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DOI: 10.1134/S1062739114030156

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ISSN 1062-7391, Journal of Mining Science, 2014, Vol. 50, No. 3, pp. 533548. Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2014.

______________________________ MINERAL MINING ________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

TECHNOLOGY
A Simplified Model to Study the Behavior of Pre-Tensioned
Fully Grouted Bolts around Tunnels and to Analyze the More
Important Influencing Parameters
M. Ranjbarniaa, A. Fahimifar,a and P. Oresteb
a
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Amirkabir University of Technology (Tahran Polytechnic), Havez Ave., Tehran, Iran
e-mail: m.ranjbarnia@aut.ac.ir; fahim@aut.ac.ir
b
Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering,
Politecnico di Torino, CorsoDucadegli Abruzzi, 2410129, Torino, Italy
e-mail: pierpaolo.oreste@polito.it
Received June 16, 2014

AbstractThis paper develops an analytical method to obtain distribution of the axial force in the pre-
tensioned fully grouted rockbolts around a circular tunnel. For his purpose, the axial force along the bolt is
calculated by the assumption of rigid connection between the bolt and rock mass. To include the effect of
relative shear displacement, the condition of end boundaries of bolt is focused on i.e. the reduction of the
force on the bolt head is calculated through modeling of the flexibilities of its component (washer, plate )
and tunnel surface. Then, this force is simulated by applying a fictitious compressive force on the bolt head.
The distribution of this fictitious force along the bolt is obtained to subtract from that of rigid connection.
According to a case study, the theoretical prediction of axial force in the passive cases is comparable to the
in-situ measured data. The magnitude of pre-tensioning force, delay in installing of bolts, stiffness of bolt
head, and rockbolt density are considered as parameters to perform the sensitive analysis.
Keywords: Analytical model; tunnel reinforcement; pre-tensioned bolts; fully grouted bolts, rock mass
structure interaction.
DOI: 10.1134/S1062739114030156

INTRODUCTION
The axial force is one of the most fundamental factors to adjust a rockbolt design [1, 2]. Different
parameters such as the shear stiffness and the end boundaries condition can influence on the
distribution of the force along the bolt [3, 4]. However, the end boundaries condition seems to have
more effect on the efficiency of the pre-tensioned grouted bolts. This is because, this parameter
controls the magnitude of the force transferred to tunnel surface.
The near end stiffness includes the consideration of conditions such as bedding in the components
of nut and washer on the plate, seating the plate on rock mass, and compressing of rock mass. The
more flexibility of near bolt head, the less resulted force on the tunnel surface [5, 6]. The far end
condition of bolt is another important issue which is particularly more addressed in the pre-tensioned
bolt [7].
In regard to obtain the axial force, Oreste and Peila [5] presented an analytical approach by
focusing on modeling the influence of different boundary conditions at near bolt head. Lee and
Stillborg [8] developed another solution to simulate the shear stress along the bolt-rock interface for
the coupling and decoupling behavior, and obtained the axial force by integrating the simulated shear
stress. However; the force applying on the tunnel wall was not predicted for the coupling condition,
and was assumed to be zero. Cai et al. [9] acquired a solution to get the axial force through
considering the bolt and the rock mass consistent displacement in which the calculation of shear

