Numerical investigation of the energy absorption mechanisms of the selected

In a numerical investigation of underground rock support, high-stiffness boundary conditions reduced the energy absorption of combined support systems by approximately 50 percent compared to low-stiffness boundary conditions.

Ground support systems in underground mining operations are critical for maintaining excavation stability, protecting personnel, and sustaining continuous mineral production. In burst-prone mines, these structural installations face severe operational demands, requiring them to withstand dynamic impact loading and accommodate substantial ground deformation. Underground facilities typically employ an integrated combination of rock reinforcement and surface support elements to preserve the structural integrity of excavations under dynamic stress.

Developing effective ground support requires a detailed understanding of how individual components behave and interact under rapid dynamic loading. The investigation focused on evaluating the mechanical behaviour of common surface support components, specifically welded wire mesh and fibre-reinforced shotcrete, alongside standard reinforcement elements. The primary research objective was to develop three-dimensional explicit finite element models that capture the primary load–displacement responses, load redistribution patterns, and failure modes observed in controlled laboratory experiments.

The combined support system was tested under two distinct boundary conditions representing high-stiffness and low-stiffness environments. The simulations showed that mesh restraint significantly governed energy absorption; while the high-stiffness system absorbed 50 percent less energy, the low-stiffness configuration reduced mesh restraint to enable more efficient load distribution, yielding an energy absorption capacity approximately 10 percent higher than the theoretical value.

The explicit finite element models also revealed critical failure mechanisms within the interconnected support components under dynamic loading. Specifically, the simulation results demonstrated that localized stress concentrations formed at the connection between the bolt and the wire mesh, significantly elevating the risk of physical failure.

The study highlights the necessity of selecting appropriate boundary conditions in numerical simulations to achieve a realistic representation of underground ground support performance. The authors noted that the calibrated numerical models provide a reliable tool for evaluating support performance under dynamic impact loading and identifying potential failure mechanisms to improve engineering reliability. In addition, the calibrated models can be utilized in future research to examine the combined response of support elements and develop more effective ground control strategies in dynamic mining environments.

Subject of Research: Numerical modeling of dynamic energy absorption in underground mine ground support systems

Article Title: Numerical investigation of the energy absorption mechanisms of the selected ground support elements

Article References: Karatas Batan, C., Akdag, S., Zhang, C., Oh, J., & Saydam, S. (2026). Numerical investigation of the energy absorption mechanisms of the selected ground support elements. Geomechanics and Geophysics for Geo-Energy and Geo-Resources, 12(1), Article 143. doi.org/10.1007/s40948-026-01212-9

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s40948-026-01212-9

Keywords: ground support systems, energy absorption, explicit FEM, welded wire mesh, fibre-reinforced shotcrete, Falcon Bolt, burst-prone mines, dynamic loading, high-stiffness boundary conditions, low-stiffness boundary conditions, load-displacement response, rock reinforcement, surface support elements, stress concentrations, excavation stability, numerical simulation