Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• Anchoring suppresses transverse deformation and tensile crack propagation, increasing elastic modulus and bearing capacity. • Anchored rock shows more intense acoustic emission but smaller infrared temperature changes compared to unanchored rock. • Structural plane angle controls crack extension direction and strain evolution; rock prone to instantaneous slip failure at 45°–75° with lower strength and significant IR changes. • A shear failure criterion for anchored structural planes is established, enabling prediction of failure modes and support design.
Abstract
Weak structural planes commonly exist in underground engineering. These planes make anchor structures more prone to failure, threatening rock stability, threatening the safety and stability of underground engineering. Optical-Thermal-Acoustic (OTA) monitoring was applied during uniaxial compression tests on cross-layer anchored rock masses. The study revealed the mechanical properties, failure characteristics, and energy evolution of rock masses with different anchoring methods and bedding angles. Key findings: anchoring suppresses transverse deformation and tensile crack propagation, increasing elastic modulus and bearing capacity; anchored rock shows more intense acoustic emission but smaller infrared temperature changes; the structural plane angle controls the direction of crack extension and the evolution of the strain characteristics, and the rock is prone to instantaneous slip failure of the structural surface at 45°–75°, and the lower strength with significant IR change characteristics. Distinct OTA characteristics during rupture validate the method’s reliability for rockburst early warning and intensity assessment. Moreover, based on the failure characteristics of cross-layer anchored rock masses, a shear failure criterion for anchored structural planes is established. This criterion enables prediction of rock mass failure modes, analysis of bolt support resistance, reference for support design/construction in underground engineering within complex strata.
1. Introduction
Driven by the rapid development of infrastructure construction in transportation, energy, water conservancy, and other sectors in China, major projects such as tunnels, deep coal mines, and hydro-junctions are increasingly extending into deep strata and geologically complex regions [1,2]. To control surrounding rock deformation and maintain structural stability, bolt support is widely adopted due to its advantages of convenient construction, significant reinforcement effectiveness, and strong adaptability [3]. Consequently, bolt support has become the preferred solution for reinforcing complex surrounding rock in underground engineering [4]. However, under the coupling effects of deep complex geological conditions and high-stress environments, anchored rock masses are prone to progressive failure [5], thereby triggering surrounding rock collapse and overall instability. This poses significant constraints on the construction and development of underground engineering in China [6].
Bolt support effectively enhances the load-bearing capacity of rock. Revealing the mechanical properties and reinforcement mechanisms of anchored rock is of significant importance for improving the stability of surrounding rock in underground engineering. Consequently, numerous experts and scholars have conducted research on this topic. For instance, Jiang et al. [7] comparatively analyzed the peak rockburst stress and energy evolution laws of unanchored, conventionally anchored, and energy-absorbing anchored rock masses during triaxial pressure relief tests. Sun et al. [8] investigated the biaxial compression mechanical properties of NPR and PR bolt-anchored rock under different pre-tension forces and established a strength criterion for pre-tensioned NPR bolt-anchored rock. Zhao et al [9] ...
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WU Yunhao, WANG Hanpeng, WANG Wei, FAN Jianguo, LI Chunming, ZHANG Bing, SUN Dekang, HOU Fubin (2025). Rockburst failure characteristics and energy evolution law of cross-layer anchored rock mass based on optical-thermal-acoustic combinative monitoring. SinoTechIntel Verified Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmst.2025.10.005
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main objective of the study?
The study aims to reveal the mechanical properties, failure characteristics, and energy evolution of cross-layer anchored rock masses under uniaxial compression using optical-thermal-acoustic (OTA) monitoring, and to establish a shear failure criterion for anchored structural planes.
How does anchoring affect the mechanical behavior of rock?
Anchoring suppresses transverse deformation and tensile crack propagation, leading to increased elastic modulus and bearing capacity. It also results in more intense acoustic emission but smaller infrared temperature changes compared to unanchored rock.
What is the significance of the structural plane angle?
The structural plane angle controls the direction of crack extension and strain evolution. Rock is prone to instantaneous slip failure at angles between 45° and 75°, with lower strength and significant infrared radiation changes.
How does the OTA monitoring method contribute to rockburst early warning?
The distinct optical-thermal-acoustic characteristics observed during rupture validate the method's reliability for rockburst early warning and intensity assessment, providing a multi-parameter approach for monitoring.
What practical applications does the established failure criterion have?
The shear failure criterion for anchored structural planes enables prediction of rock mass failure modes, analysis of bolt support resistance, and provides a reference for support design and construction in underground engineering within complex strata.
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