Strata Behaviors and Rock Burst–Inducing Mechanism under the Coupling Effect of a Hard, Thick Stratum and a Normal Fault
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 18, Issue 2
Abstract
The study of strata behaviors of hard, thick stratum (HTS) and faults in underground coal mines is significant to understanding and predicting the mechanism of rock bursts. By considering the occurrence of a HTS and a normal fault (NF), the strata behaviors and rock burst–inducing mechanism were studied using the universal distinct element code (UDEC) numerical simulation and field observation. The results show that prior to failure, a HTS continues to suspend and the lower strata breaks and moves easily because of fault cutting and fault activation. This process induces microseismic events accompanied by the release of a small amount of energy that concentrates near the fault and beneath the HTS. However, the mining stress concentrates and strain energy accumulates in the surrounding rocks because of the large-scale suspension of the HTS, thereby providing sufficient energy for rock bursts to occur. When the HTS suspension increases to the ultimate span, the HTS breaks and slips along the fault plane. Moreover, the fault-plane stress varies notably and the fault slipping is clear. These conditions indicate that the fault activates and destabilizes violently. A large amount of strain energy is released because of the HTS failure and fault slipping, easily inducing violent rock bursts. Hence, the mechanism that induces rock bursts can be divided into two stages: the accumulation of strain energy prior to HTS failure and the release of strain energy because of the coupling effect of HTS failure and fault slipping. In particular, more attention should be paid to the latter stage.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This paper was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 51574155 and 51374139), Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (Grant ZR2013EEM018), Scientific Research Innovation Team Support Plan of Shandong University of Science and Technology and Tai’an Science and Technology Development Plan of Shandong Province (Grant 2015ZC1058), Science and Technology Innovation Fund of College of the Mining and Safety Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology (Grant KYKC17008), and State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology (Grant SKLGDUEK1725).
References
Alshkane, Y. M., Marshall, A. M., and Stace, L. R. (2017). “Prediction of strength and deformability of an interlocked blocky rock mass using UDEC.” J. Rock Mech. Geotech. Eng., 9(3), 531–542.
Bischoff, M., Cete, A., Fritschen, R., and Meier, T. (2010). “Coal mining induced seismicity in the Ruhr area, Germany.” Pure Appl. Geophys., 167(Feb), 63–75.
Cao, Y., He, D., and Glick, D. C. (2001). “Coal and gas outbursts in footwalls of reverse faults.” Int. J. Coal Geol., 48(Dec), 47–63.
Chen, X., Li, W., and Yan, X. (2012). “Analysis on rock burst danger when fully-mechanized caving coal face passed fault with deep mining.” Saf. Sci., 50(4), 645–648.
Dewandel, B., Lachassagne, P., Zaidi, F. K., and Chandra, S. (2011). “A conceptual hydrodynamic model of a geological discontinuity in hard rock aquifers: Example of a quartz reef in granitic terrain in South India.” J. Hydrol., 405, 474–487.
Domański, B., and Gibowicz, S. J. (2008). “Comparison of source parameters estimated in the frequency and time domains for seismic events at the Rudna Copper Mine, Poland.” Acta Geophys., 56(2), 324–343.
FLAC3D [Computer software]. Itasca Consulting Group, Minneapolis.
Herget, G. (1987). “Stress assumptions for underground excavations in the Canadian shield.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. Geomech. Abstr., 24(1), 95–97.
Hofmann, G. F., and Scheepers, L. J. (2015). “Simulating fault slip areas of mining induced seismic tremors using static boundary element numerical modeling.” Trans. Inst. Min. Metall. A, 120(1), 53–64.
Itasca Consulting Group. (2005). UDEC: Universal distinct element code user’s guide (Version 4.0), Itasca Consulting Group, Minneapolis.
Ji, H. G., Ma, H. S., Wang, J. A., Zhang, Y. H., and Cao, H. (2012). “Mining disturbance effect and mining arrangements analysis of near-fault mining in high tectonic stress region.” Safety Science, 50(4), 649–654.
