This study examines the fracture mechanism of cracks and the final blasting effects on defective rock masses under blasting loads. The failure processes of jointed rock with two prefabricated joints are investigated through numerical simulations using a two-dimensional finite element method. Subsequently, simulations are performed to analyze the blasting of granite specimens with various joint arrangements, focusing on the influence of front joint length, inclination angle, and blast hole distance on failure patterns, displacement, velocity, and stress at the joint ends. The numerical results provide a comprehensive summary of various typical failure modes near blast holes and joints for the first time. Specifically, the simulation successfully captures the characteristics of the ring crack zone, wing cracks, and main crack deflection affected by the front joint. Moreover, the results highlight the shielding effect of the front joint, which enhances damage in the medium between the borehole and the joint while exhibiting the opposite effect behind the joint in terms of stress wave propagation. Overall, this study offers objective insights into the mechanics and failure characteristics of jointed rock masses under blasting loads and serves as a valuable reference for the design and optimization of blasting operations.

Dynamic risk assessment is a pivotal tool for enhancing construction safety and minimizing the potential for partial failure during deep and extensive excavation projects. To enhance the efficacy of dynamic risk assessment in deep excavation, this study introduces a novel risk assessment model designed to evaluate instability risk in extensive excavations. It comprises a risk factor selection model for identifying the most pertinent factors and an instability risk assessment model for gauging the extent of instability risk throughout the construction process. Then, the model was deployed in the construction of Anshan Road Station of the Qingdao Metro. To pinpoint the factors with the most pronounced impact on excavation instability, a risk factor selection model was employed, yielding a comprehensive risk evaluation index system. For real-time assessment of risk, the monitoring data were used as the primary source of evidence. A comprehensive comparative analysis involving actual data and predictions from conventional RBF and back propagation neural networks was performed. The outcome of this analysis underscored the superior accuracy and predictive capabilities of the assessment model. The instability risk assessment model offers the ability to dynamically evaluate the instability risk associated with extensive excavations featuring a combination of soil and rock. It can serve as a valuable methodological tool, furnishing essential support for the systematic prevention and mitigation of excavation instability disasters.

The deposition processes of geotechnical materials are inherently complex, resulting in significant spatial variability in soil and rock properties. This study proposes a probabilistic framework applicable to braced excavations in composite soil-rock layers, designed to quantitatively evaluate the impact of variability on these excavations and to explore its potential implications. The framework integrates Latin Hypercube Sampling, Monte Carlo, and finite difference methods. The foundation pit excavation for Qilu Hospital serves as a case study to illustrate the approach, beginning with a deterministic assessment to investigate ground settlement behavior in a composite soil-rock environment. Subsequently, the study evaluates the influence of two critical factors on surface settlement: the scale of fluctuation in random fields and Young’s modulus’s coefficient of variation (COV). The deterministic analysis provides insight into ground settlement mechanisms in composite soil-rock conditions. In contrast, the probabilistic analysis, which incorporates random fields, demonstrates that spatial variability exerts a considerable influence on both ground settlement and the stability of the foundation pit. In particular, an increase in the scale of fluctuation affects the range of settlement values, while variations in the COV have a significant impact on the probability of failure and the distribution of settlement outcomes within the foundation pit.

3-D particle-based discrete element method (PB-DEM) was employed to numerically study the mechanical and progressive failure characteristics of pre-fissured marble specimens under conventional triaxial unloading conditions. The microscopic parameters of PB-DEM for marble materials were calibrated using comparison with the previous experimental data. To systematically investigate the mechanical properties and the progressive failure characteristics of pre-fissured marble specimens under the unloading conditions, a series of numerical specimens were simulated. The effects of fissure geometric conditions, initial confining pressures, and unloading rates on the mechanical and failure behaviors were explored via simulations. The present numerical results indicate that peak strength increased as the initial confining pressures increased or the unloading rate decreased. Crack coalescence types and the ultimate failure modes in the pre-fissured marble specimens were significantly affected by the unloading stress paths. The present numerical results provide a better understanding of unloading mechanical and failure characteristics to scientists and engineers in rock mechanics and rock engineering.