Author(s)

E. De Souza

Abstract

Accurate numerical design of large structures in rock constitutes one of the most difficult challenges faced by modern excavation design engineers. Rock, due to its inhomogeneous, inelastic and discontinuum character, cannot be rigorously modelled using existing numerical methods. In this paper, the author presents an integrated design methodology and CAD package in which a number of empirical, analytical and observational techniques are conjunctionally incorporated into the design process. 1 Introduction Although civilization has been developing underground excavations for many centuries, the concept of designing an underground excavation is a relatively recent undertaking. One of the reasons for this situation is that the problem of designing an excavation is dif

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