A geomechanical model of mining-induced seismicity

On the basis of an analysis of fracture events which occurred with pillars in the potash mines of the GDR a dynamic model of rock bursts is presented. This model starts from the idea that the overburden is accelerated as soon as a sudden decrease in the load-bearing capacity of the pillar array happens. Due to the resulting local stress release the immediate roof sinks in the form of a dying oscillation which is considered the source of the intensive release of energy in the low-frequency range. The action of forces associated with this oscillation process is simulated as a pointlike source of distortion and the relations referring to the strain of the surface are derived for the near-field case.