Very long-term loading of roof beams in limestone caves
Abstract
Fixed-end beams in limestone caves exhibit very large deflections that result from tensile crack propagation followed by compressive failure. Two different models for time dependence of compressive strength based on subcritical crack propagation yield nearly identical results and are effectively independent of initial flaw size. These models are consistent with compressive failure in the cave beams, and observed deflections suggest that this compressive failure is by splitting, causing delamination of the beams.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Grouting
Rheology
and Soil Mechanics
Structural Behavior of Reinforced Concrete
Civil and Geotechnical Engineering Research
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Rock Mechanics
- Publisher
- CRC Press
- Pages
- 789–794
- Publication date
- 18 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter