The influence of the fault zone width on land surface vibrations after the high-energy tremor in the “Rydułtowy-Anna” hard coal mine

Abstract

In the article, a numerical analysis of the impact of the width of the fault zone on land surface tremors on the area of the “Rydułtowy – Anna” hard coal mine was performed. The analysis covered the dynamic impact of the actual seismic wave after the high-energy tremor of 7 June 2013. Vibrations on the land surface are a measure of the mining damage risk. It is particularly the horizontal components of land vibrations that are dangerous to buildings which is reflected in the Mining Scales of Intensity (GSI) of vibrations. The run of a seismic wave in the rock mass from the hypocenter to the area’s surface depends on the lithology of the area and the presence of fault zones. The rock mass network cut by faults of various widths influences the amplitude of tremor reaching the area’s surface. The analysis of the impact of the width of the fault zone was done for three alternatives.

Keywords

• fault zone
• surface vibrations
• high-energy tremor