Rockburst proneness criteria for rock materials: Review and new insights

To review the rockburst proneness (or tendency) criteria of rock materials and compare the judgment accuracy of them, twenty criteria were summarized, and their judgment accuracy was evaluated and compared based on the laboratory tests on fourteen types of rocks. This study begins firstly by introducing the twenty rockburst proneness criteria, and their origins, definitions, calculation methods and grading standards were summarized in detail. Subsequently, to evaluate and compare the judgment accuracy of the twenty criteria, a series of laboratory tests were carried out on fourteen types of rocks, and the rockburst proneness judgment results of the twenty criteria for the fourteen types of rocks were obtained accordingly. Moreover, to provide a unified basis for the judgment accuracy evaluation of above criteria, a classification standard (obtained according to the actual failure results and phenomena of rock specimen) of rockburst proneness in laboratory tests was introduced. The judgment results of the twenty criteria were compared with the judgment results of this classification standard. The results show that the judgment results of the criterion based on residual elastic energy (REE) index are completely consistent with the actual rockburst proneness, and the other criteria have some inconsistent situations more or less. Moreover, the REE index is based on the linear energy storage law and defined in form of a difference value and considered the whole failure process, and these superior characteristics ensure its accuracy. It is believed that the criterion based on REE index is comparatively more accurate and scientific than other criteria, and it can be recommended to be applied to judge the rockburst proneness of rock materials.