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Energies
  • Article
  • Open Access

8 April 2019

Case Studies of Rock Bursts in Tectonic Areas with Facies Change

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1
State Key Laboratory of Mining Disaster Prevention and Control Co-founded by Shandong Province and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China
2
School of Mining and Safety Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Coal Mining Techniques

Abstract

Although tectonic areas with facies change (i.e., variation of coal seam thickness, coal seam dip angle, or coal quality) are one of the three major geological structures that induce rock bursts, case studies of rock bursts in these tectonic structures are rare. The main objective of this study is to illustrate this issue and provide case studies that may inspire future research. Based on several typical cases of rock bursts induced by tectonic areas with facies change, the conditions conducive for these bursts are introduced and investigated in detail. Subsequently, numerical simulation is performed, showing that stress concentration exists in regions with variable coal seam thicknesses or dip angle. When stoping or tunnelling approaches this region, the peak stress increases rapidly. Thus, the burst occurs via a mechanism involving the superposition of high in-situ stress from tectonic areas with facies change and abutment pressure from stoping or tunnelling, leading to high stress concentration. Strategies for mitigating rock bursts are also provided. Rock bursts induced by tectonic areas with facies change can be mitigated by avoiding regions of high tectonic stress concentration and reducing mining induced stress.

1. Introduction

Rock burst are common dynamic disasters that occur during underground mining [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. Although scholars have focused on this issue for several decades, the mechanisms of rock bursts remain inadequately understood. It is generally acknowledged that geological structures including folds, faults, and tectonic areas with facies change contribute to the occurrence of rock burst hazards and other dynamic disasters [8,9,10,11,12]. According to incomplete statistics, rock bursts induced by geological structures account for nearly 70% of the total rock burst occurrences in China [13]. Extensive studies have been performed regarding the occurrence of rock bursts induced by geological structures. For fault induced rock bursts, Jiang et al. [14] and Li et al. [15] used FLAC3D numerical software to study the fault activation, and Dou et al. [16] investigated fault-slip rock bursts comprehensively via theoretical analysis, laboratory tests, numerical simulation, and engineering practice. Sainoki and Mitri [17] studied the dynamic behaviour of fault slips influenced by mining activities, and Hu et al. [18] developed a mechanical model of fault slipping. For fold-induced rock bursts, Wang et al. [19] and Chen et al. [20] studied the stress distribution in the core of the fold using numerical simulation.
Mining in tectonic areas with facies change (Figure 1) can easily cause dynamic disasters. However, limited literature is available regarding the underlying mechanisms. For example, Sun et al. [21] studied 14 rock bursts related to the variation of coal seam thickness, and Zhai et al. [22] found that the variation of coal seam thickness was significantly correlated to coal and gas outbursts, and concluded that when the coal seam thickness suddenly increases, the gas content and the associated pressure continually increase. Case studies on the matter are important and valuable, but only a few recorded histories and experiences of rock bursts caused by tectonic areas with facies change have been reported. The literature on related mechanisms is rare except for a few studies on the variation of coal seam thickness. For example, Zhao et al. [23] studied mechanism of rock bursts induced by the variation of coal seam thickness, showing that stoping from thin to thick coal seams was beneficial for controlling rock bursts. In general, research attention for these kinds of rock bursts remains insufficient.
Figure 1. Tectonic areas with facies change. (a) Variation of coal seam thickness, (b) variations of coal seam dip angle and coal quality [13].
Therefore, to provide some references for studying the burst mechanism induced by tectonic areas with facies change, case studies of rock bursts related to the aforementioned geological structures are analyzed first. The occurrence conditions are introduced and investigated in detail. Subsequently, the occurrence mechanism of these rock bursts is discussed using FLAC3D simulation. Finally, suggestions for mitigating rock bursts induced by tectonic areas with facies change are provided for reference in further studies regarding burst mitigation.

5. Discussions

From the representative rock burst case studies in tectonic areas with facies change provided above, it can be concluded that when tunnelling or stoping approaches tectonic areas with facies changes, the critical stress required for rock bursts can easily be achieved. Therefore, tectonic areas with facies change require screening for both faults and folds. In this section, we discuss the mechanisms of rock bursts induced by tectonic areas with facies change and related mitigation suggestions.

