Advances and trends in multi-field coupling induced disaster similarity theory within deep ground engineering

In the realm of deep earth engineering, increasing excavation depths present formidable challenges like heightened ground stress, permeability, temperatures, and disruptive excavation effects, posing significant safety risks. Scholars predominantly employ physical similarity simulations to authentically replicate these dynamic hazards encountered in deep earth engineering. This simulation necessitates addressing similarity theory challenges inherent in this domain, encompassing coal-rock dynamic similarity theory and multi-field, multi-phase coupled disaster-inducing similarity theory. Coal-rock dynamic similarity theory comprises stress field-dominated dynamic pressure and rock burst similarity theories. Meanwhile, multi-field, multi-phase coupled disaster-inducing similarity theory involves permeability field-dominated solid–gas coupling and solid–liquid coupling similarity theories. Building upon prior investigations, this paper reviews the current state of research in deep earth engineering similarity theory. It conducts a comparative analysis of similarity theories related to various disasters and outlines the developmental trajectory of deep earth engineering similarity theory. This review proposes focusing on elucidating the genesis mechanism of multi-field coupled dynamic disasters in deep earth engineering, studying the evolutionary patterns of multi-field coupled dynamic processes in these settings, deriving pivotal indicators for multi-field coupled dynamic disasters in deep ground engineering, and validating the similarity theory concerning multi-field coupled disaster induction in deep coal-rock masses. Article Highlights The current status of similarity theory research on kinetic physical simulation of coal rock is summarized and discussed in terms of both static similarity theory and dynamic similarity theory. The current status of similar theoretical studies on physical simulation of multi-field multi-phase coupling is summarized in terms of solid–liquid coupling and solid–gas coupling. It provides a new research idea for the similar theoretical study of physical simulation of deep-earth engineering, which can restore the disaster-causing phenomena of deep-earth engineering more accurately in the laboratory.