Abstract:According to the mechanical characteristics of the loading system of the underlying cave of subgrade, the structure system is simplified as a flat arch model with fixed hinged supports at both ends. Based on the catastrophe theory, the energy potential function and bifurcation set equation of flat arch are derived, and the equilibrium surface of catastrophe model of underlying cave roof of subgrade is established. According to the conditions of sudden instability of karst cave roof, the method to determine the ultimate bearing capacity and the minimum safe thickness of underlying cave roof of subgrade is proposed. The five influencing factors of the cave roof thickness h, the cave roof span I, the cave roof loss height f, the elastic modulus E of rock stratum and the cave roof overlying load q are analyzed. The following conclusions show that the ultimate bearing capacity of karst cave roof increases with the increase of cave roof thickness, the increase of cave roof height loss and the increase of rock elastic modulus of rock stratum, and decreases with the increase of cave roof span and cave roof overlying load.