Quantitative principles of dynamic interaction between rock support and surrounding rock in rockburst roadways

Abstract

Rockbursts, which mainly affect mining roadways, are dynamic disasters arising from the surrounding rock under high stress. Understanding the interaction between supports and the surrounding rock is necessary for effective rockburst control. In this study, the squeezing behavior of the surrounding rock is analyzed in rockburst roadways, and a mechanical model of rockbursts is established considering the dynamic support stress, thus deriving formulas and providing characteristic curves for describing the interaction between the support and surrounding rock. Design principles and parameters of supports for rockburst control are proposed. The results show that only when the geostress magnitude exceeds a critical value can it drive the formation of rockburst conditions. The main factors influencing the convergence response and rockburst occurrence around roadways are geostress, rock brittleness, uniaxial compressive strength, and roadway excavation size. Roadway support devices can play a role in controlling rockburst by suppressing the squeezing evolution of the surrounding rock towards instability points of rockburst. Further, the higher the strength and the longer the impact stroke of support devices with constant resistance, the more easily multiple balance points can be formed with the surrounding rock to control rockburst occurrence. Supports with long impact stroke allow adaptation to varying geostress levels around the roadway, aiding in rockburst control. The results offer a quantitative method for designing support systems for rockburst-prone roadways. The design criterion of supports is determined by the intersection between the convergence curve of the surrounding rock and the squeezing deformation curve of the support devices.