Excavation-induced microseismicity and rockburst occurrence: Similarities and differences between deep parallel tunnels with alternating soft-hard strata

Abstract

Excavation-induced microseismicity and rockburst occurrence in deep underground projects provide invaluable information that can be used to warn rockburst occurrence, facilitate rockburst mitigation procedures, and analyze the mechanisms responsible for their occurrence. Based on the deep parallel tunnels with the maximum depth of 1890 m created as part of the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project in Pakistan, similarities and differences on excavation-induced microseismicity and rockburst occurrence between parallel tunnels with soft and hard alternant strata are studied. Results show that a large number of microseismic (MS) events occurred in each of the parallel tunnels during excavation. Rockbursts occurred most frequently in certain local sections of the two tunnels. Significant differences are found in the excavation-induced microseismicity (spatial distribution and number of MS events, distribution of MS energy, and pattern of microseismicity variation) and rockbursts characteristics (the number and the spatial distribution) between the parallel tunnels. Attempting to predict the microseismicity and rockburst intensities likely to be encountered in subsequent tunnel based on the activity encountered when the parallel tunnel was previously excavated will not be an easy or accurate procedure in deep tunnel projects involving complex lithological conditions.