Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fracture evolution during rockburst under true-triaxial loading using acoustic emission monitoring

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper investigates the fracture evolution during rockbursts of granodiorite and basalt that appeared to be representatives of two different rockburst modes under true-triaxial loading using acoustic emission (AE) analysis. In the experiments, with the macroscale ejection and failure features captured and presented by the high-speed video imaging and failed specimens, the inside micro- or meso-scale fracturing was detected and analyzed in detail by AE in terms of intensity, temporal-spatial distribution, and mechanism. The experimental results and AE analyses show that the fracture evolution during rockburst (particularly in granodiorite) exhibits hierarchical characteristics: during early loading, small local microfractures developed progressively and stably mainly by tension and clustered preliminarily; around and after the point of the crack damage stress, large-scale fractures developed and coalesced rapidly and unstably with increasing shear mechanism, and nucleation zones significantly developed; upon rockburst failure, rocks near the free face buckled or fractured and ejected rapidly, and shear ruptures suddenly ran through. The findings help facilitate the rockburst prediction and control.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aggelis DG (2011) Classification of cracking mode in concrete by acoustic emission parameters. Mech Res Commun 38(3):153–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Akdag S, Karakus M, Taheri A, Nguyen G, Manchao H (2018) Effects of thermal damage on strain burst mechanism for brittle rocks under true-triaxial loading conditions. Rock Mech Rock Eng 51(6):1657–1682

    Google Scholar 

  • Aker E, Kuhn D, Vavrycuk V, Soldal M, Oye V (2014) Experimental investigation of acoustic emissions and their moment tensors in rock during failure. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 70:286–295

    Google Scholar 

  • Cai M, Kaiser P (2018) Rockburst support reference book—volume I: Rockburst phenomenon and support characteristics. MIRARCO – Mining Innovation, Laurentian University, Sudbury (free manuscript download from www.mirarco.org), pp 28-90

  • Carpinteri A, Corrado M, Lacidogna G (2013) Heterogeneous materials in compression: correlations between absorbed, released and acoustic emission energies. Eng Fail Anal 33:236–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang SH, Lee CI (2004) Estimation of cracking and damage mechanisms in rock under triaxial compression by moment tensor analysis of acoustic emission. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 41(7):1069–1086

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook NGW (1965a) The failure of rock. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 2(4):389–403

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook NGW (1965b) A note on rockbursts considered as a problem of stability. J South Afr Inst Min Metall 65(8):437–446

    Google Scholar 

  • Eberhardt E, Stead D, Stimpson B (1999) Quantifying progressive pre-peak brittle fracture damage in rock during uniaxial compression. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 36(3):361–380

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng X-T, Chen B-R, Feng G, Zhao Z, Zheng H (2018) Chapter 1 - description and engineering phenomenon of rockbursts. In: Feng X-T (ed) Rockburst: mechanisms, monitoring. Warning and Mitigation. Elsevier, Oxford, pp 3–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Gong F-q, Luo Y, Li X-b, Si X-f, Tao M (2018) Experimental simulation investigation on rockburst induced by spalling failure in deep circular tunnels. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 81:413–427

    Google Scholar 

  • Gong F-Q, Wu C, Luo S, Yan J-Y (2019) Load–unload response ratio characteristics of rock materials and their application in prediction of rockburst proneness. Bull Eng Geol Environ 78(7):5445–5466

    Google Scholar 

  • Gong YX, Song ZJ, He MC, Gong WL, Ren FQ (2017) Precursory waves and eigenfrequencies identified from acoustic emission data based on singular spectrum analysis and laboratory rock-burst experiments. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 91:155–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham CC, Stanchits S, Main IG, Dresen G (2010) Comparison of polarity and moment tensor inversion methods for source analysis of acoustic emission data. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 47(1):161–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Grosse CU, Ohtsu M (2008) Acoustic emission testing. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  • He MC, Miao JL, Feng JL (2010) Rock burst process of limestone and its acoustic emission characteristics under true-triaxial unloading conditions. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 47(2):286–298

    Google Scholar 

  • He MC, Zhao F, Cai M, Du S (2015) A novel experimental technique to simulate pillar burst in laboratory. Rock Mech Rock Eng 48(5):1833–1848

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedley DGF (1992) Rockburst handbook for Ontario hardrock mines. CANMET Special Report:SP92–SP1E

  • Ishida T, Labuz JF, Manthei G, Meredith PG, Nasseri MHB, Shin K, Yokoyama T, Zang A (2017) ISRM suggested method for laboratory acoustic emission monitoring. Rock Mech Rock Eng 50(3):665–674

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang Q, Feng X-T, Xiang T-B, Su G-S (2010) Rockburst characteristics and numerical simulation based on a new energy index: a case study of a tunnel at 2,500 m depth. Bull Eng Geol Environ 69(3):381–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser PK, Cai M (2012) Design of rock support system under rockburst condition. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 4(3):215–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim J-S, Lee K-S, Cho W-J, Choi H-J, Cho G-C (2015) A comparative evaluation of stress–strain and acoustic emission methods for quantitative damage assessments of brittle rock. Rock Mech Rock Eng 48(2):495–508

