Analysis of the deformation behavior of the mine head frame structure at thawing of the foundation soils
G.N. Gusev, R.V. Tsvetkov, V.V. Yepin, F.D. Sologub
Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Perm, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №4S / 2025 p. 23-26
Abstract: The problems of ensuring safe operation of critical facilities and structures under construction and in operation are more relevant than ever today. The technology of sinking and construction of a shaft on the territory of the mining and concentration plant in Petrikov (Republic of Belarus) was associated with freezing of the soil mass, therefore, the foundation of the mine structure was built on a site located within the zone of frozen soils. Due to thawing of the soil mass which was taking place over many months, the base of the structure built above the mine to hoist the potash ore was subjected to dangerous mancaused effects. The paper describes the experience of using a system for continuous monitoring of the deformation parameters of a structure during its installation and commercial operation. The paper presents the results of long-term monitoring of the deformation behavior of the building structures that demonstrate stabilization of the deformation parameters during the final thawing of the soils around the shaft. Due to the fact that the issue of foundation soils thawing at the described facility is phenomenologically similar to the problem of the permafrost soil thawing in the north of the Russian Federation, the results of the study can be used as the basis for a developed method of monitoring and analyzing the deformation behavior of the building structures for Arctic conditions in the permafrost zone.
Keywords: deformation monitoring system, strain gauges, long-term measurements, soil mass thawing
Acknowledgements: The study was made in the framework of the government task, registration number of the theme No.12440500016-9.
For citation: Gusev G.N., Tsvetkov R.V., Yepin V.V., Sologub F.D. Analysis of the deformation behavior of the mine head frame structure at thawing of the foundation soils. Russian Mining Industry. 2025;(4S):23–26. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-4S-23-26
Article info
Received: 21.06.2025
Revised: 07.08.2025
Accepted: 15.08.2025
Information about the authors
Georgii N. Gusev – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Head of the Smart Monitoring Laboratory, Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Perm, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9072-0030; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Roman V. Tsvetkov – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Research Associate, Smart Monitoring Laboratory, Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Perm, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9617-407X; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Valery V. Yepin – Junior Research Associate, Smart Monitoring Laboratory, Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Perm, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5625-2678; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Fedor D. Sologub – Research Engineer, Smart Monitoring Laboratory, Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Perm, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4283-5502; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
References
1. Hao D., Li Y., Liu H., Xu Z., Zhang J., Ren J., Wu J. Deformation monitoring of large steel structure based on terrestrial laser scanning technology. Measurement. 2025;248:116962. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2025.116962
2. Xiong H.-B., Cao J.-X., Zhang F.-L. Inclinometer-based method to monitor displacement of high-rise buildings. Structural Monitoring and Maintenance. 2018;5(1):111–27. https://doi.org/10.12989/SMM.2018.5.1.111
3. Rusiński E., Moczko P., Odyjas P. Estimating the remaining operating time of mining headframe with consideration of its current technical condition. Procedia Engineering. 2013;57:958–966. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2013.04.122
4. Shardakov I., Glot I., Shestakov A., Tsvetkov R., Gusev G., Yepin V. System for monitoring deformation processes in high-rise metal structure. Procedia Structural Integrity. 2023;48:127–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prostr.2023.07.138
5. Levin L., Golovatyi I., Zaitsev A., Pugin A., Semin M. Thermal monitoring of frozen wall thawing after artificial ground freezing: Case study of Petrikov Potash Mine. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology. 2021;107:103685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2020.103685
6. Levin L., Semin M., Golovatyi I. Analysis of the structural integrity of a frozen wall during a mine shaft excavation using temperature monitoring data. Fracture and Structural Integrity. 2022;17(63):1–12. https://doi.org/10.3221/IGF-ESIS.63.01
7. Оглоблина А.А., Пугин А.В. Контроль размораживания ледопородного ограждения за крепью ствола при подготовке к тампонажным работам. Горное эхо. 2022;(3):88–92. https://doi.org/10.7242/echo.2022.3.14Ogloblina A.A., Pugin A.V. Control of the thawing of the ice fence behind the trunk anchorage in preparation for grouting operations. Gornoe Ekho. 2022;(3):88–92. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.7242/echo.2022.3.14
8. Meier E., Geiger A., Ingensand H., Licht H., Limpach P., Steiger A., Zwyssig R. Hydrostatic levelling systems: Measuring at the system limits. Journal of Applied Geodesy. 2010;4(2):91–102. https://doi.org/10.1515/jag.2010.009
9. Jacob T., Chéry J., Boudin F., Bayer R. Monitoring deformation from hydrologic processes in a karst aquifer using longbaseline tiltmeters. Water Resources Research. 2010;46(9):W09542. https://doi.org/10.1029/2009WR008082
10. Epin V., Glot I., Gusev G., Tsvetkov R., Shardakov I., Shestakov A. Hydrostatic leveling system for monitoring the headframe of the mine shaft. Procedia Structural Integrity. 2021;32:64–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prostr.2021.09.010
11. Glot I., Shardakov I., Shestakov A., Tsvetkov R., Gusev G. Inclinometer-based long-term monitoring of the headframe of salt mine shaft. Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 2021;1945:012009. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1945/1/012009
12. Gusev G., Glot I., Epin V., Tsvetkov R., Shardakov I., Shestakov A. Experience of using tensoresistive strain gauges in corrosive environments. Procedia Structural Integrity. 2021;32:49–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prostr.2021.09.008
13. Пугин А.В., Богомягков А.В., Оглоблина А.А., Агеева К.М. Особенности эксплуатации ледопородного ограждения в условиях действующего рудника. Горное эхо. 2023;(1):152–158. https://doi.org/10.7242/echo.2023.1.21Pugin A.V., Bogomyagkov A.V., Ogloblina A.A., Ageeva K.M. Features of the operation of the ice fence in the conditions of an operating mine. Gornoe Ekho. 2023;(1):152–158. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.7242/echo.2023.1.21

