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Dealing with Extreme Ground Pressure & Rock Bursts in Deep Underground Excavation

We’re working on a deep underground mining project (~1,500m depth), and we’re encountering extreme ground pressure leading to periodic rock bursts. Current rock reinforcement strategies (shotcrete, cable bolting, and steel sets) are effective in some areas, but in others, stress redistribution causes unexpected failures.

We’re considering yielding support systems, pre-conditioning techniques (blasting-induced stress relief), and real-time monitoring, but each option has cost and feasibility concerns. Has anyone worked on rock burst mitigation at extreme depths? Looking for insights on best-performing reinforcement strategies, stress redistribution modeling, and real-time hazard prediction systems.

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Comments (8)

AB
Abolajisoboyejo3 months ago

(Civil Engineer - Underground Infrastructure): If your tunnels need long-term stability, consider using pre-tensioned lattice girders in conjunction with your rock bolts—this can help distribute stress more evenly across weak zones.

AB
Abolajisoboyejo3 months ago

(Mining Engineer - Ground Control Systems): Yes! We’ve seen hybrid approaches where lattice girders + yielding bolts improve tunnel longevity without excessive reinforcement costs.

AB
Abolajisoboyejo3 months ago

(Mining Operations Manager - Shaft & Tunnel Development): One cost-effective approach is high-energy rock bolt systems that allow controlled slippage under extreme loads, preventing sudden catastrophic failure. Some hydraulic energy-absorbing bolts work well in rock burst-prone zones.

AB
Abolajisoboyejo3 months ago

Interesting! Do they work well in variable ground conditions, or do they need homogeneous rock formations to function properly?

AB
Abolajisoboyejo3 months ago

(Seismic Monitoring Specialist - Mine Safety): If rock bursts are unpredictable, you might need real-time stress monitoring with microseismic arrays. Some mines use acoustic emission sensors to detect stress redistribution before failure occurs.

AB
Abolajisoboyejo3 months ago

(Mining Safety Engineer): We’ve used that approach, but false positives can be an issue. Are there AI-based filtering systems that improve detection accuracy for stress buildup?

AB
Abolajisoboyejo3 months ago

(Rock Mechanics Engineer - Deep Mining): At 1,500m depth, you’re dealing with significant horizontal stress concentrations. Have you tried destress blasting ahead of excavation to reduce stress build-up before advancing?

AB
Abolajisoboyejo3 months ago

We’ve tested it in pilot sections, but there’s concern about secondary seismic events—how do you control blast intensity to prevent triggering new fractures?

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