Anisotropic characteristics and creep model for thin-layered rock under true triaxial compression

The failure phenomenon of thin-layered rock tunnels not only exhibits asymmetric spatial characteristics, but also significant time-dependent characteristics under high in-situ stress, which is attributed to the time-dependent fracture of thin-layered rocks. This paper conducted a series of true triaxial creep compression tests on typical thin-layered rock siliceous slate with acoustic emission technique to reveal its anisotropic time-dependent fracture characteristics. The anisotropic long-term strength, creep fracturing process, and fracture orientation characteristics of thin-layered rocks under different loading angles ( β, ω ) and intermediate principal stress were summarized. A three-dimensional (3D) non-linear visco-plastic creep model for thin-layered rock was developed to simulate its anisotropic creep behavior. The time-dependent fracturing of rocks during true triaxial creep loading is reflected through the change of equivalent strain based on an improved Euler iteration method. By constructing the plastic potential function and overstress index related to loading angles and stress state, the anisotropic time-dependent fracturing process and propagation of thin-layered rocks under different loading angles and intermediate principal stress are expounded. The model was validated experimentally to show it can reflect the long-term strength and creep deformation characteristics of thin-layered rocks under true triaxial compression.