Energy Accumulation Characteristics and Induced Rockburst Mechanism of Roadway Surrounding Rock under Multiple Mining Disturbances: A Case Study

Abstract

The source of energy release when rockburst occurs must be determined to understand the mechanisms underlying disaster formation and achieve accurate prevention and control. Although previous research has systematically investigated the energy source underlying rockburst from different perspectives, issues such as an unclear understanding of the energy accumulation state and inaccurate positioning of the energy release source remain to be resolved. In this study, the “1·17” major roof accident in the Danshuigou Mine was used as the background to evaluate and analyze the stress environment and energy accumulation characteristics of roadway surrounding rock under multiple mining disturbances, and the results showed that a super energy package occurs in the surrounding rock of the mining roadway. Subsequently, the evolution process of energy in this region and the mechanism of induced rockburst were elaborated. The results showed that the degree of stress concentration in the surrounding rock of the roadway will increase several times as the number of mining disturbances increases. Under the influence of multiple mining disturbances, the maximum principal stress peak of the surrounding rock of the roadway can reach 5–10 times the maximum principal stress value outside the mining-affected area. A large amount of elastic energy was accumulated in the rock surrounding the roadway, and super-high-density energy packages were formed locally. The maximum energy density value reached 50–185 times the value observed in areas outside the mining-affected zone. Thus, rockburst may be induced when the large amount of energy accumulated in the super energy package is suddenly and violently released; moreover, the degree of energy accumulation in the super energy package is likely closely related to the magnitude of rockburst. These results have important theoretical significance and application value for clarifying the mechanism of rockburst and improving the effectiveness of rockburst prediction and prevention.