Dynamic modelling of fault-slip with Barton׳s shear strength model

• Faults with intermediate fault surface roughness cause the most severe fault-slip.
• Intensely undulating faults release large seismic energy during fault-slip.
• PPV has a strong correlation with the energy released during fault-slip.

Barton׳s shear strength model has been incorporated into the FLAC3D code as a ubiquitous joint model using the plastic flow rule, to analyze the potential effect of fault-slip bursts on mine openings. Comparison of the incorporated model with the classical Mohr–Coulomb model is conducted through a case study of a primary fault that is parallel to a steeply dipping tabular ore deposit, which is mined out by the sublevel stoping method. Based on the results obtained from the numerical analyses, seismic source parameters are calculated and compared for each case. The results show that faults having rough surfaces tend to cause much larger seismic events than faults with smooth surfaces. In addition, parametrical study with respect to fault-surface roughness shows that seismic moment and radiated energy significantly vary with the fault-surface roughness and the seismic moment does not necessarily correlate with the radiated energy. Peak particle velocity excited by seismic waves arising from the simulated fault-slips is also examined. It is found out from the results that peak particle velocity is strongly dependent upon the fault surface roughness and has a correlation with the radiated energy, but not with seismic moment.