Abstract:

Dissipative structure and entropy change theory are applied to analyze the nonlinear process of stress change and displacement in surrounding rock and entropy increase is used to explain the mechanism of support stabilizing surrounding rock. Energy is released and entropy is decreased when the displacement of rocks occurs. If negentropy is more than the entropy of surrounding rock system, the entropy increase of system is negative. Surrounding rock will be developed from disorder to order and even instability. For keeping the stability of surrounding rock, rock bolts and shotcrete are used in surrounding rock system as high entropy substance to improve the entropy of system, which also decrease the difference of strain energy between before and after excavation.

Key words: underground engineering  , excavation  , support  , dissipative structure  , entropy change