Analytical solution of circular tunnel in elastic-viscoplastic rock mass

Abstract This paper deals with a deep circular tunnel excavated in infinite homogeneous and isotropic elasto-viscoplastic rock mass subjected to a hydrostatic initial stresses. The tunnel is divided into the initial plastic, viscoplastic, and elastic zones. By combining the generalized Bingham model with Mohr-Coulomb yield criteria, analytical solutions of the circular tunnel are derived with the consideration of non-associated flow rule and elasto-viscoplasticity. The initial plastic zone is defined as the instantaneous change of rock mass excavation. Based on the initial plastic zone, the stresses in viscoplastic zone are transferred to the deep surrounding rock with time due to the initial earth stresses. The results are compared with the elastic-brittle solution at static conditions, and the solutions of this paper are validated. Moreover, the presented results shows that the stress and displacement of the surrounding rock varies with time, and the solutions can be obtained at different instants of time.