4
= τ (r ) (1)
dr ds
where s s = the axial stress of rock bolt, ds = the diameter of rock bolt, τ (r ) = shear stress on
interface of rock bolt.
dus
εs = −
dr (2)
where ε s = the axial strain of rock bolt, us = the axial displacement of rock bolt.
So the axial stress distribution of rock bolt can be expressed as Eq. (3)
dus
s s = − Es (3)
dr
According to Hooke's Law of the bar,
dus2 4
2
=− τ (r ) (4)
dr Es d s
where Es = the Young’s modulus of the rock bolt.
Since it is that the grouted layer essentially belongs to cemented material, the assumption of the
grouted layer based on constitutive relation of cemented material is adopted as following:
Gm
t (r ) =
(urs − us ) (5)
tm
where Gm = the shear modulus of the interfacial materials, tm is the thickness of the grouted
layer, urs is the axial displacement of rock mass.
Substituting Eq. (5) into Eq. (4), the differential equations of the axial displacement of the
fully grouted rock bolt in soft rock tunnel can be written as follows：
d 2u s
2
− m 2us + m 2urs = 0 (6)
dr
where m 2 = 4Gm ( Es d s tm ) .
me mr − mr me − mr mr
2 ∫ 2 ∫
us = C1e mr + C2e − mr − e u rs dr + e urs dr (7)

where C1 and C2 are integration constant.

In order to get the specific expression of Eq. (7), the radial displacement of surrounding rock
in tunnel must be solve, but the displacement is considerable complex. Since it is not easy to
obtain the solution of Eq. (7), some assumption is adopted that rock bolt is at the elastic stage and
at the same time surrounding rock is in different zones. Considering the adverse factors and the
surrounding rock in the plastic region, the displacement is expressed as following:
Arp
urs = (8)
r
where Arp = the integration constant of surrounding rock in circle tunnel.

Substituting Eq. (8) into Eq. (7), the displacement of the rock bolt is expressed as following:
 Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. M 2833

Ars me mr e − mr Ars me − mr e mr
us = C1e mr + C2e − mr −
2 ∫ r dr +
2 ∫ r dr (9)

du s Am 2e mr e − mr Am 2e − mr e mr
2 ∫ r ∫ r dr
= C1me mr − C2 me −mr − dr − (10)
dr 2
e − mr e mr
where − Ei (mr ) = ∫ r dr , − Ei ( − mr ) = ∫ r dr ;
Ei (mr ) and Ei (−mr ) are exponential integral function. Generally, the theoretical solution
of exponential integral function is difficult to obtain, and is only through the numerical solution.
The above exponential integral function is usually solved by basic exponential integral function
Ei(x).
∞
(− x) n
Ei( x) = − ln x − γ − ∑ (11)
n =1 n ⋅ n!

where γ = Euler's constant.

It must be noticed that the applied condition of Eq. (11) is the independent variables x is
small. When the independent variables x=mr is larger, applying Eq. (12) type solution will
generate larger error and even cause wrong.
Therefore, solving method of this paper is by using the integration by parts according to the
proposed method ( Wen,2013).

e − mr e − mr ∞ (−1) n n!
∫ r dr ≈ ⋅∑ (12.a)
− mr n = 0 (mr ) n
e mr e mr ∞ n!
∫ r dr ≈ ⋅∑ (12.b)
mr n = 0 (mr ) n
During construction of a highway tunnel the fully grouted rock bolt its tail is usually not
application, the initial boundary conditions of rock bolt are expressed as Eq. (13)
dus du s
=0, =0 (13)
dr r =r0 dr r = r0 + L

where r0 = the excavation radius of circle tunnel, L= the length of rock bolt.
Substituting the above boundary conditions into Eq. (10), the expression of D1 and D2 can be
obtained as following:
C1 = Ars D1 ， C2 = Ars D2 (14)

e − mr0 γ (r0 ) − γ (r0 + L)e mL e m ( r0 + L ) γ (r0 )e mL − γ (r0 + L)

where D1 = ⋅ , D2 = ⋅ ,
2 e 2 mL − 1 2 e 2 mL − 1
1 ∞ (−1) n n!−n!
γ (r ) = ∑ ;
r n = 0 (mr ) n
Therefore, the axial stress of the rock bolt and the shear stress of the grouted layer are
expressed as following:
 Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. M 2834

γ (r )
s s (r ) = − Ars mEs [ D1e mr − D2e −mr + ] (15)
2
Ars Gm 1 1 ∞ (−1) n n!+ n!
τ (r ) = [ − D1e mr − D2 e −mr − ∑ ] (16)
tm r 2r n=0 (mr ) n
Ars is unknown in Eq. (15) and Eq. (16). It must be analyzing the displacement of
surrounding rock in tunnel.