1
The article is published in the original.
533
534 RANJBARNIA et al.

stiffness between bolt and rock mass was focused on. To solve the equation, it was assumed the bolt
does not apply the force on tunnel wall for both coupling and decoupling mechanisms i.e. the bolt was
considered without the end pale (a plate with great flexibility). Oreste [6] presented an analytical
model based on the principle of congruency of the displacements i.e. radial expansion of the
reinforced rock mass is equal to summing up the lengthening of the bolt and the shear displacements
of the bolt-rock interface. In this solution, a perfect constraint was considered on the bolt head
through applying a force on tunnel with a value of 6570% of the maximum force at neutral point
of bolt. Based on in-situ measurement, a number of solutions have also been conducted to obtain
distribution of axial force along the grouted bolts [1013].
All above previous investigations have been devoted to obtain the distribution of stresses on the
passive grouted rockbolts, and no attempt has been performed for the pre-tensioned fully grouted
rockbolts. Therefore, in this paper, a new analytical method is presented to obtain distribution of the
axial force in the pre-tensioned fully grouted rockbolts around a circular tunnel. For this purpose; the
distribution of axial force along the bolt is calculated by the assumption of rigid connection between
the bolt and rock mass. Then, the reduction of force due to the deformations of bolt boundaries and
shear displacements is calculated. Subtracting these forces gives the final distribution of axial force.
According to a case study, the theoretical prediction of axial force in the passive bolts is
comparable with the in-situ measured data. The magnitude of pre-tensioning force, delay in installing
of bolts, stiffness of bolt head, and rockbolt density are considered as parameters to perform the
sensitive analysis.
1. PROBLEM DEFINITION AND GENERAL ASSUMPTIONS
A circular tunnel of radius ri is driven in a homogeneous, isotropic, initially elastic rock mass with
a strain-softening behavior under plane strain condition subjected to a hydrostatic stress field, p 0 .
Tunnel closure can only occurred due to advancement of the tunnel face. That is, the advancement
of tunnel face leads to reducing of the fictitious radial pressure on tunnel surface, and hence; it causes
inward movement of rock mass into the tunnel. In other words, time-dependent properties of the rock
mass are ignored, and short-term convergence of tunnel is only taken into account.
When the rockbolts are installed, a certain convergence of tunnel has already been occurred.
However; a magnitude of the constrained radial stress still exists at bolts installation section ( pinst ). In
other words, that radial stress has not been completely diminished as the rockbolt are installed.
The pre-tensioned fully grouted rockbolt installation consists of placing a grouted anchor,
tensioning the rockbolt and tying end of the bolt by nut and plate to the tunnel surface, and then
grouting the reminder of the bolt length. Re-advancement of working face will be continued after this
process.
Once pre-tensioned, the bolts apply the radial pressure on tunnel surface (which is extended within
rock) called pre-tensioned pressure. This pressure developed within the influence domain are of each
bolt ( C0 ), and can be found by p pre ten = T pre ten C 0 . This radial pressure is added to that of radial
constrained pressure i.e. p total = p pre ten + p inst .
As the pre-tensioned pressure, p pre ten is added to pinst , and a small outward radial elastic
deformation occurs because of re-loading (if the excavation is assumed an un-loading process).
However, it in this paper, it is not considered.
2. ANALYTICAL SOLUTIONS
The advancement of tunnel face is again restarted after full installation of bolts, and hence; the
fictitious constrained radial pressure will be further reduced to ultimately diminish. According to the
magnitudes of the pre-tensioned pressure on tunnel surface and the constrained radial stress before re-
advancement, two different conditions occur.

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 A SIMPLIFIED MODEL TO STUDY THE BEHAVIOR OF PRE-TENSIONED FULLY GROUTED BOLTS 535

The magnitude of constrained radial stress before re-advancement is less than that of the pre-
tensioned pressure (Case A). In this condition, re-advancement of tunnel face will not result in further
radial displacement. This is because, total radial stress on tunnel surface after full diminishing of the
constrained stress is greater than initial pressure value prior to the bolt installation moment. Hence,
the final bolt force does not increase, but will remain constant to pre-tensioned force.
The magnitude of constrained radial stress before re-advancement is greater than that of the pre-
tensioned pressure (Case B). Therefore, after somewhat diminishing of the constrained radial stress,
the overall radial stress on tunnel surface will start to become less than that of its initial value prior to
bolt installation. Thus, continuing excavation process will lead to further radial displacement of the
surrounding rock mass, and it imposes further tension to the rockbolt.
In order to predict the force distribution along the bolt, it is calculated by the assumption of rigid
connection between the bolt and rock mass. Then, the reduction of force due to the deformations of
bolt boundaries and relative shear displacements is obtained, and subtracted from the force
distribution of rigid connection.
2.1. Rigid Connection between the Bolt and Rock Mass
In this section, it is assumed the grouting between the bolt and rock mass results in the bolt is
rigidly connected to rock mass. Consequently, after re-advancement of tunnel face, the axial strain of
bolt will be equal to the radial strain of rock mass i.e.:
b = r , (1)
where r is the radial strain within rock mass taking place after re-advancement of tunnel face;
b = r r , (2)
where r is total radial strain of rock mass and r is the radial strain of rock mass before rockbolt
installation. For Case A, Eq. (2) is zero while for Case B, it can be calculated by Fahimifar and
Ranjbarnia study [14] which is on the basis of Brown et al. method [15] presented for the strain
softening rock mass.
As the pre-tensioned force is also applied to the bolt, total axial strain of bolt is:
b ( total ) = r + pre ten , (3)
where preten is the axial strain of bolt due to pre-tensioned force. Therefore, the overall rockbolt
force can be found by:
Tideal = Ab E s b (total ) , (4)
where Ab and Eb are cross section area and the modulus of elasticity of bolt, respectively. The word
ideal refers to rigid connection.
For tunnel with circular cross section, uniform in-situ stresses, and close spacing of the rockbolts,
the differential equation of equilibrium will be [5, 1618]:
d r r dTideal ri 1
= + , (5)
dr r dr C 0 r
where and r are the circumferential and radial stresses, respectively; r is a variable showing the
radial distance from tunnel center.
The failure criterion of original rock mass e.g. HoekBrown strength criterion [19], and Eq. (4) are
replaced in to Eq. (5). Then, it solved with following boundary conditions to give the axial force
distribution along the bolt in the plastic zone around tunnel. As the resulted differential equation is
complicated and does not have closed form solution, the numerical method is employed. For further
information [14, 15].
The boundary conditions for Case A are:
at r = ri , r = pi in which pinst pi p0 (because p pre ten > p inst );

