LAUSR

Experimental studies on tunneling and other kinds of underground engineering using similar materials are an important technique for investigating relevant problems in civil engineering. Compared with case studies in real-world engineering construction, laboratory experiments have three distinctive characteristics: high maneuverability of the procedure, high accuracy of the monitoring data, and high repeatability of the experiments. Using this experimental method, numerous constitutive models of rock or soil material have been established, construction techniques and processes have been optimized, the principles and characteristics of rock deformation and failure have been studied, and various special conditions have been simulated. This paper presents a review of selected geomechanical experimental apparatus and techniques. First, five multiaxial loading techniques for similar-material experimental equipment are introduced, and the associated loading methods, suitable working conditions, and data analysis are illustrated. Second, the material selection and ratio of rock mass are discussed, and the data acquisition elements of model testing and a variety of monitoring methods are presented. Third, the rationality of the similar-material experimental techniques is investigated, several problems in excavation process similarity are examined, and potential research in simulating structurally controlled rock burst under hard rock conditions is discussed.