Jointed rock masses under combined static-dynamic loading: Correlation between acoustic emission evolution and rockburst mechanisms

Abstract

In this study, aiming at the temporal and spatial evolution mechanism of rockburst disaster in jointed rock mass in deep engineering, the influence of joint and roadway spacing on the process of rockburst was systematically discussed through true triaxial dynamic and static combined loading test and acoustic emission multi-parameter monitoring. The limestone samples with straight wall arch holes were taken as the object of the test. Combined with the dominant frequency distribution of acoustic emission, RA-AF fracture mode discrimination and b value evolution analysis, the coupling effect of stress path and energy release under different joint spacing was revealed. It is found that the spatial distribution of joints significantly affects the mechanical response and fracture characteristics of rockburst: close-range joints dominate tensile fracture through local tensile stress concentration, prolong energy accumulation period and aggravate rockburst intensity; long-distance joints promote shear crack propagation, accelerate damage penetration and shorten incubation time. The main frequency distribution of acoustic emission and the evolution law of b value show that the increase of joint spacing leads to the change of fracture scale from microcrack to macro shear penetration. The research results are expected to provide scientific guidance and theoretical support for the prevention and control of rockburst in deep jointed rock roadway.

Keywords

jointed rock mass / dynamic and static load / mechanical characteristics / rupture mode / rockburst mechanism

References

[1] Gong F-q, Pan J-f, Jiang Q. The difference analysis of rock burst and coal burst and key mechanisms of deep engineering geological hazards [J]. Journal of Engineering Geology, 2021, 29(4): 933-961(in Chinese)

[2] Tian B-zhu. Study on simulation experiments of tunnel rockburst based on acoustic emission-enfrared joint monitoring [D], 2018, (in Chinese)

[3] He M-c, Li J-y, Ren F-q, et al. . Experimental investigation on rockburst ejection velocity of unidirectional double-face unloading of sandstone with different bedding angles [J]. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering, 2021, 40(3): 433-447(in Chinese)

[4] Zhou X, Meng F-z, Yue Z-f, et al. . Evolution and mechanism of rockburst induced by structural plane based on GDEM [J]. Journal of China Coal Society, 2023, 48(5): 2207-2223(in Chinese)

[5] Zhou X, Meng F-z, Xiu Z-g, et al. . Influence of structural plane inclination angle on induced rock burst in deep tunnels [J]. Journal of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, 2023, 21(4): 94-100(in Chinese)

[6] Tan Y A. Rockbursting characteristics and structural effects of rock mass [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, 1992, 29(6): 402-403

[7] Li M-l, Li K-g, Wu S-c, et al. . Experimental study on the free-face true-triaxial rockburst test considering the influence of joints [J]. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 2024, 57(9): 6633-6661

[8] Li M-l, Li K-g, Wu S-c, et al. . Tunnel rockburst with a single set of joints under true-triaxial stress condition [J]. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 2025, 17(8): 4827-4851

[9] Lu S-w, Zhou C-b, Liu H-y, et al. . Law of blasting vibration in rock mass with an out-dipped structural plane [J]. Engineering Blasting, 2021, 27(2): 29-34(in Chinese)

[10] Zhao J, Feng X-t, Wang J-r, et al. . A multifunctional shear apparatus for rocks subjected to true triaxial stress and high temperature in real-time [J]. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 2024, 16(9): 3524-3543

[11] Zhao J, Guo Y, Chen P-s, et al. . True triaxial shear strength and failure mechanism of sandstone under real-time high-temperature conditions [J]. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 2025, 58(6): 6211-6231

[12] Lockner D. The role of acoustic emission in the study of rock fracture [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, 1993, 30(7): 883-899

[13] He M-c, Zhao F, Du S, et al. . Rockburst characteristics based on experimental tests under different unloading rates [J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2014, 35(10): 2737-27472794. (in Chinese)

[14] He M C, Zhao F, Cai M, et al. . A novel experimental technique to simulate pillar burst in laboratory [J]. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 2015, 48(5): 1833-1848

[15] He M-c, Zhao F, Zhang Y, et al. . Feature evolution of dominant frequency components in acoustic emissions of instantaneous strain-type granitic rockburst simulation tests [J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2015, 36(1): 1-833

[16] LIU Jian, WANG Xiao-jun, XU Sha-sha, et al. Identification of limestone fracture characteristics with different rockburst propensities based on acoustic emission RA-AF values [J]. Metal Mine, 2022(10): 16–23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19614/j.cnki.jsks.202210003. (in Chinese)

[17] Ren F-q, Zhu C, He M-chao. Moment tensor analysis of acoustic emissions for cracking mechanisms during schist strain burst [J]. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 2020, 53(1): 153-170

[18] Zhang Y-b, Yu G-y, Tian B-z, et al. . Experimental study of acoustic emission signal dominant-frequency characteristics of rockburst in a granite tunnel [J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2017, 38(5): 1258-1266(in Chinese)

