rockburst

A rockburst is a sudden, violent failure of rock that releases stored elastic energy, typically occurring in underground excavations such as deep mines and tunnels. It is characterized by the rapid ejection of rock fragments, audible shock, and seismic energy that can damage ground support, equipment, and infrastructure and threaten worker safety.

Rockbursts arise from rapid redistribution of high geostatic or tectonic stresses around excavations. Factors that increase likelihood include depth, competent brittle rock, geological structures (faults, joints), excavation geometry, mining method, and induced seismicity. Mechanisms vary and are commonly described as spalling or tensile failure near excavated boundaries, strainburst from compressive overstress, and shear failure along pre-existing planes.

Consequences range from localized rock ejection and damage to extensive ground collapse and seismic events that may propagate through mine networks. Management focuses on prevention, mitigation, and monitoring. Engineering measures include excavation design to reduce stress concentration, staged mining and sequencing, preconditioning (controlled blasting to relieve stress), rock reinforcement (rock bolts, cables, shotcrete), yielding support systems, and backfilling. Real-time monitoring using microseismic networks, geophones, stress meters, and displacement sensors provides early warning and informs operational decisions.

Rockburst risk is a major safety and design consideration in deep hard-rock mining and tunneling, and ongoing research integrates geomechanics, seismic monitoring, and support technology to reduce incidence and impacts.