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536 RANJBARNIA et al.

at r = re , r = re ,
where p i is the magnitude of radial pressure in the tunnel surface, pinst is the fictitious radial pressure
induced by the working face at bolt installation time, and re is the radial stress at the outer boundary
of plastic zone and is obtained by Hoek and Brown [9:
re = p 0 M . c , (6)
where:
12
1 m p
2
p mp
M = + m p 0 + s p , (7)
2 4 c 8

where parameters m p and s p are rock mass constants before failure, and c is uniaxial compressive
strength of the intact rock material. The boundary conditions for the Case B are:
at r = ri , r = pi in which p pre ten p i p inst ;
at r = re , r = re .
2.2. Relative Displacements between the Bolt and Rock Mass
In the ideal connection between the bolt and the rock, the axial stress along the bolt monotonically
decreases with increasing radial distance from the tunnel surface. However, in the real condition, the
axial force increases up to a certain distance from the tunnel surface i.e. (the neutral point) to attain
a maximum value, and then a decrease to far end of the bolt. In other words, the relative
displacements result in the axial force reduces from the value corresponding to the rigid connection.
The modeling of reduction of force from the ideal to the real value along the bolt can be carried out
by the following new method. The force applied through the bolt head results in the deformation of
tunnel surface beneath the plate. Consequently, the bolt elongation for the ideal condition is reduced
(Fig. 1).
In this paper, the bolt elongation means an increment of the original length of the bolt due to the
pre-tensioned force and the subsequent future increment of the bolt length produced after re-
advancement of tunnel. Therefore, two types of elongation are addressed in this manuscript:
Increment of the original length of bolt because of pre-tensioned force
Increment of the elongated bolt because of re-advancement of tunnel after bolt installation.
The reduction of the reinforcement elongation ( rein ) is identical to the deformation of the tunnel
surface ( s ) which depends upon the characteristic deformation of the nut, washer and the plate as
well as upon the basement beneath the plate:
s = rein . (8)

Fig. 1. Rock and bolt interaction at tunnel surface in (a) ideal and (b) real circumstances.

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 A SIMPLIFIED MODEL TO STUDY THE BEHAVIOR OF PRE-TENSIONED FULLY GROUTED BOLTS 537

In fact, a portion of the force through the bolt head is used for the initial bedding in the
components of nut and washer on the plate, seating of the plate on rock mass, and compressing of
rock mass. Hence, reduction of the bolt elongation on the bolt head decreases the bolt tension, and so
forth its force from Tmax to Ts ( Tmax and Ts are the force through the bolt head applied on the tunnel
surface in the ideal and real circumstances, respectively):
Trein = Tmax Ts , (9)
where Trein is the force reduction on the bolt head. From Eq. (8), it can be written:

Ts Trein
= , (10)
K s K rein
where K s describes the equivalent stiffness of the components of nut and washer, and the plate's
basement, and K rein is the stiffness of the reinforcing element. Based on the methodology conducted
by Oreste [6] for the prediction of farce on the tunnel surface, when the stiff boundary condition is
foreseen on the bolt head, it can be obtained that K s = (0.5 0.8)K rein [20].
From Eqs. (9) and (10), it can be written:
Ks
Ts = Tmax . (11)
K s + K rein
In fact, it can be assumed that Trein acts as a compression force through the bolt head to reduce the
bolt elongation.
In the case of pre-tensioned fully grouted rockbolts, the computation of the real force applied by
the bolt to the tunnel surface on the basis of above discussion may be carried out in two steps as
follows:
The computation of the real force due to the pre-tensioned force (the first step).
The computation of the real force due to the subsequent load which may be probably produced
after full grouting of the bolt length and re-advancement of tunnel (the second step).
For Case A, the real force should be only computed for the first step. To compute total reduction of
the bolt elongation, it is assumed that a compression force acts from the near end of bolt to the far
end. The reduction takes place in two sections of the bolt length i.e. in the free length section (un-
grouted section)and in the initially anchored length section (grouted section) (Fig. 2). For more detail
about modeling methodology and derivation of different parameters, refer to Appendix A.

