An analytical framework to assess static versus dynamic triggering of fault-slip rockbursts

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Pan, Wenbo, Zhang, Zixin, Lei, Qinghua
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Pan, Wenbo
Zhang, Zixin
Lei, Qinghua
author_facet Pan, Wenbo
Zhang, Zixin
Lei, Qinghua
contents Fault-slip rockbursts, triggered by seismic rupture of nearby or remote faults, constitute a significant geohazard during deep underground excavations. Although these events occur frequently in underground projects, their underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Most studies tacitly assume dynamic stress waves as the main triggering factor, often disregarding the role of coseismic static stress changes associated with fault slip. This paper introduces a novel analytical framework to diagnose both static and dynamic coseismic stress perturbations and quantify their contributions to fault-slip rockburst around a circular tunnel. Building on linear elastic fracture mechanics, seismic source theory, and the Kirsch solution, the model assesses whether coseismically elevated maximum tangential stress on the tunnel boundary under static and dynamic triggering effects is sufficient to induce failure around the tunnel. We extensively test our framework using synthetic case studies that represent typical fault-slip rockburst scenarios. Our results yield a rockburst hazard map that delineates regions of elevated triggering potential in the near-field and far-field of the seismogenic fault, and classify the triggering types as static, dynamic, or dual. We perform a comprehensive parametric sensitivity analysis to investigate how key factors, including seismic source characteristics, rock mass properties, and in-situ stress conditions, influence the spatial distribution of rockburst susceptibility. The model is further applied to a historical fault-slip rockburst event at the Gotthard Base Tunnel, effectively capturing the triggering mechanism of the observed failure. Our research provides a physically grounded and computationally efficient analytical framework with the results carrying significant implications for rockburst hazard assessments during deep underground excavations.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_07023
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle An analytical framework to assess static versus dynamic triggering of fault-slip rockbursts
Pan, Wenbo
Zhang, Zixin
Lei, Qinghua
Geophysics
Fault-slip rockbursts, triggered by seismic rupture of nearby or remote faults, constitute a significant geohazard during deep underground excavations. Although these events occur frequently in underground projects, their underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Most studies tacitly assume dynamic stress waves as the main triggering factor, often disregarding the role of coseismic static stress changes associated with fault slip. This paper introduces a novel analytical framework to diagnose both static and dynamic coseismic stress perturbations and quantify their contributions to fault-slip rockburst around a circular tunnel. Building on linear elastic fracture mechanics, seismic source theory, and the Kirsch solution, the model assesses whether coseismically elevated maximum tangential stress on the tunnel boundary under static and dynamic triggering effects is sufficient to induce failure around the tunnel. We extensively test our framework using synthetic case studies that represent typical fault-slip rockburst scenarios. Our results yield a rockburst hazard map that delineates regions of elevated triggering potential in the near-field and far-field of the seismogenic fault, and classify the triggering types as static, dynamic, or dual. We perform a comprehensive parametric sensitivity analysis to investigate how key factors, including seismic source characteristics, rock mass properties, and in-situ stress conditions, influence the spatial distribution of rockburst susceptibility. The model is further applied to a historical fault-slip rockburst event at the Gotthard Base Tunnel, effectively capturing the triggering mechanism of the observed failure. Our research provides a physically grounded and computationally efficient analytical framework with the results carrying significant implications for rockburst hazard assessments during deep underground excavations.
title An analytical framework to assess static versus dynamic triggering of fault-slip rockbursts
topic Geophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.07023