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Rock Mechanics and Mining Engineering
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Rock Mechanics and Mining Engineering

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Civil Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 1529

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yong Zhao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Rock Instability and Seismicity Research, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
Interests: rock mechanics; microseismic monitoring; disaster warning; mine water inrush
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Tianhong Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Rock Instability and Seismicity Research, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
Interests: slope engineering; mining water inrush; rock mechanics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

To promote theoretical innovation and improve technological practices in the fields of rock mechanics and mining engineering, this Special Issue focuses on the challenges of establishing rock mechanics during deep resource development and in complex geological environments. It will cover the constitutive model of rock mechanics, multi-field coupling effects, the stability of surrounding rock during deep mining, the prevention and control of dynamic disasters (such as rock bursts and water inrush), and intelligent monitoring and numerical simulation technology, among others. This Special Issue aims to simultaneously focus on green mining and sustainable development issues, including low-ecological-disturbance mining methods, the utilization of mining waste, and ecological restoration technologies for goaf areas. We encourage the submission of interdisciplinary research, such as the use of artificial intelligence and big data in mining optimization, the development of new support materials, and rock mechanics issues in deep geothermal energy development. All submissions should have both theoretical depth and practical value, aiming to provide scientific support for deep resource development, the safe and efficient operation of mines, and environmental coordination. We welcome original research, technical cases, and cutting-edge reviews to promote the industry’s technological innovation and sustainable development.

Dr. Yong Zhao
Prof. Dr. Tianhong Yang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • rock mechanics
  • mining engineering
  • disaster warning and prevention
  • multi-field coupling
  • surrounding rock stability

