An Assessment of Rock Pillar Stability in Tunnel Asymmetric Diverging Area using the Mohr-Coulomb Failure Theory

This study assessed the behavior of rock pillar in tunnel asymmetric diverging area by using a three dimensional numerical analysis. The stability of pillar is very important for the ensure the stability of the tunnel asymmetric diverging area. Based on parameters affecting the behavior of rock pillar, this study evaluated different safety factors according to pillar width, depth and rock conditions. It turned out that as the rock pillar width increases, the change curve of safety factors in accordance with depth and rock conditions shows more of the nonlinear behavior. By the assessment of the minimum safety factor, a safety factor chart on the behavior of rock pillar in tunnel asymmetric diverging area was suggested.