Risk Assessments for the Design of Subsurface Openings

by Dae S. Young, Michigan Technological Univ, Houghton, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: High Level Radioactive Waste Management 1991

Abstract:

A probabilistic approach was introduced to assess the risk of structural instability due to rock joint systems in rock mass, where subsurface openings are excavated, such openings as shafts, tunnels or drifts, and waste emplacement rooms. Specifically the probabilistic key block analysis was developed and applied on the local stochastic joint systems model, so the uncertainty in the design and the performance predictions due to variations and errors in measurements, and spatial variations in geotechnical parameters are well incorporated in the design criteria. Also, the sensitivity tests for design criteria can be made and so the structural design can be optimized at the early stages of site exploration and engineering study.

Subject Headings: Structural design | Structural systems | Rock masses | Risk management | Joints | Subsurface environment | Stochastic processes

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