Design of anchorage and assessment of the stability of openings in silty, sandy limestone: a case study in Turkey

2004-01-01
This study presents a procedure for the design of anchorage and for the assessment of the stability of openings in silty, sandy limestone through investigating the geotechnical problems of the Hasankeyf historical settlement area in southeastern Turkey, of which a good portion will stay below the reservoir of the proposed Ilisu dam. Rock mass characterization was performed. The RMR and GSI methods were utilized for rock mass classification. The RocLab software was used to determine the shear strength parameters and the geomechanical properties of the rock mass according to the GSI method. The cohesion and angle of internal friction of the rock mass was determined as 257 kPa and 52degrees, respectively. A back analysis was applied to a structurally controlled planar failure block supporting one of the prominent historical structures in the area to determine the shear strength parameter pairs that satisfy limit equilibrium along the sliding surface of the planar block. A sensitivity analysis of the most likely shear strength pairs satisfying limit equilibrium was performed as a function of reservoir water condition (i.e., rapid drawdown, dry and wet reservoir condition) and the expected earthquake generated peak horizontal ground acceleration coefficient. The results of the back analysis led to a cohesion of 161 kPa and an angle of internal friction of 40degrees along the failure surface of the planar block. A limit equilibrium sensitivity analysis of the unstable rock block was performed as a function of the water condition of the reservoir, expected earthquake generated peak horizontal ground acceleration coefficient and rock anchor inclination angle. The minimum anchor force required for the stabilization of the planar block was calculated for a rapid drawdown condition as 4000 kN/m. A total of fifty six (56) rock anchors, each with a service load capacity of 1000 kN and spaced at I in are recommended for stability. Finite element analysis was utilized to analyze the collapse of some of the roofs of the adjacent man-made cave dwellings carved in rock due to insufficient pillar thicknesses and to determine the minimum pillar thickness required between adjacent caves in the region for stability. Nine different pillar thicknesses ranging from 0.1 to 0.93 m were analyzed. The stages included in the finite element analysis of the caves were: (a) gravity loading due to the thickness of the overburden followed by applying the far field horizontal stresses and inserting the planar block fracture; (b) excavating the caves in stressed rock assuming full face excavation and (c) applying a uniform traction load. The results of the finite element analysis led to a recommendation to apply a steel arch support to one of the adjacent caves located at Hasankeyf in case the wall thickness was less than or equal to 0.5 m.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS AND MINING SCIENCES

Suggestions

Methodology for tunnel and portal support design in mixed limestone, schist and phyllite conditions: a case study in Turkey
Koçkar, Mustafa Kerem; Akgün, Haluk (Elsevier BV, 2003-02-01)
The purpose of this study is to present a methodology for tunnel and support design in mixed limestone, schist and phyllite conditions through investigating two highway tunnel case studies that are located along the Antalya-Alanya Highway in southern Turkey. The main lithologies of the project area are regularly jointed, recrystallized limestone and the weak lithologies of the schist unit (i.e., pelitic schist, calc schist, graphitic phyllite and alternations of these lithologies). A detailed geological and...
Support capacity estimation of a diversion tunnel in weak rock
Ozsan, A; Basarir, H (Elsevier BV, 2003-03-01)
This paper presents the results of the support capacity estimation for the diversion tunnel of the Urus dam site in highly weathered tuff and weak zone. Tunneling in weak rock requires some special considerations, since misjudgment in support design results in costly failures. There are several ways of estimating rock support pressure and selecting support. However, all systems suffer from their characteristic limitations in achieving objectives. Thus, it is more useful to use different methods for estimati...
Geotechnical rock-mass evaluation of the Anamur dam site, Turkey
Ozsan, A; Karpuz, Celal (Elsevier BV, 1996-03-01)
This paper describes a feasibility-level geotechnical evaluation carried out at Anamur dam site, in terms of stability analysis of dam foundation, excavation slopes and a diversion tunnel. The proposed Anamur dam will be built across the Anamur river on the Alanya metamorphic series which consists of phyllite, schist and slate units at the site. Geotechnical investigations included drilling for core, pumping tests, sampling for laboratory testing, and a detailed discontinuity survey.
Strength of various sands in triaxial and cyclic direct shear tests
ÇABALAR, ALİ FIRAT; Dulundu, Kemal; Tuncay, Kağan (Elsevier BV, 2013-04-01)
This paper presents the result of an extensive series of experimental investigation carried out in triaxial and cyclic direct shear tests on sands having various properties, which were obtained from different locations in Turkey and in Northern Cyprus. In order to investigate the link between strength and physical properties (i.e., shape) of the sand particles, three series of triaxial tests (Consolidated-Drained, CD; Consolidated-Undrained, CU; and Unconsolidated-Undrained, UU) for each were performed unde...
Engineering geological investigations along the Iliksu Tunnels, Alanya, southern turkey
Koçkar, Mustafa Kerem; Akgün, Haluk (Elsevier BV, 2003-03-01)
The main objective of this study is to assess the engineering geological characteristics of the rock mass and to suggest appropriate support recommendations along the two autoroad tunnel projects, named as Iliksu 1 and lliksu 2, which are located along the Antalya-Alanya Highway. The study area consists of pelitic schist and calc schist overlain by a thick sequence of recrystallized limestone and an intercalation of pelitic schist, calc schist and graphite schist. The tunnel ground support types and categor...
Citation Formats
H. Akgün, “Design of anchorage and assessment of the stability of openings in silty, sandy limestone: a case study in Turkey,” INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS AND MINING SCIENCES, pp. 37–49, 2004, Accessed: 00, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://hdl.handle.net/11511/37217.