Fig. 2. Reduction of bolt elongation.

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538 RANJBARNIA et al.

Hence, total reduction of bolt elongation is:

rein = free + anch , (12)
where free and anch are the reduction of the bolt elongation in free length and in the anchored length
of the bolt of the bolt, respectively; and can be obtained by:
T
free = rein , (13)
K free
Trein
anch = , (14)
K anch
where:
Eb . Ab
K free = , (15)
L free
H e Lanch + e Lanch
K anch = Lanch , (16)
e e Lanch
where K free and K anch are the axial stiffness of free and anchored length of the bolt for Case A,
respectively; L free and Lanch are the free and the anchored length of the bolt; H is a material
parameter which associates to the shear stiffness between the bolt and the rock mass; is a parameter
defined as:
0.5
H
= . (17)
E b . Ab
Substituting Eqs. (13) and (14) into Eq. (12), and then simplifying gives:
A K free .K anch
K rein = . (18)
K free + K anch
Note that Tmax in Eq. (9) is equal to T pre for Case A (because the ultimate force is T pre ), and
superscript A in above equations refers to Case A .
Combining of Eq. (10) and Eq. (18), the real force on the tunnel surface for Case A (or for pre-
tensioned force) can be obtained as:
A K s (K free + K anch )
Ts = T pre . (19)
K s K free + K s K anch + K free K anch
From Eq. (9), the axial force distribution along the bolt will be given as (Fig. 3a):
T A = T pre Trein (20a)
for 0 x < L free , and:
L L free 2 Lanch
T = Tideal ( anch )
A

(
T pre Ts
A
)
e free
1 + e 2 Lanch
e .x
T pre Ts (
A e e
1 + e 2 Lanch
) e . x

(20b)

for L free x < L free + Lanch , where Tideal ( anch ) is the bolt force in the anchored section for the ideal
condition obtained by the method presented in the section 2.1.

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 A SIMPLIFIED MODEL TO STUDY THE BEHAVIOR OF PRE-TENSIONED FULLY GROUTED BOLTS 539

Fig. 3. Loading mechanism of the bolt (a) for the first step and (b) for the second step.

For Case B, the bolt is tensioned should be computed for the first and the second steps(the steps
denoted by their superscripts in the following equations). The real force applied on the tunnel surface
by the first step can be calculated by a similar formulation as Eq. (19). However, for the second step
which is related to the movement of rock mass, it can be obtained by:
( 2) Ks ( 2)
Ts = T
( 2 ) max
, (21)
K s + K rein
where K rein ( 2 ) is the axial stiffness of the bolt section where it is grouted afterward pre-tensioning, and
can be calculated by:
H e L + e L
K rein = L ,
( 2)
(22)
e e L
where L is the entire length of the bolt, Tmax ( 2 ) is the maximum force of the bolt in second step that
can be obtained by subtracting the pre-tensioned force from the total maximum force in the ideal
condition.
The total real force on tunnel surface can be computed by:
(1) ( 2) K s (K free + K anch ) Ks ( 2)
Ts + Ts = T pre + T
( 2 ) max
(23)
K s K free + K s K anch + K free K anch K s + K rein
or
TsB =
Ks
(1)
T pre +
Ks
( 2)
(Tmax T pre ). (24)
K s + K rein K s + K rein
For the second step, the distribution of real force along the bolt for case B will be (see Fig. 3b):

T ( 2)
= Tideal
(2)
( (2)
Tmax Ts
( 2)
L
e +e
)
e L
L
.x ( 2)
e Tmax Ts
( 2)
( e L
L
e +e L

)
e . x (25)

for 0 x < L .
Therefore, summing of Eqs. (20a) and (25) gives the distribution of axial force along the bolt for
Case B:

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540 RANJBARNIA et al.

