The mechanisms and consequences of strong mining tremors that occur in Polish hard coal and copper mines

摘要

In this paper, a rockburst is considered as a complex physical and rock mechanical process. The dynamic stress generated by the seismic load that is caused by a seismic event has to be added to the static stress in the rock mass in order to create this phenomenon. The seismic load near to underground workings is directly related to the source mechanism and radiation directivity of seismic tremors. The relation between the seismic load and the directivity of the seismic source radiation is presented and analysed using several cases of rockbursts in Polish coal and copper mines. The method, which utilizes directivity of seismic waves resulting from different source mechanisms, contributes significantly to increase our knowledge of the rockburst phenomenon and provides an explanation of its origin.