Investigation of rock destruction: a novel physical-mathematical approach.

Investigation of rock destruction under different thermodynamic conditions is one of the most important problems of the engineering hazard. It was earlier considered that this destruction is taking place when at least one component of the stress tensor reaches some critical value called a 'material strength'. However, conducted analysis allowed us to conclude that such a notion is correct only for relatively short-term action and is unsuitable by prolonged stress to target. On the basis of the detailed theoretical analysis, we propose a new physical-mathematical conception describing the destruction process as a phase transition. From this viewpoint, the generation of microfault is an initiation of a new phase. Such a generation causes the emission of a definite number of seismo-acoustical impulses. The quantity of the impulses during the time unit shows the intensity of process destruction, and frequency of oscillation indicates the dimension of the microfaults forming. Thus, the suggested conception allows to develop procedures for monitoring of durability of different artificial underground constructions: mines, reservoirs, and military objects as well as other artificial and natural structures.