[19] Zhang Y-b, Yang Z, Yao X-l, et al. . Experimental study on rockburst acoustic emission signal and fracture characteristics in granite roadway [J]. Journal of China Coal Society, 2018, 43(1): 95-104(in Chinese)

[20] Du K, Tao M, Li X-b, et al. . Experimental study of slabbing and rockburst induced by true-triaxial unloading and local dynamic disturbance [J]. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 2016, 49(9): 3437-3453

[21] Zhao X G, Wang J, Cai M, et al. . Influence of unloading rate on the strainburst characteristics of Beishan granite under true-triaxial unloading conditions [J]. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 2014, 47(2): 467-483

[22] Zhao X G, Cai M. Influence of specimen height-to-width ratio on the strainburst characteristics of Tianhu granite under true-triaxial unloading conditions [J]. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 2015, 52(7): 890-902

[23] Jiang Y-m, Wang Z-y, Jin X-l, et al. . Acoustic emission features of granite from different rockburst areas in Sangzhuling Railway Tunnel [J]. Heliyon, 2024, 10(5): e27385

[24] Wang C-s, Wan H, Ma J-j, et al. . Acoustic emission characteristics and initiation mechanism of instantaneous rock burst for Beishan granite [J]. Shock and Vibration, 2024, 2024: 6813580

[25] Li Q, Kang J, Li S-b, et al. . Influence of geometric parameters of unequa-length fractures on the strength and crack propagation of granite [J]. Mining Research and Development, 2024, 44: 141-149(in Chinese)

[26] CHEN Yi-an, ZHAO Guang-ming, XU Wen-song, et al. Experimental study on mesoscopic failure and acoustic emission characteristics of sandstone under various joint angles [J/OL] [2026-02-02] Advanced Engineering Sciences. https://link.cnki.net/urlid/51.1773.tb.20250314.1508.005. (in Chinese)

[27] Zhang P-h, Ma Q-s, Liu X-g, et al. . Uniaxial compression failure mechanism and acoustic emission characteristics of granite with Y-type composite joints [J]. Journal of Northeastern University (Natural Science), 2024, 45(4): 564-572(in Chinese)

[28] Li Y-z, Yuan L, Zhang Q-h, et al. . Truetriaxial experimental study on the rockburst characteristics of rock mass with a structural plane [J]. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering, 2024, 43(1): 120-132(in Chinese)

[29] Yan X-yang. Research on the development characteristics and mechanisms of structural plane rockburst in deep buried tunnels under static and weak dynamic loading [D], 2024, (in Chinese)

[30] Su G-s, Hu L-h, Feng X-t, et al. . True triaxial experimental study of rockburst process under low frequency cyclic disturbance load combined with static load [J]. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering, 2016, 35(7): 1309-1322(in Chinese)

[31] Su G-s, Ren H-y, Jiang J-q, et al. . Experimental study on the characteristics of rockburst occurring at the working face during tunnel excavation [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 2023, 164: 105347

[32] Gu Y-l, Wang Z-p, Li Q-m, et al. . Laboratory study on RA value fractal feature of shale acoustic emission under conventional triaxial compression [J]. Journal of Chongqing University (Natural Science Edition), 2018, 41(2): 78-86(in Chinese)

[33] He S-l, Wang C-lai. Analysis of influencing factors of rockburst in deep mining of Huize Lead-Zinc Mine [J]. Mineral Engineeering Reseach, 2010, 25(1): 21-23(in Chinese)

[34] Xu S-l, Zhu H-hua. Particle flow simulation of rock burst mechanism for highway tunnel ventilation shaft [J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2011, 32(3): 885-890898

[35] Tang Y, Yang J-s, Zheng X-c, et al. . Experimental study on mechanical properties of weakly weathered gneiss in high temperature water-rich tunnel [J]. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering, 2025, 44(1): 128-139

[36] Wang Y, He M-c, Liu D-q, et al. . Experimental study on impact rockburst of surrounding rock in deep elliptical Caverns [J]. Chinese Journal of Rock Mechanics and Engineering, 2021, 40(11): 2214-2228(in Chinese)

[37] Cai M, Kaiser P K, Morioka H, et al. . FLAC/PFC coupled numerical simulation of AE in large-scale underground excavations [J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 2007, 44(4): 550-564

[38] Li C-q, Zhou X-ping. Laboratory earthquake prediction of granite [J]. Tribology International, 2021, 160: 107003

[39] Liang J-l, Mei F-d, Gao F-y, et al. . Study on mechanical properties and acoustic emission properties of three types of rocks under true triaxial rockburst test [J]. Henan Science, 2023, 41(3): 374-382(in Chinese)

[40] Wang G-l, Yang Z-q, Zhang L, et al. . Acoustic emission evolution characteristics of jointed sandstone at drying-wetting damage under uniaxial compression [J]. Journal of Yangtze River Scientific Research Institute, 2023, 40(2): 81-8694

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Central South University