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 5383 KiB  
Article
Research on Deformation Characteristics and Failure Modes of Tunnel Anchoring in Conglomerate Layers Based on Field Scaled Model Tests
by Zhijin Shen, Menglong Dong, Li Zhang, Aipeng Tang and Xiaokai Li
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(14), 7743; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15147743 - 10 Jul 2025
Viewed by 133
Abstract
Tunnel anchors are critical for suspension bridge stability, yet their theoretical framework remains underdeveloped, limiting engineering applications. This study addresses this gap through a pioneering 1:12 in situ scaled model test, combining geological surveys, rock mechanics testing, and large-scale experimentation on a Yangtze [...] Read more.
Tunnel anchors are critical for suspension bridge stability, yet their theoretical framework remains underdeveloped, limiting engineering applications. This study addresses this gap through a pioneering 1:12 in situ scaled model test, combining geological surveys, rock mechanics testing, and large-scale experimentation on a Yangtze River bridge case. Key findings include (1) quantified rock mechanics parameters for anchorage conglomerates, (2) load–displacement relationships revealing surrounding rock-dominated failure, and (3) deformation thresholds for anchor integrity. The 1:12 in situ model overcomes lab-scale limitations, providing the first high-fidelity validation of tunnel anchor behavior. The results offer essential design benchmarks, advancing both theory and practice for large-span bridges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rock Mechanics and Mining Engineering)
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21 pages, 6033 KiB  
Article
Study on Microseismic Monitoring of Landslide Induced by Blasting Caving
by Fuhua Peng and Weijun Wang
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(13), 7567; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15137567 - 5 Jul 2025
Viewed by 312
Abstract
This study focuses on the monitoring and early warning of landslide hazards induced by blasting caving in the Shizhuyuan polymetallic mine. A 30-channel microseismic monitoring system was deployed to capture the spatiotemporal characteristics of rock mass fracturing during a large-scale directional stratified blasting [...] Read more.
This study focuses on the monitoring and early warning of landslide hazards induced by blasting caving in the Shizhuyuan polymetallic mine. A 30-channel microseismic monitoring system was deployed to capture the spatiotemporal characteristics of rock mass fracturing during a large-scale directional stratified blasting operation (419 tons) conducted on 21 June 2012. A total of 85 microseismic events were recorded, revealing two distinct zones of intense rock failure: Zone I (below 630 m elevation, P1–P3, C6–C8) and Zone II (above 630 m elevation, P4–P5, C1–C6). The upper slope collapse occurred within 5 min post-blasting, as documented by real-time monitoring and video recordings. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to 54 microseismic events in Zone II to determine the kinematic characteristics of the slip surface, yielding a dip direction of 324.6° and a dip angle of 73.2°. Complementary moment tensor analysis further revealed that shear failure dominated the slope instability, with pronounced shear fracturing observed in the 645–700 m height range. This study innovatively integrates spatial microseismic event distribution with geomechanical mechanisms, elucidating the dynamic evolution of blasting-induced landslides. The proposed methodology provides a novel approach for monitoring and forecasting slope instability triggered by underground mining, offering significant implications for disaster prevention in similar mining contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rock Mechanics and Mining Engineering)
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22 pages, 9767 KiB  
Article
Freeze–Thaw-Induced Degradation Mechanisms and Slope Stability of Filled Fractured Rock Masses in Cold Region Open-Pit Mines
by Jun Hou, Penghai Zhang, Ning Gao, Wanni Yan and Qinglei Yu
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(13), 7429; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15137429 - 2 Jul 2025
Viewed by 221
Abstract
In cold regions, the rock mass of open-pit mine slopes is continuously exposed to freeze–thaw (FT) environments, during which the fracture structures and their infilling materials undergo significant degradation, severely affecting slope stability and the assessment of service life. Conventional laboratory [...] Read more.
In cold regions, the rock mass of open-pit mine slopes is continuously exposed to freeze–thaw (FT) environments, during which the fracture structures and their infilling materials undergo significant degradation, severely affecting slope stability and the assessment of service life. Conventional laboratory FT tests are typically based on uniform temperature settings, which fail to reflect the actual thermal variations at different burial depths, thereby limiting the accuracy of mechanical parameter acquisition. Taking the Wushan open-pit mine as the engineering background, this study establishes a temperature–depth relationship, defines multiple thermal intervals, and conducts direct shear tests on structural plane filling materials under various FT conditions to characterize the evolution of cohesion and internal friction angle. Results from rock mass testing and numerical simulation demonstrate that shear strength parameters exhibit an exponential decline with increasing FT cycles and decreasing burial depth, with the filling material playing a dominant role in the initial stage of degradation. Furthermore, a two-dimensional fracture network model of the rock mass was constructed, and the representative elementary volume (REV) was determined through the evolution of equivalent plastic strain. Based on this, spatial assignment of slope strength was performed, followed by stability analysis. Based on regression fitting using 0–25 FT cycles, regression model predictions indicate that when the number of FT cycles exceeds 42, the slope safety factor drops below 1.0, entering a critical instability state. This research successfully establishes a spatial field of mechanical parameters and evaluates slope stability, providing a theoretical foundation and parameter support for the long-term service evaluation and stability assessment of cold-region open-pit mine slopes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rock Mechanics and Mining Engineering)
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18 pages, 22803 KiB  
Article
Strength Deterioration Pattern and Stability Evaluation of Open−Pit Mine Slopes in Cold Regions Under Freeze–Thaw Cycles
by Penghai Zhang, Ning Gao, Wanni Yan, Jun Hou and Honglei Liu
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 4853; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15094853 - 27 Apr 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 433
Abstract
With the gradual depletion of mineral resources in temperate regions, cold regions have become primary areas for mineral extraction. However, the freeze–thaw phenomena induced by temperature fluctuations pose significant threats to the stability of rock masses on open−pit mine slopes, further affecting normal [...] Read more.
With the gradual depletion of mineral resources in temperate regions, cold regions have become primary areas for mineral extraction. However, the freeze–thaw phenomena induced by temperature fluctuations pose significant threats to the stability of rock masses on open−pit mine slopes, further affecting normal mining operations. To investigate the strength degradation and stability evolution patterns of freeze–thaw slope rock masses, this study takes the Wushan Open−Pit Mine as its engineering context. We analyzed the relationship between rock temperature and burial depth, conducted freeze–thaw cyclic tests under realistic temperature ranges, and developed a mechanical parameter characterization model for freeze–thaw rock masses by integrating the generalized Hoek–Brown strength criterion. Slope safety factors and potential landslide mechanisms were determined through numerical simulations and the strength reduction method. Key findings include the following: (1) Shallow rock temperatures exhibit high synchronization with atmospheric temperature, characterized by large fluctuations and rapid variation rates, whereas deep rock demonstrates opposite trends. (2) As freeze–thaw cycles increase and burial depth decreases, the internal friction angle and cohesion of slope rock masses follow negative exponential decay functions. After 20 freeze–thaw cycles, the internal friction angle and cohesion of rock at a 5.27 m depth decreased by 18.36% and 33.92%, respectively. In contrast, rock at a 0.10 m depth showed more severe reductions of 31.81% and 50.14%. (3) Increasing freeze–thaw cycles progressively lower the safety factors of slope benches, with potential slip surfaces displaying reduced average depths and curvature, alongside elevated dip angles. These findings provide critical insights for preventing freeze–thaw−induced landslide hazards in cold−region open−pit mine slopes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rock Mechanics and Mining Engineering)
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