THE DISTRIBUTION AND CHARACTERISTIC OF

THE SOFT ROCK AROUND A TUNNEL

According to the above analytical model of fully grouted rock bolt, the resultant axial force
and shear stress of the rock bolt depends on the relative deformation of soft rock mass.
Obviously, the behavior of the soft rock around a circle tunnel has its own characteristic. Based
on the theoretical analysis and practical experiences, it has been confirmed that the soft and
broken rock in tunnel shows significant strain softening characteristics under a low confining
pressure. Then when the rocks are fractured, soft rock tunnel convergence is mainly due to
expansion deformation of the surrounding rock within the fractured zone in a residual-strength
state. Hence, it is necessary to take it into account in the fully grouted rock bolt design of the
NATM in soft rock tunnel. According to the above analysis, the surrounding rock mass is divided
into three regions around a tunnel. Three kinds of zones such as a fractured zone, a plastic soften
zone and an elastic zone may exist around tunnel, as shown in Fig. 4. The zones are elliptic for
circular tunnel under the non-hydraulic pressure conditions. In Fig. 4, Rb is the radius of fractured
zone and RP is the plastic radius.
Since a close solution of displacement under non-hydraulic pressure condition is very
complicated and not easy to get, a hydraulic pressure and the circular opening are assumed for the
further analysis in this paper.

Figure 4: Mechanical model of the soft rock tunnel

 Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. M 2835

The relative displacement in the fractured region, the plastic soften region and the elastic
region are written as u f (r ) , u p (r ) and ue (r ) . For the rock bolt installed in different regions, a
continuous boundary condition could be considered because the deformation of the rock mass is
not the same. Considering the detailed expression in the different regions, there are several
analytical models for the soft rock mass design according to different laws. For example, Jiang et
al.(2001) confirmed that the soft rock shows obvious strain softening characteristics under a low
confining pressure based on the experimental data and practical experiences. Yao et al.(2009)
deduced the new analytical solution of the stress and deformation of the soft rock tunnel by taking
the dilatancy and plastic softening of the rock mass into account and introducing the concept of
the dilatancy gradient and softening modulus. However, it is a very laborious process for solving
the above problem. If the surrounding rock mass is just in an elastic state and a plastic state, the
released displacement around a circle tunnel are expressed as Eq. (17) and Eq. (18)
( p0 sin ϕ + c cos ϕ ) 2
u p (r ) = Rp (17)
2Gr
p0 2
ue ( r ) = R0 (18)
2Gr
So, the respective Ars are written as following:
p0 2 ( p sin ϕ + c cos ϕ ) 2
In the elastic state, Are = R0 ; in the plastic state, Arp = 0 Rp .
2G 2G
where p0 is the hydraulic pressure, G is the rock mass's shear modulus, c is the cohesion, ϕ is the
friction angle.
For the M-C Laws, the plastic radius RP is expressed as below:
1− sin ϕ
( p + c cot ϕ )(1 − sin ϕ ) 2 sin ϕ
R p = r0 [ 0 ] (19)
pi + c cot ϕ
In Eq.(19), RP is plastic radius after the bolt-shotcrete supporting have been installed.pi is the
support resistance of shotcrete.
So the total displacement u0 of the opening under the impact of the bolt-shotcrete supporting
is expressed as following:
( p0 + c cot ϕ ) sin ϕR p2
u0 = (20)
2Gr0

APPLICATION EXAMPLE OF ROCK BOLT IN TUNNEL

The excavation and support of Beizha Tunnel in Maliuwan-Zhaotong Expressway in Yunnan
Province, China is taken as an example to explain the application of the above method for the
fully grouted rock bolt design. The tunnel is located at the depth of 80m underground, and its
surrounding rock mass is argillaceous sandstone. The rock mass around the Beizha Tunnel is
classified as VI, which belongs to the soft rock. During the construction of Beizha Tunnel, a field
measuring was performed to gain the induced axial force along the fully grouted rock bolt, and
stress gauges are also used in the situ tests. According to the geological investigations and the
 Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. M 2836

laboratory experiments, the parameters of the soft rock in Beizha Tunnel can obtain. In the text,
the parameters of rock mass and rock bolt are shown in Table 1 and Table 2.

