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A displacement-dependent moment tensor method for simulating fault-slip induced seismicity

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Abstract

Fault-slip induced by underground longwall mining could trigger dynamic failure to nearby mine openings. A better understanding of fault-slip behavior and the associated seismicity is significant for estimating the triggered damage and finding a feasible way to predict potential larger events. In this study, a displacement-dependent moment tensor method is introduced and embedded in the FLAC3D code to simulate both small-scale direct shear test and field-scale mining-induced fault slip. For the direct shear test model, the numerical results agree well with reported experiments in respect to mechanical behavior and seismicity characteristics, such as moment magnitude, frequency-magnitude distribution (FMD), and variation of b-value. Numerical results show that a clustering process is essential to produce realistic FMD, and associated parameters are given. Material heterogeneity of the fault influences the event magnitude. Based on a case study, a field-scale model is built to investigate the fault-slip behavior as a longwall face approaches a fault. For individual contacts, ΔCFF (Coulomb Failure Function) is a useful indicator to evaluate the likelihood of slip. It gradually increases, followed by a quick rise before slip occurs, but sharply drops after slipping. Numerical simulation shows that shear slip initializes on the roof segment of the fault and gradually migrates to the seam and floor segments. Seismicity starts on the roof segment when the longwall face is 100 m away from the fault, but it increases strongly when the distance is less than 50 m and gradually moves toward the seam and floor segments, which is consistent with field observations. Simulated magnitude of the events and the b-value (0.8) also show reasonable agreement with field measurements. The numerical simulation also indicates that a significant drop in b-value usually precedes larger events triggered in the following advancement of the longwall face, which can be regarded as a precursor for larger events.

Article Highlights

  • A displacement-dependent moment tensor method is proposed to reproduce the slip process and the associated seismicity as a longwall face approaches a fault.

  • Shear slip initializes on the roof segment of the fault and gradually transfers to the seam and floor segments.

  • A significant drop in b-value can be a precursor for large events induced by subsequent fault-slip and provide opportunities to mitigate damages.

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(modified from (Itasca Consulting Group Inc. 2017)). The zone (or interface) size (dz) is marked

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Acknowledgements

Financial support for this study is provided by the open fund of the State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources in Western China (SKLCRKF20-06) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51704278). The first author (Q. Bai) also appreciates the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for supporting his research in Germany. We thank the two anonymous reviewers for insightful comments, which greatly improved the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources in Western China, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, 710054, Xi’an, China

    Qingsheng Bai & Ziwei Ding

  2. Geotechnical Institute, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Gustav-Zeuner-Straße 1, 09599, Freiberg, Germany

    Qingsheng Bai & Heinz Konietzky

  3. State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, School of Mines, China University of Mining and Technology, 221116, Xuzhou, China

    Wu Cai

  4. State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, School of Energy and Mining Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology Beijing, 100083, Beijing, China

    Cun Zhang

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  1. Qingsheng Bai
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Bai, Q., Konietzky, H., Ding, Z. et al. A displacement-dependent moment tensor method for simulating fault-slip induced seismicity. Geomech. Geophys. Geo-energ. Geo-resour. 7, 79 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-021-00269-y

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