Development of an advanced rock support technology for rockburst-prone mines

随着采矿向深部推进，采矿引起的岩石破坏、地震活动和冲击地压问题显著增加。作为一道重要的防线，地面控制措施和防爆围岩支护被用来防止或最大限度地减少对开挖的破坏，提高工作场所的安全。现有的围岩支护技术采用双通道系统，即在掘进巷道时，在第一通道安装钢筋网状或喷射混凝土形式的标准支架。稍后，机组人员将在第二次传递中安装防爆屈服支架。这种双通道系统显著减缓了漂移的发展。此外，由于人工成本是地面支撑中成本最高的项目，因此需要额外打孔，因此岩石支护成本较高。 工程上的挑战是开发一种先进的岩石支撑技术，以便在易发生冲击的地面上应用。该项目的目标是：(1)通过先进的数值模拟，采用并进一步证明发明一种新型加固屈服锚杆的概念；(2)制造用于实验室和现场测试的新型锚杆原型；(3)探索将该技术转化为产品的可能性。所采用的方法是数值模拟、原型制作、实验室和现场测试相结合的方法。 这项研究的结果将有助于加拿大的矿产资源部门，使其能够以更有成效但风险更低的方式回收资源。利用新开发的岩石支护技术，一旦巷道开挖后立即安装锚杆，它们不仅可以加固岩体，而且具有保护工人免受强烈岩石破坏所需的动态支撑能力。由于支架系统是一次性安装的，因此巷道掘进的速度比现有的支架技术要快。这将反过来转化为生产率的显著提高。

As mining progresses to deep grounds, mining-induced rock failure, seismicity and rockburst problems increase significantly. As an important line of defense, ground control measures and burst-resistant rock support are used to prevent or minimize damage to excavations and enhance workplace safety. Existing rock support technologies use a two-pass system, i.e., standard support in the form of rebar with mesh or shotcrete is installed in the first pass when the drift is excavated. At a later time, the crew will install the burst-resistant yielding support in the second pass. This two-pass system slows down drift development significantly. In addition, the cost of rock support is high because extra boreholes need to be drilled as labor cost constitutes the highest cost item in ground support. The engineering challenge is to develop an advanced rock support technology for application in burst-prone grounds. The objectives of the project are to: (1) adopt and further prove the concept of an invention of a new reinforcing-yielding rockbolt through advanced numerical simulation; (2) fabricate prototypes of the new rockbolt for lab and field testing; (3) explore the possibility of moving the technology into a product. The approach to be adopted is a combined application of numerical simulation, prototyping, and laboratory and field testing. The outcome of the research will contribute to the mineral resource sector in Canada by allowing for resource recovery in a more productive but less risky manner. Using the developed new rock support technology, once rockbolts are installed immediately after a drift is excavated, they not only reinforce the rock mass but also possess dynamic support capability which is needed to protect workers from violent rock failure. Because the support system is installed in one pass, the speed of drift development is higher than that by using existing support technologies. This will in turn translate into significant productivity improvement.