Comparative study of excavation schemes for underground plant caverns based on in-situ stress field inversion

ZHAO Chunlei; ZHANG Yanxin; LI Zishuo; WANG Qiang

doi:10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2025081

Volume 31 Issue 6

Dec. 2025

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ZHAO C L，ZHANG Y X，LI Z S，et al.，2025. Comparative study of excavation schemes for underground plant caverns based on in-situ stress field inversion[J]. Journal of Geomechanics，31（6）：1255−1267 doi: 10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2025081

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Comparative study of excavation schemes for underground plant caverns based on in-situ stress field inversion

doi: 10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2025081

ZHAO Chunlei^{1, 2
,},
ZHANG Yanxin^{1, 2
,
,},
LI Zishuo^{1, 2
,},
WANG Qiang^{1, 2
,}

1.
College of Architectural Engineering and Mechanics, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, Hebei, China
2.
Key Laboratory of Green Construction and Intelligent Maintenance for Civil Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, Hebei, China

Funds: This research is financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province of China (Grant No. D2022203005).

More Information

Received: 2025-07-06
Revised: 2025-11-05
Accepted: 2025-11-17

Available Online: 2025-12-03

Published: 2025-12-28

Abstract

Abstract

Objective As the core hub of pumped storage power station projects, the stability of the surrounding rock of underground powerhouses directly affects engineering safety and lifecycle benefits. The control of its excavation poses a key challenge for the safe and efficient construction of such stations. To ensure safe excavation and rational support design, three excavation sequences were designed and comprehensively compared using the entropy-weighted Topsis method. The results provide a theoretical reference for the design and optimization of excavation schemes for underground powerhouses. Methods Based on geological survey data and underground powerhouse designdocumentation, a three-dimensional geological model was established. Initial in-situ stress equilibrium was achieved through inversion of the stress field. Three excavation sequences were simulated to observe the mechanical responses of the surrounding rock in terms of principal stress, displacement, and plastic zone distribution. Using raw indicator data obtained from the simulations, the entropy weight method was applied to assign weights to these three key indicators, enabling an objective evaluation of surrounding rock stability. The Topsis evaluation system was then used to calculate the relative closeness degree of each scheme, thereby identifying the optimal excavation sequence. Results A case study of the Daya River Pumped Storage Power Station showed that Scheme I outperformed the other two schemes in overall excavation effectiveness: (1) The surrounding rock experienced lower compressive stress with reduced susceptibility to tensile failure, and the stress distribution was more uniform; (2) displacement control was the most effective, with clear and consistent displacement trends; (3) the plastic zone developed within the smallest range, indicating a superior self-stabilizing capacity of the surrounding rock. The calculated relative closeness degrees were 0.82 for Scheme I, significantly higher than those for Scheme II (0.36) and Scheme III (0.41), confirming Scheme I as the optimal excavation scheme. Conclusion The entropy weights assigned to stress, displacement, and plastic zone distribution indicate that displacement, particularly in the horizontal direction, plays a dominant role during construction. Subsequent support design and excavation optimization should emphasize detailed planning to ensure surrounding rock stability. The comprehensive scoring of each scheme via the entropy-weighted Topsis method reduces empirical analogy errors caused by overreliance on any single indicator, providing a more intuitive and reliable comparison. The evaluation results align well with the mechanical response patterns observed during excavation simulation. Significance This study provides a basis for subsequent support design and construction excavation, while also offering valuable theoretical reference and a practical case for the design of excavation schemes under similar complex geological conditions.
- in-situ stress measurement,
- numerical simulation inversion,
- entropy weight–Topsis method,
- comparative selection of excavation schemes

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