Sensitivity Analysis in the Estimation of Mechanical Parameters of Engineering Rock Mass Based on the Hoek–Brown Criterion

Geological strength index , disturbance factor ( D ), material constant , and uniaxial compressive strength of the intact rock are essential input parameters of the Hoek–Brown criterion. Mechanical parameters of the engineering rock mass, including elastic modulus , cohesion , and internal friction angle estimated by the H–B criterion, and the predicted excavation response of surrounding rock, including the displacement and excavation damage zone based on the MPs, are of high relevance with the four IPs of the H–B criterion. In this paper, the deep and huge underground cavern excavated in basalt from a hydropower station under construction in the southwest of China is used to analyse the sensitivity of the IPs on the MPs, the displacement, and EDZ of the surrounding rock mass. Firstly, the H–B criterion is applied to estimate the MPs, among which the IPs are obtained from a series of in situ and laboratory tests, including borehole camera observation, wave velocity test, uniaxial and triaxial compression tests, and so on. Secondly, the sensitivity relationships between IPs, MPs, and prediction results of displacement and EDZ are established and described quantitatively by the sensitivity factor ( s i ). Results show that the MPs of the rock mass are more sensitive to and and are high-sensitivity parameters affecting the displacement and EDZ. Finally, the variations in the estimated MPs and associated prediction results concerning excavation response, which are caused by the uncertainties in the determination of the IPs, are further quantified. This study provides a straightforward assessment for the variability of the rock mass parameters estimated by the H–B criterion. It also gives a valuable reference to similar geotechnical engineering for the determination of rock mass parameters in the preliminary design.