Excavation-induced stress release and ground improvement depth in normally consolidated rock, transitional rock, and soil media

Abstract Excavation-induced stress-release governs the mechanical response of geomaterials and may influence ground deformation and foundation performance beneath excavation bases. Although the concept of normal consolidation is commonly associated with soils, stress-states governed primarily by present overburden conditions may also occur in transitional rock and rock masses. This study presents a simplified analytical framework for evaluating excavation-induced stress redistribution and for de