Mechanical mechanism of surrounding rock’s energy accumulation-release adjustment in the deep roadway

Abstract The mine disaster's essence is the accumulation and release of surrounding rock's energy. By focusing on the full cycle process of rectangular roadway's “excavation-deformation-instability” in a deep non-isobaric stress environment, the mechanical equations of surrounding rock's each part's energy in the elastic/plastic stage are obtained by considering the influence of softening characteristics on the energy evolution. Herein, the mechanical mechanism of deep roadway surrounding rock's energy accumulation-release adjustment is revealed. Based on a specific engineering case, the mechanical derivation process is verified, and the sensitivity analysis for influencing parameters of each part's energy is carried out. The results show that in the elastic stage, the sensitivity ranking is lateral pressure coefficient > initial ground stress > roadway size > supporting force. In the plastic stage, the sensitivity ranking is initial ground stress > lateral pressure coefficient > roadway size > softening modulus > supporting force. The difference between the accumulated energy and the released energy can be defined as the kinetic energy by inducing rockbursts. Combined with the distribution characteristics of the released energy in the roadway side's different parts, the idea of the roadway side's energy release zoning control is formed based on reducing the kinetic energy's goal.