Abstract: In light of the limitation of analyzing the single spalling rock plate by the existing catastrophe theory, studying the spalling rock plates as a whole is put forward; the catastrophe theory applied to the rockburst analysis is improved, considering the horizontal stress between the splitting rock plates. Based on this, the rockburst proneness of single rock plate and combined spalling rock plates are calculated and compared respectively under the conditions of quasi-static and dynamic disturbance. The results show that: under the condition of quasi-static, the eigenvalue Δ of single rock plate changes gently while the eigenvalue Δ of combined spalling rock plates increases rapidly because of the large equivalent flexural rigidity; the rockburst depth of combined rock plates is obviously larger than that of single rock plate; and the depth reaches 0.76 m. As the thickness of rock plate increases, eigenvalue Δ grows up gradually and the sufficient condition of rockburst in no longer fulfilled. However, the catastrophe condition can be fulfilled again if external vertical disturbing stress is applied on the rock plates and the external stress needed increases from several MPa to tens of MPa.

Key words: rockburst, single rock plate, combined rock plates, catastrophe, quasi-static, dynamic disturbance