    Google Scholar 

  • King MS, Pettitt WS, Haycox JR, Young RP (2012) Acoustic emissions associated with the formation of fracture sets in sandstone under polyaxial stress conditions. Geophys Prospect 60(1):93–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Lei X, Kusunose K, Rao MVMS, Nishizawa O, Satoh T (2000) Quasi-static fault growth and cracking in homogeneous brittle rock under triaxial compression using acoustic emission monitoring. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 105(B3):6127–6139

    Google Scholar 

  • Lei X, Masuda K, Nishizawa O, Jouniaux L, Liu L, Ma W, Satoh T, Kusunose K (2004) Detailed analysis of acoustic emission activity during catastrophic fracture of faults in rock. J Struct Geol 26(2):247–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Lei X, Satoh T (2007) Indicators of critical point behavior prior to rock failure inferred from pre-failure damage. Tectonophysics 431(1):97–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Li BQ, Gonçalves da Silva B, Einstein H (2019) Laboratory hydraulic fracturing of granite: acoustic emission observations and interpretation. Engng Fract Mech 209:200–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Li BQ, Moradian Z, Goncalves da Silva B, Germaine JT (2015) Observations of acoustic emissions in a hydraulically loaded granite specimen. In: 49th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, San Francisco. California. American Rock Mechanics Association, ARMA, p 7

    Google Scholar 

  • Li T, Ma C, Zhu M, Meng L, Chen G (2017) Geomechanical types and mechanical analyses of rockbursts. Eng Geol 222:72–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Linkov AM (1996) Rockbursts and the instability of rock masses. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 33(7):727–732

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockner D (1993) The role of acoustic emission in the study of rock fracture. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 30(7):883–899

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockner DA, Byerlee JD, Kuksenko V, Ponomarev A, Sidorin A (1992) Chapter 1 Observations of quasistatic fault growth from acoustic emissions. In: Evans B, Wong T-f (eds) International Geophysics, vol 51. Academic Press, New York, pp 3–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu CP, Dou LM, Zhang N, Xue JH, Wang XN, Liu H, Zhang JW (2013) Microseismic frequency-spectrum evolutionary rule of rockburst triggered by roof fall. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 64:6–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Manouchehrian A, Cai M (2015) Simulation of unstable rock failure under unloading conditions. Can Geotech J 53(1):22–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin CD, Chandler NA (1994) The progressive fracture of Lac du Bonnet granite. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 31(6):643–659

    Google Scholar 

  • McLaskey GC, Lockner DA (2018) Shear failure of a granite pin traversing a sawcut fault. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 110:97–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Meng F, Zhou H, Wang Z, Zhang L, Kong L, Li S, Zhang C (2016) Experimental study on the prediction of rockburst hazards induced by dynamic structural plane shearing in deeply buried hard rock tunnels. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 86:210–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Mogi K (1962) Magnitude-frequency relation for elastic shocks accompanying fractures of various materials and some related problems in earthquakes. Bull Earthq Res Inst 40:831–853

    Google Scholar 

  • Moradian Z, Einstein HH, Ballivy G (2016) Detection of cracking levels in brittle rocks by parametric analysis of the acoustic emission signals. Rock Mech Rock Eng 49(3):785–800

    Google Scholar 

  • Moradian Z, Li BQ (2017) Hit-based acoustic emission monitoring of rock fractures: challenges and solutions. Paper presented at the Advances in Acoustic Emission Technology, Cham, pp 357–370

    Google Scholar 

  • Nasseri MHB, Goodfellow SD, Lombos L, Young RP (2014) 3-D transport and acoustic properties of Fontainebleau sandstone during true-triaxial deformation experiments. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 69:1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelder JA, Mead R (1965) A simplex method for function minimization. Comput J 7(4):308–313

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohnaka M, Mogi K (1982) Frequency characteristics of acoustic emission in rocks under uniaxial compression and its relation to the fracturing process to failure. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 87(B5):3873–3884

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohno K, Ohtsu M (2010) Crack classification in concrete based on acoustic emission. Constr Build Mater 24(12):2339–2346

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortlepp WD (2001) The behaviour of tunnels at great depth under large static and dynamic pressures. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 16(1):41–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortlepp WD, Stacey TR (1994) Rockburst mechanisms in tunnels and shafts. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 9(1):59–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng J, Rong G, Yao M, Wong LNY, Tang Z (2019) Acoustic emission characteristics of a fine-grained marble with different thermal damages and specimen sizes. Bull Eng Geol Environ 78(6):4479–4491

    Google Scholar 

  • Rück M, Rahner R, Sone H, Dresen G (2017) Initiation and propagation of mixed mode fractures in granite and sandstone. Tectonophysics 717:270–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Ren F, Zhu C, He M (2019) Moment tensor analysis of acoustic emissions for cracking mechanisms during schist strain burst. Rock Mech Rock Eng