Treal = Tideal .T pre
e L
(Tmax T pre )(1 ) L L
.x
(
e + e 2 L e x ), (26)
e +e
where:
K free K anch
= , (27)
K s K free + K s K anch + K free K anch
Ks
= ( 2)
. (28)
K s + K rein
As grouted rockbolts are effectively confine the rock mass displacement in the plastic zone, this
paper does not address the initial anchored length which is assumed to be located in the elastic zone
around tunnel. Therefore, the force distribution in this length is not taken into account in Eq. (26).
On the other hand, the shear stress distribution along the bolt-grout interface can be obtained by:
1 dTreal
b = . (29)
d b dx
When the resultant shear stress exceeds the shear strength i.e. b > max , slippage may take place at
the interface of bolt-grout or in the rock mass(decoupling behavior).
In this condition, the shear distribution along decoupled length of bolt is constant, and thus the
axial force equal to
T = .d b . res (30)
for 0 x < Ldecoup , where res is the residual shear strength and Ldecoup is decoupling length of bolt.
However, the axial force in the coupled length can be approximately obtained by modifying Eq. (26)
such that it is rewritten with new boundary condition i.e.:
Treal = Tideal .T pre
(L Ldecoup )

(Tmax

T pre )(1 ) (L L )
e
e
+e

(L Ldecoup )
e (
.(x Ldecoup )
+ e 2 L ( x Ldecoup )
e ) (31)

decoup

is the axial force of bolt in x = Ldecoup for the ideal connection between
for Ldecoup x < L , where Tmax
the bolt and the rock mass.
3. EXAMPLES
First of all, the proposed theoretical solution is applied to the Kielder experimental tunnel [21, 19]
to evaluate and to compare the accuracy of its results with that of the actual performance of bolts
which is the back-analysis of in-situ measurements. These evaluations are the theoretical performance
of the proposed method in passive cases because no bolt in the Kielder experimental tunnel was pre-
tensioned.
The Kielder experimental tunnel was driven through four types of rock mass [21, 19]. The most
unstable rock mass is mudstone with the engineering properties shown in Table 1. In this rock mass,
eight sections with different support systems were constructed. One of the sections was left
unsupported while three of them included passive grouted rockbolts in which one of them was
supported by passive grouted rockbolts only, and the other two sections with a combination of bolts
and shotcrete (see Table 2 for engineering properties of support systems). As well, the longitudinal
strains were measured at three positions along the bolt to give axial force.

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 A SIMPLIFIED MODEL TO STUDY THE BEHAVIOR OF PRE-TENSIONED FULLY GROUTED BOLTS 541

Table 1. The coefficients in the linear approximation of A and F

Parameter Value
Axial compressive strength c , MPa 37

Radius of tunnel ri , m 1.65

In situ stress p 0 , MPa 2.56

Deformation modulus E, MPa 5000
Poissons ratio of rock mass 0.25
Strength parameter m, peak value 0.1
S, peak value 0.00008
Strength parameter m, residual value 0.05
S, residual value 0.00001
Dilation angle, deg 10
Table 2. Geometrical parameters of passive grouted rockbolts and shotcrete in the Kielder
experimental tunnel [21, 19]
Parameter Value
Fully grouted rockbolt length L, m 1.87
Youngs modulus of rockbolt E s , GPa 210

Bolt diameter d b , mm 25

Boreholes diameter d g , mm* 60

Distance between rockbolts S l S c , m2 0.90.9

Early age Youngs modulus of shotrete E shot , GPa 2

Shotcrete thickness, mm 140
Area of end plate, cm2 1212
Bolt head stiffness, MN/m** 320
*Assumed typical value
**Calculated value in shotcrete section

The distribution of axial force were calculated by the proposed approach together with the
measured values obtained from the instrumented bolts in rockbolted section (Fig. 4) and bolted with
shotcreted sections (Fig. 5). The results agree, in a satisfactory way, with the in-situ measurements.
According to the proposed model, a decoupling takes place in the interface of the rockbolt near the
tunnel surface i.e. about 36 cm in the rockbolted section and about 11 cm in rockbolted and shotcreted
sections. Accordingly; the predicted axial force near tunnel wall varies linearly.

Fig. 4. The predicted axial force along the rockbolt in the rockbolted section of the Kielder experimental tunnel. The end plate
cannot lay on rock mass completely and its force is null on tunnel surface. Comparison between in-situ measured data and the
calculated results of the proposed approach is satisfactory.

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542 RANJBARNIA et al.

Fig. 5. The predicted axial force along the rockbolt in the bolted with shotcreted section of the Kielder experimental tunnel.
Shotcrete layer behaves as a foundation of the end plate, and produces a complete planner contact to improve efficiency of bolt.
Comparison between in-situ measured data and the calculated results of the proposed approach is satisfactory.

