Exploration and practice in digital rock mechanics engineering

Traditional mining engineering has long been trapped in the dilemma of “coexistence of mining operations and inherent risks”. The duality of its high-risk nature and resource contribution has become increasingly prominent under deep mining conditions. As coal mining depth increases, the superposition of deteriorating static geological conditions and dynamic engineering disturbances frequently triggers problems such as roadway surrounding rock instability and stope failure. Conventional rock mechanics theories, relying heavily on simplified assumptions, are increasingly inadequate in complex engineering scenarios. In recent years, remarkable advancements have been made in coal mine digitalization and intellectualization; the popularization of sensor technology has significantly enhanced engineering condition perception capabilities. However, issues including fragmented data governance, lagging theoretical cognition, and disconnection between theory and engineering practice have led digital technologies to fall into a “flashy but impractical” bottleneck. To address these challenges, a digital rock mechanics solution is proposed by integrating data regularity, mechanical logic, and engineering experience. It establishes a technical pathway of “comprehensive perception-digital-driven-proactive hazard mitigation-pressure-relief mining”, aiming to construct a new paradigm of scientific mining centred on digital engineering. Specifically: Static geological information is activated through digital exploration and 3D modeling (geological assurance first, laying the foundation for transparent mining); The dynamic engineering environment is optimized via intelligent perception and machine learning (hazard prevention at the design source, forging a mining-friendly engineering setting); The transformation from “passive response” to “active prevention and control” is realized (digital engineering technologies enabling precise pressure relief and autonomous linkage of coordinated control). This pathway not only resolves key technical bottlenecks, such as roadway deformation and stope instability in deep mining, promoting innovation and transformation from engineering disaster causation to engineering disaster prevention, but also facilitates the safe and efficient mining of kilometre-deep wells, thereby safeguarding national energy security. The engineering paradigm of digital rock mechanics is expected to revolutionize underground rock engineering, offering sustainable, safe, and intelligent solutions for the coal industry and related fields.