Geological and geophysical models and methods for assessing the stability of natural-technical systems in the underground mining of salt deposits

There are more than 80 salt mines in the world that have been flooded in emergency mode, mainly due to insufficient information about engineering and geological conditions. In this regard, the problem of forming favorable scenarios for the development of the sustainability of natural-technical systems (NTS) during the underground development of salt deposits is very relevant. The purpose of the work was to develop scientific and methodological foundations for assessing and predicting the stability of NTS during underground mining of salt deposits. The idea of the work was to evaluate and forecast the stability of the NTS based on the established patterns of propagation of elastic waves in an array under man–made influence. To achieve this goal, methods of physical and numerical modeling, experiments, and statistical analysis were used. The results of experimental and scientific research works were used as research materials. The developed scientific and methodological foundations are based on geophysical and engineering-geological models of NTS, which make it possible to identify dangerous engineering-geological processes, and on methods for assessing the engineering-geological conditions of the water barrier and predicting the stability of waterproofing structures. The developed methodology makes it possible to assess and forecast the stability of the NTS to ensure the safe construction and operation of facilities during the underground development of salt deposits. The research results are implemented in methods and software products that are used in the production process to ensure the stability of underground structures and substations in general. The new geological information obtained was taken into account in the construction of engineering and geological models, the design of sinking and laying operations, the development and implementation of projects for exploration and additional exploration of various sections of the Verkhnekamskoye salt deposit, and the implementation of projects to eliminate sections of mine fields.

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