Theoretical analysis on stress distribution characteristics around a shallow buried cylinder Karst cave containing filling in limestone strata

Due to the rapid urban development and growing terrestrial occupation, the dimensions and speed of engineering construction have accelerated in the mantled Karst region in China. Meanwhile, ground collapse is a common engineering problem, and a quantitative measure of the spatial characteristics of stress distribution around a shallowly buried Karst cave is urgently needed. The chief objective is to research the spatial attributes of stress distribution around a shallowly buried cylindrical Karst cave containing filling in limestone strata. Firstly, considering the characteristics of the Karst landform in China, gravity, external loads, and internal filling, a three-dimensional model was established. Concurrently, researching available work and the basic theory of elasticity, the stress boundary conditions are determined. Subsequently, the general solution for stress components was obtained using the Love displacement method. The diagram characteristics of each stress component are summarized, the radius ( r ), the depth ( z ), the internal radius stress ( p i ), and vertical uniform distributed loads ( p z ) are four influencing factors of radial stress and circumferential stress, and the figures are comparable to a paraboloid. The vertical stress curve is linear, and its value increasing with the change of depth ( z ) and vertical uniform distributed loads ( p z ). For shear stress, radius ( r ) is the influencing factor, in addition to the diagram of shear stress is nonlinear. Finally, to prove the rationality of the general solution, a numerical simulation was carried out based on practical engineering, and the maximum error was less than 5%. Thus, the analytical solution could represent the spatial characteristics of stress distribution around a shallowly buried cylindrical Karst cave containing filling in limestone strata. As a result, the research provides a scientific basis for the construction and operation of infrastructure in the mantled Karst region in China.