Abstract
The application of numerical modeling to the analysis of the stability of both natural and man-made underground caves is rapidly increasing due to the availability of powerful numerical codes, that can account for either continuum or discontinuum behavior of the rock masses. Numerical methods allow to overcome traditional methods for cave stability analysis that assume too simplified geometrical, geological and geomechanical conditions. Further, they are also able to assess the potential failure mechanisms of underground systems. On the other hand, the application of numerical methods requires availability of a detailed geo-structural survey of the cave, as well as a proper geomechanical characterization of the rock and joint material properties for the pre-processing stage. The present contribution is aimed at describing some aspects related to implementation, and comparison of the outcomes, of two-dimensional or three-dimensional finite element analysis as regards artificial caves with complex geometries excavated within calcarenite rock masses. This type of man-made caves is very common in Southern Italy, and is at the origin of frequent sinkholes, often threatening the built-up areas. In particular, the results from 2-D and 3-D analyses of a case study represented by a cave with complex geometry are presented, showing that 3-D analysis leads to more stable conditions of the rock mass surrounding the cave. This is supposed to be the consequence of the different stress state as calculated by the two analyses, the 2-D one assuming plane strain conditions while the 3-D analysis assumes more general stress conditions.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Arces M, Aversa S, Lo CG, Nocilla N (2000) The pleistocene “Calcareniti di Marsala”: geotechnical and sedimentological characterisation. Mem Soc Geol It 55:483–489
Hoek H, Brown ET (1997) Practical estimates of rock mass strength. Int J Rock Mech Mining Sci 34 (8):1165–1186
Parise M, Lollino P (2011) A preliminary analysis of failure mechanisms in karst and man-made underground caves in S Italy. Geomorphology 134:132–143
Ruggieri G, Unti A, Unti M, Moroni MA (1975) La calcarenite di Marsala (Pleistocene inferiore) e i terreni contermini. Boll Soc Geol It 94:1623–1657
Vattano M, Di Maggio C, Madonia G, Parise M, Lollino P, Bonamini M (2013) Examples of anthropogenic sinkholes in Sicily and comparison with similar phenomena in southern Italy. In: Land L, Doctor DH, Stephenson B. (eds) Proceedings of 13th multidisciplinary conference on sinkholes and engineering environment impacts of karst, National Cave and Karst Research Institute, pp 263–271
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this paper
Cite this paper
Piernicola, L., Mario, P., Marco, V. (2015). Some Considerations on 3-D and 2-D Numerical Models for the Assessment of the Stability of Underground Caves. In: Lollino, G., Manconi, A., Guzzetti, F., Culshaw, M., Bobrowsky, P., Luino, F. (eds) Engineering Geology for Society and Territory - Volume 5. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09048-1_114
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09048-1_114
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-09047-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-09048-1
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)