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Nafta i Plin, Vol. 46 No. 186. - 187., 2026.

Professional paper

Determination of Instability Modes and Fracture Mechanics of Hard Thick-Bedded Rocks

Zlatko Briševac orcid id orcid.org/0000-0001-7810-8255 ; Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering

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Abstract

This paper presents the objectives, methodological framework, and expected scientific contribution of the NPOO project “Determination of Instability Modes and Fracture Mechanics of Hard Thick-Bedded Rocks Surrounding Underground Openings” (acronym ONMELS), funded by the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility. The research focuses on the systematic experimental determination of the physical and mechanical properties of intact rock material and discontinuities, and their integration into analytical and numerical models of rock mass behaviour. Special emphasis is placed on laboratory testing, which forms the basis for reliable interpretation of deformation processes and the development of various instability modes within the zone influenced by underground openings. Laboratory investigations will also be conducted at other mineral deposit sites to ensure broader applicability of the results and to enable comparison of the behaviour of different rock mass types under similar geomechanical conditions. The expected project outcomes will contribute to the development of more reliable calculation methods and safer design of underground openings in hard thick-bedded rock masses.

Keywords

thick-bedded rocks; fracture mechanics; underground openings; rock mass; laboratory testing; stability

Hrčak ID:

349544

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/349544

Publication date:

10.7.2026.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 0 *

Publication date: 15 July 2026

Volume: 46

Issue: 186. - 187.

Pages: 71-74

DOI:

Article Information (continued)

Categories:

Subject: Stručni rad

Categories:

Subject: Professional Paper

Keywords:

Keyword: debelouslojene stijene

Keyword: mehanika loma

Keyword: podzemne prostorije

Keyword: stijenska masa

Keyword: laboratorijska ispitivanja

Keyword: stabilnost

Keywords:

Keyword: thick-bedded rocks

Keyword: fracture mechanics

Keyword: underground openings

Keyword: rock mass

Keyword: laboratory testing

Keyword: stability

Određivanje oblika nestabilnosti i mehanike loma čvrstih debelouslojenih stijena

Translated Title (en): Determination of Instability Modes and Fracture Mechanics of Hard Thick-Bedded Rocks

[ORCID] Zlatko Briševac[1]

Email: zlatko.brisevac@rgn.unizg.hr

 

Rudarsko-geološko-naftni fakultet Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering Pierottijeva ul. 6, 10000, Zagreb

[ORCID] Zlatko Briševac[*][1]

 

Rudarsko-geološko-naftni fakultet Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering Pierottijeva ul. 6, 10000, Zagreb

Author notes:

Correspondence to: [*] Zlatko Briševac, Rudarsko-geološko-naftni fakultet; Pierottijeva ul. 6, 10000, Zagreb zlatko.brisevac@rgn.unizg.hr

Abstract

U radu se predstavljaju ciljevi, metodološki pristup i očekivani znanstveni doprinos NPOO projekta „Određivanje oblika nestabilnosti i mehanike loma čvrstih debelouslojenih stijena oko podzemnih prostorija“ (akronim ONMELS), koji se financira sredstvima Mehanizma za oporavak i otpornost Europske unije. Istraživanje je usmjereno na sustavno eksperimentalno određivanje fizičko-mehaničkih značajki intaktnog stijenskog materijala i diskontinuiteta te na njihovu integraciju u analitičke i numeričke modele ponašanja stijenske mase. Poseban naglasak stavljen je na laboratorijska ispitivanja, koja čine osnovu za pouzdanu interpretaciju deformacijskih procesa i razvoj različitih oblika nestabilnosti u zoni utjecaja podzemnih prostorija. Laboratorijska istraživanja provoditi će se i na drugim ležištima mineralnih sirovina radi osiguravanja šire primjenjivosti rezultata i njihove usporedbe u sličnim geomehaničkim uvjetima. Očekivani rezultati projekta doprinose razvoju pouzdanijih metoda proračuna i sigurnijem projektiranju podzemnih prostorija u čvrstim debelouslojenim stijenama.

Translated Abstract

This paper presents the objectives, methodological framework, and expected scientific contribution of the NPOO project “Determination of Instability Modes and Fracture Mechanics of Hard Thick-Bedded Rocks Surrounding Underground Openings” (acronym ONMELS), funded by the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility. The research focuses on the systematic experimental determination of the physical and mechanical properties of intact rock material and discontinuities, and their integration into analytical and numerical models of rock mass behaviour. Special emphasis is placed on laboratory testing, which forms the basis for reliable interpretation of deformation processes and the development of various instability modes within the zone influenced by underground openings. Laboratory investigations will also be conducted at other mineral deposit sites to ensure broader applicability of the results and to enable comparison of the behaviour of different rock mass types under similar geomechanical conditions. The expected project outcomes will contribute to the development of more reliable calculation methods and safer design of underground openings in hard thick-bedded rock masses.

Uvod

Stijenska masa predstavlja izuzetno složenu geotehničku sredinu jer uključuje značajke intaktnog stijenskog materijala, diskontinuitete strukturnih elemenata i njihovo zajedničko djelovanje u obliku mase. Prilikom izgradnje podzemnih prostorija, poput rudničkih prostorija, komora i tunela, ponašanje stijenske mase očituje se kroz razvoj deformacija, pojavu različitih oblika nestabilnosti te mehanizme loma (Hoek et al., 1995.; Hoek and Brown, 1997.; Kaiser et al., 2000.; Jing and Hudson, 2002.; Martin et al., 2003.; Diederichs, 2007.). U općem smislu, ponašanje stijenske mase može se opisivati kao kontinuirana, diskontinuirana ili kvazikontinuirana geotehnička sredina. Međutim, u slučaju čvrstih debelouslojenih stijena (slika 1) često se javlja složeno ponašanje koje nije moguće u potpunosti opisati klasičnim pristupima mehanike kontinuuma ili diskontinuuma (Zhu and Zhao, 2004.). Stoga je potrebno sustavno istraživanje koje povezuje laboratorijska ispitivanja, terenska mjerenja te analitičke i numeričke metode (Hoek et al., 1995.; Hoek and Brown, 1997.; Wiles, 2006.). Dosadašnja istraživanja uglavnom su bila usmjerena na diskontinuirane stijenske mase kod kojih su dimenzije podzemnih prostorija znatno veće od razmaka diskontinuiteta (Bewick, 2021.). Takav pristup ne daje uvijek zadovoljavajuće rezultate u slučaju čvrstih debelouslojenih stijena, gdje značajke intaktnog materijala imaju izražen utjecaj na ukupno ponašanje sustava stijenska masa – podzemna prostorija (Martin et al., 2003.; Diederichs, 2007.).

Metode

Metode korištene u izradi rada.

Rezultati

Tekst rezultata

Rasprava

Tekst

Appendix/Dodatak -->

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