Analysis of plastic zones in surrounding rocks around a circular tunnel considering the effect of intermediate principal stress and heterogeneity

Based on a modified Mohr-Coulomb criterion with a non-uniform coefficient, a calculation method of plastic zone boundary of surrounding rocks in a circular tunnel in non-uniform stress field is established. Both the effects of intermediate principal stress and heterogeneity are studied. With the increase of the intermediate principal stress, the plastic zone size of the surrounding rocks will decrease first and then increase. Lateral pressure coefficient has an effect on the shape of the plastic zone. With the increase of lateral pressure coefficient, the plastic zone gradually becomes uniform, and the failure of surrounding rock develops upward and downward from both sides. As non-uniform coefficient increases, the material is more uniform and the effect of intermediate principal stress on the plastic zone is less significant. If the effect of intermediate principal stress is not taken into account, the calculation results tend to be consistent with results calculated by the Mohr-Coulomb criterion, which are considered to be conservative