Research on Rock Mechanics and Backfilling Materials for Underground Mining

Dear Colleagues,

The rock mechanics of mining engineering mainly refers to rock mechanics problems related to roadway engineering and stope engineering that are caused during the process of resource mining. With the increase in energy demand and the increase in mining intensity, mines have successively entered a state of deep resource exploitation. Deep mining can cause strong disturbance effects, which leads to increased stress concentration in the surrounding rock of the roadway, making dynamic disasters frequent. This poses a huge threat to the safe and efficient exploitation of deep resources. Therefore, the problems of rock mechanics during the exploitation of deep resources have become the focus of research globally.

Mining-induced rockmass stability is essential for controlling rock movement and mastering mine pressure. Currently, the prevention and control of rock mass instability focus primarily on the mechanisms of rockmass instability and early warning, enhancing rock mass strength, and optimizing mining design. In addition, cemented paste backfill (CPB) has become an important component of underground architecture. The backfill material provides support to the surrounding rockmass, enables a safe working area for production activities, and mitigates the risk of surface subsidence. As the mining depth increases, the mechanism of underlying rock mass instability and fracture formation will become more complicated. Consequently, novel methods and technology for preventing and controlling rock mass instability are critical for ensuring the safety and efficiency of mining activities.

This Special Issue, titled ‘Research on Rock Mechanics and Backfilling Materials for Underground Mining’, aims to provide an opportunity for researchers around the globe to conduct a broader scientific and technological discussion on such advances to improve the prevention and control level of the disasters encountered during underground resource mining. Original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• The mechanics of underground mining rockmass;
• Mechanisms of rockburst;
• Dynamic disaster monitoring of rock engineering;
• Mechanical behavior of rockmass;
• Rockmass mechanics tests;
• Constitutive models and instability criteria;
• Underground mining with backfill;
• Backfill materials;
• Backfilling optimization;
• The key technologies of preventing and controlling rockmass instability using backfilling;
• Other engineering applications.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Chunlai Wang
Prof. Dr. Shaojie Chen
Prof. Dr. Weijian Yu
Prof. Dr. Guangjin Wang
Prof. Dr. Xiaoshuang Li
Guest Editors

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