The maximum axial force and the bolt head axial force are two important factors to design a tunnel
with rockbolts. The force at tunnel surface reflects the performance of the bolt to support tunnel. In
fact, it effectively confines tunnel convergence and rock mass deformation through applying pressure
on tunnel surface. The greater force at tunnel surface, the more efficiency of the bolt, and the more
stability of tunnel. On the other hand, the produced maximum axial force should not exceed the yield
force of the bolt or else the bolts fail to support tunnel. For the most optimum condition, the force of
bolt at tunnel surface is about 70% of the maximum load [6].
Reminding that, in above example, shotcrete forms a load bearing ring of large capacity and
contributes in confining the tunnel closure due to the appearance of an outward radial pressure. If it is
assumed that shotcrete lining is subjected to 1.5 mm displacement (final displacement of tunnel
surface is about 3 mm [22] while as mentioned above, support system is assumed to be installed at an
average of 1.5 mm tunnel surface displacement), it will apply about 0.17 MPa radial pressures to
tunnel surface. The output results of the theoretical solution and measured deformations data for both
supported sections are available in Table 3.
In continue, the parameters which influence distribution of the axial force along the bolt are
discussed. The investigated parameters are:
pre-tensioning load;
delay in installation;
the end tie stiffness;
bolt spacing.
In these evaluations, it is assumed that perfect constrained is provided for the bolt head in the
bolted section. The perfect constrained can be guaranteed if the plate embed on smooth and stiff seat
e.g. made from cemented layer.
Table 3. The output results of theoretical solution and measured data [22] in the Kielder experimental
tunnel for grouted rockbolted section and rockboltedshotcreted section

Passive grouted bolt section Passive grouted bolt + shotcrete section

Parameter
Measured Calculated Measured Calculated
Maximum force of
6.2 6.07 4.5 4.36
bolt , t
The force on tunne
1 0.95 3 2.95
surface, t
Decoupled length, cm 36 11
Neutral point
0.5 0.4 0.9 0.87
position , m

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 A SIMPLIFIED MODEL TO STUDY THE BEHAVIOR OF PRE-TENSIONED FULLY GROUTED BOLTS 543

Table 4. The output results of theoretical solution for sensitivity analyses of different parameters in the Kielder
experimental tunnel in grouted rockbolted section

The percent of yielding force as pre-tensioned load

Parameter* 0% 30% 50% 70%
Ratio of total force on tunnel surface to the
0.73 0.915 0.928 0.975
maximum force
Decoupled length, cm 15 10.5 8 4
Neutral point position, m 00.42 0.38 0.32 0.22
The percent of yielding force as pre-tensioned load**
Ratio of total force on tunner surface to the
0.677 0.888 0.963 0.982
maximum force
Decoupled length, cm 10 6 0 0
Neutral point position, m 0.37 0.32 0.28 0.20
The percent of total released deformation
20% 40% 60%
Ratio of total force on tunnel surface to the
0.929 0.968 1
maximum force
Decoupled length, cm 8 3 0
Neutral point position, m 0.29 0.25
The percent of complete constraint of bolt head
25% 50% 100%
Ratio of total force on tunnel surface to the
0.773 0.865 0.928
maximum force
Decoupled length, cm 23 17 8
Neutral point position, m 0.65 0.55 0.32
The value of rockbolt density
0.70.7 0.90.9 1.11.1
Ratio of total force on tunnel surface to the
0.868 0.929 0.873
maximum force
Decoupled length, cm 3.5 8.5 12
Neutral point position, m 0.23 0.32 0.467
*Ratio of produced pre-tensioned force on tunnel surface to pre-tensioned force is 0.855. Note: The required initial anchored length
of bolt is assumed 0.5 m in all examples located beyond ultimate plastic zone. **In bolted and shotcreted section.
3.1. The Influence of Pre-Tensioning Force
The previous example (Kielder experimental tunnel) is solved by different values of pre-tensioning
force. The axial forces were calculated in the rockbolted section (Fig. 6a and Table 4) and rockbolt
with shotcrete section (Fig. 6b and Table 4).
As observed, when the pre-tensioning force increases, the neutral points position moves towards
the tunnel surface along the bolt (between tunnel surface and L 6 ) and the maximum resultant axial
force also increases. However, the portion of the force developed by the rock mass movement is
reduced. This is due to the fact that, increasing the pre-tensioning force leads to much confinement of
rock mass and its convergence.
It should be noted that, as observed in Figs. 6), the gentler distribution of the force (i.e. the earlier
length from exponential length) along the bolt tends to have the smaller length as the pre-tensioned
force increases. Because, this length is associated to the plastic zone meanwhile the exponential
distribution is related to the anchored length (which is located in the elastic zone). In Figs. 6a, the
shotcrete layer contributes the bolts to support tunnel, and hence; the calculated plastic zone is
becoming smaller. Furthermore, the extension of the plastic zone in all of the previous and the
following Fig. 6 (except Fig. 6b) are a little greater than 1.8 m (1.852m) which was previously
pointed out by Hoek and Brown [19], however in the analyses, it was assumed that the bolt has
enough length so that its anchoring length is located in elastic zone, the figures are drawn for the 1.8
m length of bolt.

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544 RANJBARNIA et al.

Fig. 6. Theoretical performance of the pre-tensioned fully grouted bolts predicted by the proposed approach of this paper in the
Kielder experimental tunnel for different pre-tensioned forces in (a) rockbolted section; (b) in rockbolted and shotcreted section;
(c) for different released displacements in rockbolted section and (d) for different bolt head stiffnesses in rockbolted section.

3.2. The Influence of Delay in Installing Bolts

In passive grouted rockbolts, it has been confirmed if the bolts are not installed in time, the
maximum axial force decreases meaning that the supporting performance of the rock bolt has been
reduced significantly, and tunnel stability may not be secured. However, it is not so in the pre-
tensioned fully grouted bolts. Since, the ground pressure can be compensated through pre-tensioning
pressure.
As observed in Fig. 6c, like passive grouted bolts, having any delay in installation of pre-tensioned
fully grouted bolts leads the maximum force to decrease. However, decreasing bolt force does not
exactly mean the reduction of supporting performance of pre-tensioned bolt. This is because, for great
delay, the convergence of tunnel surface can be completely controlled through applying an
appropriate pre-tensioned force e.g. for 60% released in which the bolt force is constant meaning no
further convergence occurs after bolt installation.
However, when the released deformation is not great, applying any pre-tensioned force may not be
very essential. Furthermore, it may result in the yielding of bolt as well as the occurrence of
decoupling e.g. for 20% released displacement (Fig. 6c and Table 4) where the bolt force is close to
yield, and decoupled length is greater. Accordingly, the magnitude of pre-tensioned force should be
chosen so that it secures tunnel stability without losing its effectiveness e.g. by yielding or
decoupling.

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 A SIMPLIFIED MODEL TO STUDY THE BEHAVIOR OF PRE-TENSIONED FULLY GROUTED BOLTS 545

Fig. 7. Theoretical performance of the pre-tensioned fully grouted bolts in Kielder experimental tunnel for different rockbolt
densities in rockbolted section.
3.3. The Influence of Bolt Head Stiffness
As it can be seen from Fig. 6d and Table 4, influence of the bolt head stiffness is similar to the
effect of the pre-tensioning force. That is, as the corresponding stiffness increases, the neutral points
position moves towards the tunnel surface along the bolt and the maximum resultant axial force also
increases. However, the axial force distribution in the pick up length depends completely upon the
bolt head stiffness as against in the anchored length. Thus, the bolt head condition plays a great role
in the efficiency of bolts especially in the case of pre-tensioned rockbolts. This is because, it controls
the magnitude of initial pressure from the bolt to tunnel surface and influences tunnel stability e.g.
controlling the occurrence of decoupling probability. The more perfect constrained, the less
decoupling length of bolt.
3.3. The Influence of Rockbolt Density
As it can be expected, increasing the number of rockbolt per unit area of tunnel surface result in
the neutral points position moves towards the tunnel surface along the bolt (Fig. 7 and Table 4). This
is because, this parameter reflects the rock mass reinforcement, and hence; increasing it leads to much
confinement of rock mass. That is, the shear stress and so forth, the relative shear displacement
between rock bolt and rock mass reduces.
However, conversely to what is initially expected, the bolts take higher loads as the rockbolt
density increases. It is initially expected that increasing rockbolt density confines the convergence
greater, and thus; the bolt elongation and so forth, the resultant axial stress will be smaller. In other
words, each rockbolt portion for confining of rock mass convergence is reduced by increasing number
of reinforcements. Hence, it seems the bolt axial stress in the bolts is inversely proportional to
rockbolt density. But it is not all the fact.
If the bolt density reduces, large shear stress is induced within the rock mass near the vicinity of
the opening, and thus, a large relative shear displacement will be produced. That is, much portion of
shear stress is released in lower bolt density, and less stress will be transferred to the rock-bolt
interface. In other words, the influence zone of each rockbolt decreases by reducing bolt densities.
Therefore, the bolt elongation and so forth, the bolt force decreases.
Regarding the above discussion about supporting performance of the rockbolt, it is clear that
influence of rockbolt density has double sides. At one side, the greater rockbolt density induces
smaller shear stress between rock mass and rockbolt, and it enhances the supporting performance of
the rockbolt and so forth safety factor of tunnel stability. But on the other side, increasing rockbolt
density will induce greater resultant axial stress which may enlarge yielding probability especially in
pre-tensioned fully grouted rockbolt and may also diminish the supporting performance of the
rockbolt.

