Influences of strain softening and seepage on elastic and plastic solutions of circular openings in nonlinear rock masses

Considering the influence of strain softening, the solutions of stress, displacement, plastic softening region radius and plastic residual region radius were derived for circular openings in nonlinear rock masses subjected to seepage. The radial stress distribution curve, ground reaction curve, and relation curve between plastic softening region radius and supporting force in three different conditions were drawn respectively. From the comparisons among these results for different conditions, it is found that when the supporting force is the same, the displacement of tunnel wall considering both seepage and strain softening is 85.71% greater than that only considering seepage. The increase values of radial displacement at 0.95 m and plastic softening region radius at 6.6 m show that the seepage and strain softening have the most unfavorable effects on circular opening stability in strain softening rock masses.