Jiang, F.-X., et al. (2014). “Analysis of rock burst mechanism in extra-thick coal seam controlled by huge thick conglomerate and thrust fault.” J. China Coal Soc., 39(7), 1191–1196 (in Chinese).
Jiang, J.-q., Wu, Q.-l., and Qu, H. (2015). “Characteristic of mining stress evolution and activation of the reverse fault below the hard-thick strata.” J. China Coal Soc., 40(2), 267–277 (in Chinese).
Jiang, L. S., Sainoki, A., Mitri, H. S., Ma, N., Liu, H., and Hao, Z. (2016). “Influence of fracture-induced weakening on coal mine gateroad stability.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 88(Oct), 307–317.
Jiang, L. S., Zhang, P. P., Chen, L. J., Hao, Z., Sainoki, A., Mitri, H. S., and Wang, Q. B. (2017a). “Numerical approach for goaf-side entry layout and yield pillar design in fractured ground conditions.” Rock Mech. Rock Eng., 50(11), 3049–3071.
Jiang, Y., Zhao, Y., Wang, H., and Zhu, J. (2017b). “A review of mechanism and prevention technologies of coal bumps in China.” J. Rock Mech. Geotech. Eng., 9(1), 180–194.
Kaiser, P. K., McCreath, D. R., and Tannant, D. D. (1996). Canadian rockburst support handbook: 1996, Canadian Mining Industry Research Organization, Sudbury, Canada.
Li, L., Yang, T., Liang, Z., Zhu, W., and Tang, C. (2011). “Numerical investigation of groundwater outbursts near faults in underground coal mines.” Int. J. Coal Geol., 85(Mar), 276–288.
Li, T., Mu, Z., Liu, G, Du, J., and Lu, H. (2016). “Stress spatial evolution law and rockburst danger induced by coal mining in fault zone.” Int. J. Min. Sci. Technol., 26(3), 409–415.
Liu, H., Li, J., Jiang, L. S., and Fan, L. (2012). “Research on the relationship between the thickness of the hard strata and the roof caving hidden danger level.” Adv. Mater. Processes, 557, 813–817.
Liu, Y.-D., Zhang, D.-S., Wang, H.-S., Ma, L.-Q., and Lu, X.-M. (2006). “Simulation analysis of coal mining with top-coal caving under hard-and-thick strata.” J. China Univ. Min. Technol., 16(2), 110–114.
Lu, C.-P., Liu, Y., Wang, H.-Y., and Liu, P.-F. (2016). “Microseismic signals of double-layer hard and thick igneous strata separation and fracturing.” Int. J. Coal Geol., 160, 28–41.
Ma, F.-h., Sun, L., and Li, D. (2011). “Numerical simulation analysis of covering rock strata as mining steep-inclined coal seam under fault movement.” Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China, 21(S3), 556–561.
Meng, F. Z., et al. (2017). “Experimental study of factors affecting fault slip rockbursts in deeply buried hard rock tunnels.” Bull. Eng. Geol. Environ., 76(3), 1167–1182.
Nie, L., Zhang, M., and Jian, H. (2013). “Analysis of surface subsidence mechanism and regularity under the influence of seism and fault.” Nat. Hazards, 66(2), 773–780.
Rutqvist, J., Rinaldi, A. P., Cappa, F., and Moridis, G. J. (2015). “Modeling of fault activation and seismicity by injection directly into a fault zone associated with hydraulic fracturing of shale-gas reservoirs.” J. Pet. Sci. Eng., 127(Mar), 377–386.
Sainoki, A., and Mitri, H. S. (2014a). “Dynamic behaviour of mining-induced fault slip.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 66(Feb), 19–29.
Sainoki, A., and Mitri, H. S. (2014b). “Dynamic modelling of fault-slip with Barton’s shear strength model.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 67(Apr), 155–163.
