Amirkabir University of Technology Amirkabir Journal of Civil Engineering 2588-297X 54 4 2022 06 22 The Effect of Linearization of Hoek-Brown Criterion on the Bearing Capacity of Rock Masses using the Upper Bound Method of Limit Analysis The Effect of Linearization of Hoek-Brown Criterion on the Bearing Capacity of Rock Masses using the Upper Bound Method of Limit Analysis 1341 1360 4439 10.22060/ceej.2021.19427.7170 FA Saeed Shamloo M.Sc., Amirkabir University of Technology Meysam Imani Assistant Professor, Amirkabir University of Technology 0000-0003-1449-5262 Journal Article 2020 12 28 One of the most important issues in the calculation of the bearing capacity of rock masses is the method of application of the rock mass failure criterion. The Hoek-Brown failure criterion is the most useful criterion in practical applications. For applying this criterion in the upper bound method of limit analysis, one should linearize it using the single or multi-tangential technique. In this paper, the method of linearization of the Hoek-Brown criterion is investigated to determine the bearing capacity of embedded footings on rock masses. Since different stress levels have existed in the rock mass body, the multi-tangential technique results in the best approximation of the nonlinear Hoek-Brown criterion. As a novelty for the current research, the embedment depth of the footing is considered directly in the upper bound formulations instead of replacing it with an equivalent surcharge. The obtained results show that considering the embedment depth of footings along with using the multi-tangential technique result in increasing the accuracy of the results. In the methods which consider the embedment depth as an equivalent surcharge, the extension of the failure lines through the rock mass above the footing base cannot be considered. One of the most important issues in the calculation of the bearing capacity of rock masses is the method of application of the rock mass failure criterion. The Hoek-Brown failure criterion is the most useful criterion in practical applications. For applying this criterion in the upper bound method of limit analysis, one should linearize it using the single or multi-tangential technique. In this paper, the method of linearization of the Hoek-Brown criterion is investigated to determine the bearing capacity of embedded footings on rock masses. Since different stress levels have existed in the rock mass body, the multi-tangential technique results in the best approximation of the nonlinear Hoek-Brown criterion. As a novelty for the current research, the embedment depth of the footing is considered directly in the upper bound formulations instead of replacing it with an equivalent surcharge. The obtained results show that considering the embedment depth of footings along with using the multi-tangential technique result in increasing the accuracy of the results. In the methods which consider the embedment depth as an equivalent surcharge, the extension of the failure lines through the rock mass above the footing base cannot be considered. https://ceej.aut.ac.ir/article_4439_7c5845cea683556d813ebd657e8cca01.pdf