Energy Generation and Attenuation of Blast-Induced Seismic Waves under In Situ Stress Conditions

Abstract

During blasting in deep mining and excavation, the rock masses usually suffer from high in situ stress. The initial seismic energy generated in deep rock blasting and its attenuation with distance is first theoretically analyzed in this study. Numerical modeling of the multiple-hole blasting in a circular tunnel excavation under varied in situ stress conditions is then conducted to investigate the influences of in situ stress levels and anisotropy on the blasting seismic energy generation and attenuation. The case study of the deep rock blasting in the China Jinping Underground Laboratory (CJPL) is finally presented to demonstrate the seismic energy attenuation laws under varied in situ stress levels. The results show that with the increase in the in situ stress level, the explosive energy consumed in the rock fracture is reduced, and more explosive energy is converted into seismic energy. The increasing in situ stress causes the seismic Q of the rock mass medium to first increase and then decrease, and consequently, the seismic energy attenuation rate first decreases and then increases. Compared to the condition without in situ stress, the blasting seismic energy decays more slowly with distance under in situ stress. Then the seismic waves generated in deep rock blasting are more likely to reach and exceed the peak particle velocity (PPV) limits stipulated in the blasting vibration standards. Under non-hydrostatic in situ stress, the generation and attenuation of the blasting seismic energy are anisotropic. The highest seismic energy density is generated in the rock mass in the minimum principal stress orientation. Its attenuation is dependent upon the in situ stress aligning the wave propagation orientation.

Keywords

• blasting
• in situ stress
• seismic energy
• energy attenuation
• rock fracture