5.1. Rock Burst Mechanism Induced by Tectonic Areas with Facies Change

Zhao et al. [23] showed that in-situ stress concentration and stress gradient zones are present in regions with variable coal seam thickness, as shown in Figure 9. In-situ stress in the thinning area was observed to be larger than that in the thickening area. The authors also found that larger variation amplitudes resulted in larger stress gradients. For example, when the coal seam thickness varied between 5 and 2 m, the value of variation amplitude was 6.3 MPa, while it was only 1.6 MPa when the coal seam thickness varied from 5 to 4 m.
Figure 9. Numerical model of the variation of coal seam thickness, in-situ stress distribution, and abutment pressure distribution [23], (a) numerical model of the variation of coal seam thickness, (b) distribution of the in-situ stress, (c) distribution of abutment pressure when stoping with coal seam thickness of 5 to 2 m.
To further analyze the abutment pressure distribution during the stoping process in the variable coal seam thickness region, the abutment pressure distribution at different distances between the variable region (5–2 m) and longwall face is shown in Figure 9c. The stress concentration factor in the variable region showed an increasing trend with decreasing distance between the longwall face and the variable region. When the distance decreased from 20 to 5 m, the stress concentration factor in the variable region gradually increased from 1.39 to 1.89. If the peak abutment pressure stress approaches this region, stress superposition can easily occur, enhancing the risk of rock bursts.
Considering that the dip angles of the coal seam varied from 0° to 15–45°, seven numerical variation models of dip angles were established to study the in-situ stress distribution in this region, as shown in Figure 10a. The displacement boundary conditions, the constitutive model, and the mechanical properties of the coal, rock, etc. used in this simulation were similar to the available literature [23], except for the numerical model. The obtained in-situ stress distribution is shown in Figure 10b. From Figure 10b, it is clear that there was a stress concentration zone in the region with variable coal seam dip angles, and the stress concentration increased as the variable range of the dip angle increased.
Figure 10. Numerical model of the variation of coal seam dip angle, in-situ stress distribution, and abutment pressure distribution, (a) numerical model of the variation of coal seam dip angle, (b) in-situ stress distribution, (c) distribution of abutment pressure when stoping from a dip angle of 0 to 30°.
Figure 10c shows the abutment pressure distribution at different distances between the variable region (0–30°) and the longwall face. The stress concentration factor in the variable region of the dip angle also showed an increasing trend with decreasing distance between the longwall face and the variable region. When the distance decreased from 20 to 5 m, the stress concentration factor in the variable region rapidly increased from 1.23 to 1.98. This indicated that when the longwall face approached the variable dip angle region, superposition of the abutment pressure and tectonic stress could easily occur, potentially inducing a rock burst.
For regions with variable coal quality, scholars have reached a consensus that under similar geological conditions, the in-situ stress of a hard coal seam is larger than that of a soft coal seam [27,28]. Similar stress concentration zones in regions with variable coal seam thicknesses and dip angles were also observed.
Based on the analysis of the in-situ stress distribution, a schematic of the rock burst mechanisms was generated and is shown in Figure 11. The mechanisms of rock bursts induced by tectonic areas with facies changes can be described as follows—in-situ stress concentration zones exist in critical areas (Figure 11a). When stoping or tunnelling approaches the in-situ stress concentration zones, these areas will experience high stress caused by the superposition of the high in-situ stress concentration from tectonic areas with facies changes and abutment pressure from stoping or tunnelling (Figure 11b), leading to rock bursts.
Figure 11. Schematic of the rock burst mechanisms induced by tectonic areas with facies changes, (a) before superposition of the abutment pressure and in-situ stress, (b) superposition of the abutment pressure and in-situ stress.

5.2. Suggestions for Mitigating Rock Bursts Induced by Tectonic Areas with Facies Change

Based on the case studies and determination of rock burst mechanisms, it is clear that rock bursts induced by tectonic areas with facies change can be mitigated by avoiding regions with high tectonic stress concentration and reducing mining-induced stress. Three basic suggestions for mitigating such rock bursts are proposed herein. First, when stoping or tunnelling, the roadway layout should avoid high tectonic stress concentration areas. Second, if tectonic areas with facies changes cannot be avoided while stoping or tunnelling, mitigation methods should be implemented more intensely than for areas not influenced by tectonic stress. Third, peak stress concentration areas should be thoroughly transferred into deep coal walls.

6. Conclusions

In this study, several cases of rock bursts related to tectonic areas with facies changes were analyzed in detail. Subsequently, the underlying mechanisms of these rock bursts as well as some mitigation strategies were discussed. The main conclusions are as follows:
(1)
The rock burst case studies showed that tectonic areas with facies changes, including variations in coal seam thickness, coal seam dip angle, and coal quality, play an important role in tectonic rock bursts. Special attention should be paid to such rock bursts compared to those induced by the more widely studied faults and folds.
(2)
Numerical simulation was used to investigate existing stress concentration in regions with variable coal seam thickness or dip angle. The stress concentration increases gradually as the variable range of coal seam thickness or dip angle increases. When stoping or tunnelling in these regions, the peak stress will increase rapidly.
(3)
The superposition of high in-situ stress from tectonic areas with facies changes and abutment pressure from stoping or tunnelling leads to high stress concentration. Three main suggestions were provided for mitigating rock bursts induced by tectonic areas with facies changes. First, the roadway layout should avoid high tectonic stress concentration areas. Second, if stoping or tunnelling cannot avoid these sensitive areas, mitigation methods must be implemented. Third, peak stress concentration areas should be thoroughly transferred into deep coal walls.
Overall, this study aimed to highlight the issue of rock bursts induced by tectonic areas with facies changes for researchers interested in underground engineering and to provide case studies to inspire further research in this field.

Author Contributions

All the authors contributed to this paper. Q.G. prepared and edited the manuscript. W.G. provided methodological guidance in the research process. S.H. partially participated in the literature search. Y.T. and W.G. participated in revising the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2018YFC0604703), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51874190), Major Program of Shandong Province Natural Science Foundation (No. ZR2018ZA0603), Shandong Province Natural Science Foundation (No. ZR2017BEE013), Scientific Research Foundation of Shandong University of Science and Technology for Recruited Talents (No. 2017RCJJ009), Taishan Scholar Engineering Construction Fund of Shandong Province of China (ts201511026) and Taishan Scholar Talent Team Support Plan for Advantaged & Unique Discipline Areas.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Shandong University of Science and Technology for providing us with the scientific research platform and all the reviewers for their specific comments and suggestions.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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