Iraqi National Journal of Earth Sciences

Abstract

This paper tackles engineering properties of rocks and stress distribution
around the assumed tunnel at the proposed site of the Sheikh Ibrahim Tunnel,
South Jazirah Irrigation Project, North of Iraq. A full description has been obtained
depending on available records, that taken from the executed soil investigation
reports of the project. The investigations were done in two stages: the first was the
field investigation and the second was the laboratory. The rock mass in Sheikh
Ibrahim tunnel mainly consists of evaporite, carbonate, and clastic rocks (marl,
sandstone and claystone). Engineering properties have been determined and
evaluated through (13) boreholes as previously mentioned in the records and then
to establish the preliminary design of the tunnel. The data of (129) rock samples,
that conclude laboratory testing (mechanical, dynamical, physical) and field testing
( study of fractures and permeability test), have been used in stress and distribution
analysis around the assumed 10 meters diameter tunnel by using the two
dimensional finite element analysis program.