Numerical investigation of seismic wavefield characteristics induced by a tensile source in a heterogeneous mining environment

Abstract

Mining-induced tremors serve as the main dynamic stress source of coal bursts which represent one type of the most critical mining disasters in underground coal mines. To evaluate coal burst risks and comprehend the response of the coal-rock mass to seismic waves, microseismic monitoring stands as the principal method. By inferring the zones with elevated coal burst risks based on the seismic event clusters, valuable insights can be gained. However, because of limited seismic monitoring results generated from an individual seismic event, the recognition of the corresponding dynamic disturbance process remains ambiguous. The dynamic disturbance process presents immense complexity due to the focal mechanism and heterogeneous medium, particularly under the effect of structural heterogeneity induced by large-scale mining operations. In this study, forward numerical modelling was employed to gain the comprehension of seismic wave propagation affected by extraction zones. The findings revealed heightened intricacy of the wavefields and increased displacement concentrations around the working face. The characteristics of peak particle velocity (PPV) and displacement spectra were investigated in the near- and far-field zones, respectively. Owing to the existence of the extraction zone, both a significant amplification effect and the redistribution of PPV were observed around the near-field zone. The intricate wavefield caused by the focal mechanism and extraction zones resulted in more scattered distributions of the low-frequency spectral level, which can potentially cause an overestimation of source intensity. However, the impact of the complex wavefield on the corner frequency was limited. Through the analysis of the PPV attenuation law, as well as the distribution of both seismic moment and source radius, this study offered valuable insights for seismic risk assessment. The forward modelling approach facilitated the identification of high-risk potential areas resulting from seismic events, which deepened our comprehension of the dynamic disturbance process in the complex underground mine environment.