Table 1: The Parameters of surrounding rock

Radius of tunnel, R0 5m
Geostatic stress, p0 10MPa
Rock mass's shear modulus, G 4GPa
Rock mass's cohesion, c 1MPa
Rock mass's friction angle, ϕ 35o

Table 2: The Parameters of fully grouted rock bolt and shotcrete lining
Length of rock bolt, L 2.8m
Young’s modulus of the rock bolt, Es 210GPa
Diameter of rock bolt, ds 2.2cm
Shear modulus of interfacial materials, Gm 10GPa
Thickness of grouted layer, tm 1.2cm
Thickness of shotcrete, hc 0.2m
Shear modulus of shotcrete, Gc 8.4 GPa

All parameters in table 1 and table 2 have been substituted into the relative equations. For
analyzing the supporting effect, the released deformation of the tunnel face are 30%, 50%, 70%.
The analytical results can obtain as Table.3.

Table 3: Analytical results in different support time

Release coefficient the plastic radius RP the shotcrete resistance pi
30% 6.184m 1.323MPa
50% 6.533m 0.945MPa
70% 6.989m 0.567MPa

From the results of Table. 3, when the released displacement increase from 30% to 70%, the
plastic radius of surrounding rock increases from 61.184 to 6.989m, and the shotcrete resistance
decreases from 1.323 to 0.597MPa, which means that the supporting performance of the bolt-
shotcrete may reduce significantly if it is not in-stalled in time.
For further analysis, the distribution of the axial force and the shear stress are shown as Fig.5
and Fig.6 when the released displacement of the rock mass is 30% and the effect length of the
rock bolt is 2.8 m.
(1) According to the analysis in Fig.5 and Fig.6 , the shear stress is relatively high at the end
of the rock bolt and it changes its direction at a certain position. In the rock bolting section near to
the tunnel wall, the shear stress of rock bolt is toward the tunnel wall and the rock bolt is pulled,
and it reduces to zero at the neutral position. Beyond the neutral point, the direction of the shear
stress is changed and it is toward the far end of the rock bolt, which makes up the anchor part of
the rock bolt.
 Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. M 2837

(2) When the maximum shear stress reached 41MPa in Fig.5, the value of shear stress is more
than the allowable stress intensity of the interfacial layer. The result indicates the end of the rock
bolt appears debonding failure.

Figure 5: The distribution of shear stress on rock bolt.

Figure 6: The distribution of axial force on rock bolt.

A field monitoring of rock bolts was performed in Beizha Tunnel, and the axial force is
compared with the theoretical prediction of the developed model. According to the geology
condition of the tunnel and the real in-stalling time of the rock bolt in construction, the released
displacement is estimated as 30% of the total displacement. The predicted and measured axial
force of the rock bolt is presented in Fig.7.
 Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. M 2838

Figure 7: Comparing calculation value with test value of axial force for rock bolt

CONCLUSION
According to the theoretical analysis and in-situ measurement for rock bolt in soft rock
tunnel, the following conclusions are obtained:
(1) In order to analyze the mechanical characteristics of the fully grouted rock bolt in soft
rock tunnel, this paper develops a simplified analytical model of rock bolt which can consider the
factor of interface layer between rock bolt and rock mass. The analytical model can be developed
according to the stress transfer mechanism and deformation coordination of anchorage body
interfacial layer between rock bolt and surrounding rock.
(2) The fully grouted rock bolt in situ can be installed in soft rock mass, which has in
different regions. The mechanical state of bolt-shotcrete supporting is obviously related with the
released in displacement of the soft rock mass.
(3) The fully grouted rock bolt in soft rock mass has also a pullout part and an anchor part
divided by a neutral point.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Financial support for this work have been provided by the Foundation of the Construction
Project of Science and Technology of Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China
(Grant No: 2013 318 791 440) and the Foundation of Science and Technology Planning Project
of Transport Department of Yunnan province (Grant No: 2013(C)13).

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application of fully grouted rockbolt,” Metal Mine, 1983, (4), 24- 29.
Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. M 2839

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