Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• A novel classification framework for stress adjustment types in high geostress hard rock tunnels: stabilizing, shallow failure, and deep failure, each with distinct stages. • A dynamic interpretation technology system based on microseismic monitoring integrates key parameters (EI, apparent stress, activity) and source parameter clustering to identify stress adjustment types and failure precursors. • The methodology successfully detected 50 disaster risk instances in the Grand Canyon Tunnel, demonstrating its practical applicability. • The study provides criteria and procedures for identifying stress adjustment types and associated risks, offering insights for comparable high geostress tunnels.
Abstract
Dynamic stress adjustment in deep-buried high geostress hard rock tunnels frequently triggers catastrophic failures such as rockbursts and collapses. While a comprehensive understanding of this process is critical for evaluating surrounding rock stability, its dynamic evolution are often overlooked in engineering practice. This study systematically summarizes a novel classification framework for stress adjustment types—stabilizing (two-zoned), shallow failure (three-zoned), and deep failure (four-zoned)—characterized by distinct stress adjustment stages. A dynamic interpretation technology system is developed based on microseismic monitoring, integrating key microseismic parameters (energy index EI, apparent stress ra, microseismic activity S), seismic source parameter space clustering, and microseismic paths. This approach enables precise identification of evolutionary stages, stress adjustment types, and failure precursors, thereby elucidating the intrinsic linkage between geomechanical processes (stress redistribution) and failure risks. The study establishes criteria and procedures for identifying stress adjustment types and their associated failure risks, which were successfully applied in the Grand Canyon Tunnel of the E-han Highway to detect 50 instances of disaster risks. The findings offer invaluable insights into understanding the evolution process of stress adjustment and pinpointing the disaster risks linked to hard rock in comparable high geostress tunnels.
1. Introduction
The safe construction of deep-buried tunnels has traditionally presented considerable challenges. The excavation process inevitably modifies the initial stress state of the surrounding rock, prompting stress adjustments and characteristic changes [1–4]. These adjustments can lead to a range of destructive phenomena, including rockbursts, deformation, collapses, and other related disasters. Owing to concerns for onsite personnel safety and limited understanding of the mechanisms behind the high geostress hard rock rupture, construction and design teams often implement the ''rigid and strong'' support structures to mitigate the disaster risk within the tunnel. However, this approach lacks a solid theoretical basis and often leads to the disagreement among the parties involved. The misjudgments regarding the strong stress adjustment damage phenomena in deep-buried hard rock tunnels or excessive prevention and control measures for the surrounding rock are common occurrences. These misjudgments pose significant dangers to the safety of construction personnel and adversely affect the construction period and costs [5,6]. Consequently, a series of related issues has garnered widespread attention. There are several questions related to this topic: (1) What is the process of stress adjustment in tunnel surrounding rock? (2) What is the correlation between the stress adjustment process in tunnel surrounding rock and tunnel disaster? (3) What methodologies can be employed to establish standards for the dynamic interpretation of stress adjustment processes and the identification of disaster risks?
Elucidating the stress adjustment mechanisms in tunnel surrounding rock constitutes a critical challenge in deep underground engineering.
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XU Weihao, MA Chunchi, LI Tianbin, SHI Shoudong, PENG Feng, CHEN Ziquan, ZHANG Hang (2025). Dynamic interpretation of stress adjustment types in high geostress hard rock tunnels based on microseismic monitoring. SinoTechIntel Verified Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.04.004
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the stress adjustment types in high geostress hard rock tunnels?
The study classifies stress adjustment into three types: stabilizing (two-zoned), shallow failure (three-zoned), and deep failure (four-zoned), each characterized by distinct stress adjustment stages.
How does microseismic monitoring help in interpreting stress adjustment?
Microseismic monitoring integrates key parameters such as energy index (EI), apparent stress (ra), and microseismic activity (S), along with seismic source parameter space clustering and microseismic paths, to precisely identify evolutionary stages, stress adjustment types, and failure precursors.
What is the significance of the Grand Canyon Tunnel application?
The methodology was successfully applied in the Grand Canyon Tunnel of the E-han Highway, detecting 50 instances of disaster risks, demonstrating its practical effectiveness in real-world engineering.
What are the practical implications of this research?
The findings provide criteria and procedures for identifying stress adjustment types and associated failure risks, offering valuable insights for improving safety and reducing misjudgments in similar high geostress tunnels.
What are the key microseismic parameters used in the study?
The key microseismic parameters include energy index (EI), apparent stress (ra), and microseismic activity (S), which are integrated with seismic source parameter space clustering and microseismic paths for dynamic interpretation.
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