Work

Dual-Indicator Micro-Electro-Mechanical System Monitoring Method for Rock Instability Early Warning

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Traditional displacement monitoring struggles to provide early warnings for sudden rock collapses. This study proposes a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensor-based monitoring method using dual dynamic indicators. By analyzing sensor mechanisms through vibration dynamics theory and establishing theoretical models via moment equilibrium equations, we derived a quantitative correlation between natural frequency (NF) and safety factor, identifying a 4:3 scaling coefficient specific to toppling-type unstable rocks. An innovative stability criterion algorithm integrating NF and the root mean square velocity amplitude ratio (RMS-VAR) was developed, revealing that RMS-VAR detects stability degradation three times faster than tilt measurements. Laboratory tests confirmed MEMS sensors’ reliability in monitoring NF, amplitude ratio, and tilt angles, demonstrating that sensor deployment strategies and rock geometry jointly determine model accuracy. This quantitative approach offers a novel solution for monitoring sudden geological hazards, combining timeliness with cost-effectiveness.

Source: Applied Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/app15084210

Authors: Chen Chen, Mowen Xie, Yan Du, Xiaoyong Zhang

Institutions: University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing Water Science and Technology Institute

Language: English

Topic: Rock Mechanics and Modeling

Subfield: Mechanics of Materials

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, State Key Laboratory for GeoMechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities