Probabilistic performance-based approaches to the static and seismic assessment of rock cavities. (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Silva, Filomena; Scotto di Santolo, Anna
• Is Part Of: International journal of rock mechanics and mining sciences. Volume 112(2018)
• Page Start: 354
• Page End: 368
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: Rock cavity -- Performance-based seismic assessment -- Modal analysis -- 3-D numerical analysis -- Resilience; Rock mechanics -- Periodicals; Soil mechanics -- Periodicals; Mining engineering -- Periodicals; Roches, Mécanique des -- Périodiques; Sols, Mécanique des -- Périodiques; Technique minière -- Périodiques; 624.151305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2018.10.028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1365-1609

Abstract

Abstract: This paper demonstrates the applicability of a probabilistic performance-based approach to assess the stability of rock cavities under gravity and seismic loads, with reference to the case study of a Neapolitan room and pillar cave, located inside a rocky hill. An advanced 3D model was generated, importing in the numerical code the data acquired during a laser scanning-based geometrical survey. The careful reproduction of the on-site geometry was found to improve the reliability of the results of static and dynamic analyses; because (i) the load eccentricity induced by the irregular shape of the hill reduces the stability of pillars, (ii) the localization of the roof crack depends on the shape of the ceiling, and, furthermore, (iii) the global dynamic behaviour of the hill is affected by topographic effects. The safety factors of rooms and pillars computed after the seismic analyses were compared to their values before earthquake to highlight earthquake-induced modifications of the static equilibrium under gravity loads. Some considerations on the resilience of the cavity are reported based on the latter comparison. Highlights: Influence of geometry on numerical results to assess the room and pillar stability. Modal analysis applied to identify the vibration frequencies of hills. Seismic assessment of historical cavities under the maximum historical earthquake. Performance-based procedure to assess the stability of room-and-pillar rock caves. Evaluation of the post-earthquake resilience of historical rock cavities.