  • Rodríguez P, Arab PB, Celestino TB (2016) Characterization of rock cracking patterns in diametral compression tests by acoustic emission and petrographic analysis. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 83:73–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Sabri M, Ghazvinian A, Nejati HR (2016) Effect of particle size heterogeneity on fracture toughness and failure mechanism of rocks. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 81:79–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Scholz CH (1968) Experimental study of the fracturing process in brittle rock. J Geophys Res 73(4):1447–1454

    Google Scholar 

  • Su G, Feng X, Wang J, Jiang J, Hu L (2017a) Experimental study of remotely triggered rockburst induced by a tunnel axial dynamic disturbance under true-triaxial conditions. Rock Mech Rock Eng 50(8):2207–2226

    Google Scholar 

  • Su G, Jiang J, Zhai S, Zhang G (2017b) Influence of tunnel axis stress on strainburst: an experimental study. Rock Mech Rock Eng 50(6):1551–1567

    Google Scholar 

  • Su G, Shi Y, Feng X, Jiang J, Zhang J, Jiang Q (2018) True-triaxial experimental study of the evolutionary features of the acoustic emissions and sounds of rockburst processes. Rock Mech Rock Eng 51(2):375–389

    Google Scholar 

  • Su G, Zhai S, Jiang J, Zhang G, Yan L (2017c) Influence of radial stress gradient on strainbursts: an experimental study. Rock Mech Rock Eng 50(10):2659–2676

    Google Scholar 

  • Tapponnier P, Brace WF (1976) Development of stress-induced microcracks in Westerly granite. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 13(4):103–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Tarasov BG (2014) Hitherto unknown shear rupture mechanism as a source of instability in intact hard rocks at highly confined compression. Tectonophysics 621:69–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson BD, Young RP, Lockner DA (2006) Fracture in Westerly granite under AE feedback and constant strain rate loading: nucleation, quasi-static propagation, and the transition to unstable fracture propagation. Pure Appl Geophys 163(5):995–1019

    Google Scholar 

  • Vardoulakis I (1984) Rock bursting as a surface instability phenomenon. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 21(3):137–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Vu C-C, Amitrano D, Plé O, Weiss J (2019) Compressive failure as a critical transition: experimental evidence and mapping onto the universality class of depinning. Phys Rev Lett 122(1):015502

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang CL (2014) Identification of early-warning key point for rockmass instability using acoustic emission/microseismic activity monitoring. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 71:171–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong LNY, Xiong Q (2018) A method for multiscale interpretation of fracture processes in Carrara marble specimen containing a single flaw under uniaxial compression. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 123(8):6459–6490

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao YX, Feng XT, Li SJ, Feng GL, Yu Y (2016) Rock mass failure mechanisms during the evolution process of rockbursts in tunnels. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 83:174–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhai S, Su G, Yin S, Zhao B, Yan L (2020) Rockburst characteristics of several hard brittle rocks: a true triaxial experimental study. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng

  • Zhang C, Feng X-T, Zhou H, Qiu S, Wu W (2012) Case histories of four extremely intense rockbursts in deep tunnels. Rock Mech Rock Eng 45(3):275–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao F, He MC (2017) Size effects on granite behavior under unloading rockburst test. Bull Eng Geol Environ 76(3):1183–1197

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao XG, Cai M, Wang J, Li PF, Ma LK (2015) Objective determination of crack initiation stress of brittle rocks under compression using AE measurement. Rock Mech Rock Eng 48(6):2473–2484

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao XG, Cai M, Wang J, Ma LK (2013) Damage stress and acoustic emission characteristics of the Beishan granite. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 64:258–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao XG, Wang J, Cai M, Cheng C, Ma LK, Su R, Zhao F, Li DJ (2014) Influence of unloading rate on the strainburst characteristics of Beishan granite under true-triaxial unloading conditions. Rock Mech Rock Eng 47(2):467–483

    Google Scholar 

  • Zubelewicz A, Mróz Z (1983) Numerical simulation of rock burst processes treated as problems of dynamic instability. Rock Mech Rock Eng 16(4):253–274

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 51869003.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Disaster Prevention and Structural Safety of Ministry of Education, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Disaster Prevention and Engineering Safety, School of Civil and Architecture Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China

    Shaobin Zhai, Guoshao Su, Sizhou Yan, Zhengfu Wang & Liubin Yan

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada

    Shaobin Zhai & Shunde Yin

Authors
  1. Shaobin Zhai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Guoshao Su
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shunde Yin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sizhou Yan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Zhengfu Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Liubin Yan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guoshao Su.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhai, S., Su, G., Yin, S. et al. Fracture evolution during rockburst under true-triaxial loading using acoustic emission monitoring. Bull Eng Geol Environ 79, 4957–4974 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-020-01858-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-020-01858-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation