Analysis and numerical calculation of a coupled creep and strain-softening model for soft rock tunnels.

Proper mechanical model selection is critical in tunnel support design and stability analysis, especially to reflect the creep and strain-softening behavior of soft rock. We present a coupled nonlinear Burgers strain-softening (NBSS) model and numerical calculation method to investigate the coupled effects of creep and strain-softening of soft rock tunnels. The nonlinear elastic-viscous model is used to simulate the steady creep behavior of mudstone, and the nonlinear viscoplastic strain-softening model is used to simulate the accelerated creep behavior and post-peak strength attenuation behavior.