Sainoki, A., and Mitri, H. S. (2014c). “Methodology for the interpretation of fault-slip seismicity in a weak shear zone.” J. Appl. Geophys., 110(Nov), 126–134.
Sainoki, A., and Mitri, H. S. (2015a). “Evaluation of fault-slip potential due to shearing of fault asperities.” Can. Geotech. J., 52(10), 1417–1425.
Sainoki, A., and Mitri, H. S. (2015b). “Influence of undulating fault surface properties on its seismic waves during fault-slip.” Int. J. Min. Reclam. Environ., 30(1), 1–12.
Shen, B. T., et al. (2011). “FRACOD modeling of rock fracturing and permeability change in excavation damaged zones.” Int. J. Geomech., 302–313.
Stacey, T. R. (2011). “Support of excavations subjected to dynamic (rockburst) loading.” 12th ISRM Congress on Rock Mechanics Congress: Harmonising Rock Engineering and the Environment, Q. Qian and Y. Zhou, eds., CRC, Boca Raton, FL, 137–145.
Swift, G. (2014). “Relationship between joint movement and mining subsidence.” Bull. Eng. Geol. Environ., 73(1), 163–176.
Tan, F. Q., Zan, D. F., Zhou, N., and Deng, X. J. (2011). “The study and application of the movement law of the thick conglomerate layer during the face crossing faults.” China Coal, 37(9), 48–51 (in Chinese).
Wang, T. (2012). “Mechanism of coal bumps induced by fault reactivation.” Ph.D. thesis, China Univ. of Mining and Technology, Beijing (in Chinese).
Wang, Y. (2010). “Discrete element analysis on the water proof pillar to coal seam mining goaf beside large fault.” Ph.D. thesis, Hefei Univ. of Technology, Hefei, China (in Chinese).
Wang, W., et al. (2015). “Fracture failure analysis of hard-thick sandstone roof and its controlling effect on gas emission in underground ultra-thick coal extraction.” Eng. Fail. Anal., 54, 150–162.
Wang, L., Cheng, Y.-P., Xu, C., An, F.-h., Jin, K., and Zhang, X.-l. (2013). “The controlling effect of t hick-hard igneous rock on pressure relief gas drainage and dynamic disasters in outburst coal seams.” Nat. Hazards, 66(2), 1221–1241.
Wang, P., Jiang, J. Q., Zhang, P. P., and Wu, Q. L. (2016). “Breaking process and mining stress evolution characteristics of a high-position hard and thick stratum.” Int. J. Min. Sci. Technol., 26(4), 563–569.
Yong, Y., Tu, S., Zhang, X., and Li, B. (2015). “Dynamic effect and control of key strata break of immediate roof in fully mechanized mining with large mining height.” Shock Vib. 2015, 1–11.
Zhang, D. F., and Chen, Y. (2013). “Research and application of roof activity regulation when fully-mechanized caving face passing through fault.” China Coal, 39(4), 56–59 (in Chinese).
Zhao, X., and Lyu, J. (2015). “Mechanical analysis of coal and rock dynamic instability by thick and hard roof thrust fault.” Saf. Coal Mines, 46(1), 198–201 (in Chinese).
Zhou, H., Meng, F. Z., Zhang, C., Hu, D., Yang, F., and Lu, J. (2015). “Analysis of rockburst mechanisms induced by structural planes in deep tunnels.” Bull. Eng. Geol. Environ., 74(4), 1435–1451.
Zhu, W. C., and Wei, C. H. (2011). “Numerical simulation on mining-induced water inrushes related to geologic structures using a damage-based hydromechanical model.” Environ. Earth Sci., 62(1), 43–54.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 18 • Issue 2 • February 2018
Copyright
© 2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 2, 2016
Accepted: Jul 31, 2017
Published online: Nov 16, 2017
Published in print: Feb 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Apr 16, 2018
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.