In order to investigate the micro-process and inner mechanism of rock failure under impact loading, the laboratory tests were carried out on an improved split Hopkinson pressure bar （SHPB） system with synchronized measurement devices including a high-speed camera and a dynamic strain meter. The experimental results show that the specimens were in the state of good stress equilibrium during the post failure stage even when visible cracks were forming in the specimens. Rock specimens broke into strips but still could bear the external stress and keep force balance. Meanwhile, numerical tests with particle flow code （PFC） revealed that the failure process of rocks can be described by the evolution of micro-fractures. Shear cracks emerged firstly and stopped developing when the external stress was not high enough. Tensile cracks, however, emerged when the rock specimen reached its peak strength and played an important role in controlling the ultimate failure during the post failure stage.
According to the actual conditions in Sanshandao Gold Mine, the cancelling ore pillars mining method was researched. Firstly, a series of tests for the physical and mechanical characteristics of rock mass were carried out and a quality classification system of rock mass applied in coastal metal deposit was established. Secondly, the reasonable demarcation depth of cancelling ore pillars was simulated using the finite element method, and the simulation results show that the ore pillars can be cancelled below the level of-555 m. Thirdly, a novel layer-backfill mining method of room-pillar alternation was designed to reduce the disturbance and settlement of terrain in mining area. Engineering practice shows that the new mining method enhanced the mining output and relieved rock disturbance. Furthermore, the settlement of the roof strata was small and no disaster occurred. The new mining technology effectively controlled the deformation of the terrain, indicating that the mining of the large-scale gold coastal deposit in Sanshandao Gold Mine was achieved safely, efficiently, and with a low loss rate.
The mechanical properties of red sandstone subjected to cyclic point loading were investigated. Tests were conducted using MTS servohydraulic landmark test system, under cyclic loadings with constant amplitudes and increasing multi-level amplitudes. The frequencies range from 0.1 to 5 Hz and lower limit load ratios range from 0 to 0.60. Laboratory investigations were performed to find the effect of the frequency and the lower limit load ratio on the fatigue life and hysteresis properties of sandstone. The results show that the fatigue life of sandstone decreases first and then increases with the increase of frequency and lower limit load ratio. Under the same cycle number, the spacing between hysteresis loops increases with rising frequency and decreasing lower limit load ratio. The existence of “training” and “memory” effects in red sandstone under cyclic point loading was proved.
The strength of rock materials is largely affected by water and loading conditions, but there are few studies on mechanical properties of saturated rocks at high strain rates. Through compressive tests on dry and saturated sandstone specimens, it was found that the dynamic compressive strength of both dry and saturated sandstone specimens increased with the increase of strain rates. The saturated rock specimens showed stronger rate dependence than the dry ones. The water affecting factor （WAF）, as the ratio of the strength under dry state to that under saturated state, was introduced to describe the influence of water on the compressive strength at different strain rates. The WAF under static load was close to 1.38, and decreased with the increase of strain rate. When the strain rate reached 190 s^-1, the WAF reduced to 0.98. It indicates that the compressive strength of saturated specimens can be higher than that of dry ones when the strain rate is high enough. Furthermore, the dual effects of water and strain rate on the strength of rock were discussed based on sliding crack model, which provided a good explanation for the experimental results.
