A review of rockburst prevention and control methods in tunnels: graded and classified prevention and control

Rockbursts, as a kind of dynamic disaster that exists in tunnels for a long time, are of incalculable harm, which may lead to huge human and economic losses and seriously threaten the safety of tunnel construction. Adopting targeted prevention and control methods for different levels of rockbursts is the key to ensure safe tunnel construction. This study presents a comprehensive review of rockburst methods in the last decade and points out the urgency of strengthening research in this field. According to the principles of rockburst prevention and control: Slight rockburst from the control of the intrinsic factors of rockburst to improve the surrounding rock properties as the key, the main method of high-pressure water spraying and microwave heating; medium rockburst from the control of the rockburst stress conditions, in order to reduce the stress of the surrounding rock as the focus of the main method of drilling pressure relief and de-stress blasting; strong rockburst in order to improve the resistance of the surrounding rock as the focus of the main method of shotcrete, energy-absorbing bolts and steel support. This study introduces the mechanism of these seven measures in detail and analyzes their effectiveness. The role of joint control in dealing with very strong rockbursts is emphasized through the analysis of two actual engineering cases. In addition, the limitations of each method when facing different levels of rockbursts are discussed, and the development direction of different rockburst control methods is pointed out, in order to provide guidance and reference for similar practical projects.