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546 RANJBARNIA et al.

Note that, the above discussion is not issue for the passive grouted rockbolts. This is because, they
are not pre-loaded and hence, the resultant axial force is smaller than those of pre-tensioned types i.e.
yielding of bolt is rare in the passive grouted rockbolts.
4. DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
An analytical model was presented to obtain distribution of the axial force along the pre-tensioned
fully grouted rockbolts for coupling and decoupling behavior. The theoretical prediction of axial force
in the passive cases was comparable to the in-situ measured data. The magnitude of pre-tensioning
force, delay in installing of bolts, stiffness of bolt head, and rockbolt density were considered as
parameters to slightly perform the sensitive analysis to obtain the practical engineering results.
The results show that pre-tensioning of bolts increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the bolts
properly e.g. preventing the occurrence of decoupling, compensating delay in bolt installation, and
etc. However, the pre-tensioning should be applied with high caution, or else the bolts will fail. This
is because, some parameters such as increasing either bolt density or pre-tensioned force which
improves the bolt performance may result in yielding of the bolts.
APPENDIX: CALCULATION OF THE AXIAL STIFFNESSES OF INITIAL ANCHORED LENGTH AND
FULL LENGTH OF GROUTED ROCKBOLT
As the pre-tensioned force is applied, the free and the anchored length of the bolt are tensioned.
The equilibrium of the axial force in the anchored length is:
T + dT = T + . .d b .dx, (A1)
where T is the force in the anchored length, d b is diameter of bolt, and is the shear stress on
reinforcement perimeter which can be obtained by:
= K ini .v, (A2)
where v is the relative displacement between the rock mass and the bolt, K ini is the initial shear
stiffness between the bolt and the rock mass.
Substituting Eq. (A2) into Eq. (A1) and then taking derivation gives:
d 2T
2T = 0, (A3)
dx 2
where
dv T
= , (A4)
dx Eb . Ab
0.5 0.5
K .d H
= ini b = , (A5)
E b Ab Eb Ab
Ab and Eb are the area section and the elastic modulus of the bolt, respectively.
The solution of above differential equation is:
T = C1e . x + C 2 e . x , (A6)
C1 and C 2 are constants obtained by the following boundary conditions:
at x = L free T = Trein = (Tmax Ts )
and at x = L free + Lanch v = 0,
where L free is the free length of the bolt which is not grouted in pre-loading process, Lanch is the
initially anchored length of the bolt securing the anchoring capacity against pre-loading.

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 A SIMPLIFIED MODEL TO STUDY THE BEHAVIOR OF PRE-TENSIONED FULLY GROUTED BOLTS 547

Note that Tmax is equal to T pre for Case A (and also for the first step of Case B). Because, the
maximum force is T pre for this case.
Substituting C1 and C 2 into Eq. (A.3)and then calculating at x = L free gives the magnitude of
displacement of the bolt in anchored section i.e.
.Trein e L anch
e Lanch
vanch = ,
H e Lanch
(A7)
+ e Lanch
therefore:
H e Lanch + e Lanch
K anch = , (A8)
e Lanch e Lanch
K anch is the axial stiffness of bolt in the anchored section.
Performing the same process for the second step of Case B with the following boundary condition:
T = Trein = (Tmax T pre ) Ts( 2)
( 2)
at x=0
and at x=L v=0
gives:
H e L + e L
K rein ( 2)
= , (A9)
e L e L
where Tmax is the force on the bolt head in the ideal connection between the bolt and the rock mass,
and Ts( 2 ) is the force on the bolt head applied on the tunnel surface in real condition. Superscript (2)
refers to the second step of the bolt tensioning which is due to rock mass movement towards tunnel.

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