Understanding the excavation-induced deformation and failure behaviors of the URL (underground research laboratory) for the geological disposal of HLW (high-level radioactive waste) before its construction is essential due to its high safety requirements. To reveal the interaction between structures, the effect of supporting and the characteristics of the overloading-induced damage and safety factor, we carried out a physical model test on the deep underground chamber groups consisting of one main roadway and two parking lots (one is supported, the other is not supported), and the engineering background is the URL of HLW for the geological disposal in Beishan. This type of geomechanical model test is still the first to be carried out so far. The test results confirm that the chamber group is generally stable during the excavation process. After the excavation, the displacement of the intersection is 7–33% larger than that of the non-intersection. The displacement of the supported chamber is reduced by 14–22% compared with that without support. The tension of the bolt at the vault top is greater than that at the waist of the cave. Without support, the safety coefficient of crack initiation is 1.7; the safety coefficient of local destruction is 2.1; and the safety coefficient of general demolition is 2.3. In contrast, the safety coefficient of crack initiation is 1.9; the safety coefficient of local destruction is 2.2; and the safety coefficient of general demolition is 2.4 when the rock mass is supported. The research results provide an important basis for optimizing design schemes and evaluating the safety of the construction process for URL.

The impact risk evaluation for the strip filling of working faces has always been a research hotspot and a difficulty in the field of rock bursts. In this paper, the concept of the critical filling rate is first proposed, and the criterion for identifying the impact risk of the strip filling of a working face is established. Then, the membership function of coal body stress and the coal seam elastic energy index to impact risk was established, and the classification index of the impact risk grade was formed. On this basis, the overall and local evaluation method of the rock burst hazard for the strip filling of working faces was proposed. Finally, the C8301 working face of the Yunhe coal mine was taken as the engineering background, and the impact risk evaluation was carried out. It was found that the overall risk of the C8301 working face was determined as a strong impact risk, and there were six local risk areas, which included two weak impact risk areas, two medium impact risk areas, and two strong impact risk areas. This study can provide guidance and a reference for the impact risk evaluation of strip-filling mining under the same or similar conditions.

During drill-and-blast construction, complex and variable rock masses are frequently encountered. Owing to the transient nature of the explosion process and the randomness of crack propagation, the response of different rock masses to explosive loading is highly intricate. This study primarily investigates the dynamic response of rock masses with varying strengths under two different charge configurations. First, four cement mortar specimens of differing strengths were prepared then subjected to general blasting and slit charge blasting, respectively. High-speed cameras and digital image correlation techniques were employed to capture and analyse stress wave propagation and crack propagation during detonation. Fractal dimension analysis was subsequently employed to quantify and compare the extent of damage in the specimens. Findings indicate that rock strength influences stress wave attenuation patterns: lower-strength rocks exhibit higher peak strains but faster decay rates. Crack propagation velocity was calculated by deploying monitoring points along fracture paths and defining fracture initiation thresholds. Higher rock strength correlates with both peak and average crack propagation velocities. Slit charge blasting effectively optimizes damage distribution, concentrating it within the intended directions while reducing chaotic fracturing. These findings provide scientific justification for blasting operations in complex rock formations.

The study of mechanical response and crack propagation behavior of layered composite rock mass is helpful for the efficient extraction of geological energy and the safety and stability of underground space structures. The shale is a heterogeneous rock, which is often mixed with mudstone and sandstone. Studying the propagation law of cracks in layered composite rock mass can better serve underground engineering. In this paper, three different strength rock materials (coarse sandstone, red sandstone, and gray sandstone) were spliced together to make three-point bending specimens with prefabricated cracks in the middle, and three-point bending experiments under different loading rates were carried out. The digital image correlation method was used to visualize the strain distribution in the three-point bending experiment, and the difference in crack propagation in different layered composite rock masses was studied. The numerical simulation is established by the cohesive element, and the correctness of the simulation is verified by the displacement-load data. Then the crack propagation speed under different conditions is studied. The results show that there are differences and similarities in the crack propagation process in different strength gradient composite rock masses. When the crack propagates from strong to weak, the crack tip receives more complex tensile shear force, which facilitates the crack crossing the interface. As the loading speed increases, the earlier the prefabricated crack initiates, the shorter the time it stays at the joint surface. When the crack propagates from strong to weak, the crack propagation is more penetrating.