Excavation analysis of vertical shaft in sedimentary rock at great depth, taking into account variation in rock physical properties with depth

Ogawa, Toyokazu*; Kinomura, Koji*; Aoki, Tomoyuki*; Yamamoto, Takuya*; Sanada, Hiroyuki; Matsui, Hiroya 

Japan Atomic Energy Agency is planning to conduct researches into geological disposal of high-level radioactive wastes in the Horonobe site located in Hokkaido, Japan. As part of the underground research facilities, two 500m-long vertical shafts have been constructed in tertiary sedimentary rocks since 2005. The surrounding rocks are known to exhibit strain-softening characteristics, necessitating appropriate modelling in the stability analysis. In addition the rocks physical properties often vary with depth. This study shows the results of three-dimensional numerical analysis of the ventilation shaft, taking the construction sequence and the variation of rock properties with depth into consideration.