ABSTRACT
It is postulated that, for any rock mass, a relationship exists between the stresses acting within the rock mass, the rock mass’s stiffness (which may reflect ongoing failure), the seismic wave propagation characteristics of the rock mass, and the seismic energy released within the rock mass as a result of failure. The above can be called the rock mass’s stress-stiffness-velocity-seismicity (σ-E-v-s) relation.
For mining in brittle rock, it is proposed that an understanding of the rock mass σ-E-v-s relation can assist the engineer in delineating different geomechanical domains, determining rock mass properties, identifying rock mass deformation mechanisms, and quantifying the effects of rock mass failure. This understanding is generated through linkage analysis of data obtained from conventional geomechanical procedures, numerical stress analysis, and seismic methods. Ultimately, the mine design engineer may then use this understanding to develop safer and more productive mining strategies. Case histories from Canadian hard rock mines are used to demonstrate the above theoretical concepts under normal mine operating conditions.
