Estado del arte sobre métodos empíricos y numéricos de análisis de estabilidad de cuevas: aplicación en tubo de lava de Al-Badia, en Harrat Al-Shaam, Jordania

Abstract

CONDITION FOR PUBLICATION OF PROJECT. Empirical and numerical methodologies for the geomechanical assessment of underground excavations have evolved in recent years to adapt to the geotechnical and structural conditions of natural caves, enabling stability evaluation and ensuring safe conditions for speleological exploration. This study analyzes the evolution of the state of the art of these techniques worldwide, assessing their reliability and application context, and identifying the most suitable methodologies for determining the stability of the Al-Badia lava tube. The research was conducted through bibliographic analysis and rock mass characterization using empirical geomechanical classifications. Subsequently, the finite element numerical method was applied to compare the obtained results and model the stress-strain behavior of the cavity. The results allowed the classification of the Al-Badia lava tube into stable, transition, and unstable zones, using empirical support charts and determining the safety factors of the surrounding rock mass. Keywords: Geomechanical characterization; structural stability; rock collapse, lava tuve