| The objective of this thesis into support in burst-prone ground is to establish an energy-based support design methodology for mitigating the catastrophic effects of rockbursting in underground mine environments.; Research which was carried out at the Queen's University Camden East test site, on a limestone surface outcrop, seeks to assess the response of conventional support systems and innovative spray-on lining materials for preventing damage effects due to rockbursting.; Separate blasts on thirty-two 5 m x 4 m sites, with rock being supported either with conventional or innovative spray-on lining materials, were conducted to simulate dynamic failure effects created by rockbursts. The ground support systems used in the study comprised conventional support, such as shotcrete and steel fibre shotcrete spray media, weld mesh and rockbolts, and a variety of innovative materials such as Mineguard, Rockguard, Rockweb and Masterseal. These support systems were subjected to the direct effects of shockwaves induced by blasting, thereby simulating a rockburst situation.; Seismic and photographic techniques were used to measure block ejection velocities, rock surface fracturing, peak particle velocities and support reinforcement capabilities during the blasts. Results show that polymers (or thin spray-on linings) appear to have equivalent or greater capabilities for mitigating the dynamic failure effects of rockbursts than do conventional support systems. Visual inspection of the test sites confirmed the results of seismic and photographic measurements. |
