Assessment of energy release mechanisms contributing to coal burst

Coal burst is a dynamic release of energy within the rock(or coal) mass leading to high velocity expulsion of the broken/failed material into mine openings. This phenomenon has been recognised as one of the most catastrophic failures associated with the coal mining industry, which can often lead to injuries and fatalities of miners as well as significant production losses. This paper aims to examine the mechanisms contributing to coal burst occurrence, with an emphasis on the energy release concept. In this study, a numerical modelling study has been conducted to evaluate the roles and contributions of difference energy components. The energy analysis presented in this paper can help to improve the understanding of energy release mechanisms especially under Australian conditions.     

Dynamic failure in coal seams: Implications of coal composition for bump susceptibility

As a contributing factor in the dynamic failure (bumping) of coal pillars, a bump-prone coal seam has been described as one that is “uncleated or poorly cleated, strong…that sustains high stresses.” Despite extensive research regarding engineering controls to help reduce the risk for coal bumps, there is a paucity of research related to the properties of coal itself and how those properties might contribute to the mechanics of failures. Geographic distribution of reportable dynamic failure events reveals a highly localized clustering of incidents despite widespread mining activities. This suggests that unique, contributing geologic characteristics exist within these regions that are less prevalent elsewhere. To investigate a new approach for identifying coal characteristics that might lead to bumping, a principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on 306 coal records from the Pennsylvania State Coal Sample database to determine which characteristics were most closely linked with a positive history of reportable bumping. Selected material properties from the data records for coal samples were chosen as variables for the PCA and included petrographic, elemental, and molecular properties. Results of the PCA suggest a clear correlation between low organic sulfur content and the occurrence of dynamic failure, and a secondary correlation between volatile matter and dynamic failure phenomena. The ratio of volatile matter to sulfur in the samples shows strong correlation with bump-prone regions, with a minimum threshold value of approximately 20, while correlations determined for other petrographic and elemental variables were more ambiguous. Results suggest that the composition of the coal itself is directly linked to how likely a coal is to have experienced a reportable dynamic failure event. These compositional controls are distinct from other previously established engineering and geologic criteria and represent a missing piece to the bump prediction puzzle.     

Applicability of surface directional wells for upper Silesia Basin coal seams? drainage ahead of mining

Methods of exploitation drainage, which is presently applied in polish hard coal mines in Upper Silesian Coal Basin (Poland), are not effective enough, high risk of methane hazard can be observed, and production capacity of the mining plant is not fully used. Methane hazard, which may occur during planned coal exploitation, is presented in this paper. Following parameters are taken into consideration in the forecasts: coal extraction parameters, geological and mining conditions, deposit’s methane saturation degree and impact of coal exploitation on the degasification coefficient of the seams, which are under the influence of relaxation zone. This paper presents the results of the analysis aiming to verify applicability of drainage ahead of mining of the coal seams by using surface directional wells. Based on the collected data (coal seams’ structural maps, profiles of the exploratory wells, geological cross-sections), the lab tests of drilling cores and direct wells’ tests, static model of the deposit was constructed and suitable grid of directional wells from the surface was designed. Comparison of forecasted methane emission volume between the two methods is investigated. The results indicated the necessity of performing appropriate deposit’s stimulations in order to increase effectiveness of drainage ahead of mining.     

非对称弯曲双边裂纹管道的应力强度因子

管道兼有壳体和梁构件的特征 ,可以利用三维守恒律及梁的弯曲理论计算它的应力强度因子。利用裂纹张开能量释放率 ,即G 积分的概念 ,通过特定的积分路径 ,给出了两种对称弯曲下双边裂纹管道的应力强度因子表达式。对于非对称弯曲情况 ,将裂纹截面处的弯矩进行分解 ,进而根据叠加原理 ,给出了非对称弯曲双边裂纹管道的应力强度因子表达式。在此基础上 ,导出了与最大应力强度因子所在裂纹相邻裂尖是否产生应力集中的一个判别式 ,并给出了相应的说明曲线。利用它可以方便地判断非对称弯曲下该裂尖是否有可能引起破坏 ,在工程应用上具有参考意义。     

Investigation of stability of a tunnel in a deep coal mine in China

Stability level of tunnels that exist in an underground mine has a great influence on the safety, production and economic performance of mines. Ensuring of stability for soft-rock tunnels is an important task for deep coal mines located in high in situ stress conditions. Using the available information on stratigraphy, geological structures, in situ stress measurements and geo-mechanical properties of intact rock and discontinuity interfaces, a three-dimensional numerical model was built by using 3DEC software to simulate the stress conditions around a tunnel located under high in situ stress conditions in a coal rock mass in China. Analyses were conducted for several tunnel shapes and rock support patterns. Results obtained for the distribution of failure zones, and stress and displacement fields around the tunnel were compared to select the best tunnel shape and support pattern to achieve the optimum stability conditions.     

工字型截面梁腹板中心裂纹的应力强度因子

工字型梁是工程中最常见的结构之一。其中的任何裂纹都将成为结构断裂失效的隐患。带有裂纹的工字型梁是典型的三维有限边界问题, 用经典方法求解其裂纹的应力强度因子通常是相当困难的。利用裂纹非自发扩展能量释放率得到一个求解均布载荷作用下工字型截面梁中心裂纹应力强度因子的一个新方法。给出了工字型截面梁裂纹非自发扩展能量释放率G ^＊积分与应力强度因子的关系, 同时也给出了G ^＊积分与载荷、几何参量以及机械性能参数的关系, 进而得到工字型截面梁腹板中心裂纹的应力强度因子。     

Numerical investigation into the effect of backfilling on coal pillar strength in highwall mining

This paper attempts to quantify the effect of backfilling on pillar strength in highwall mining using numerical modelling. Calibration against the new empirical strength formula for highwall mining was conducted to obtain the material parameters used in the numerical modelling. With the obtained coal strength parameters, three sets of backfill properties were investigated. The results reveal that the behavior of pillars varies with the type and amount of backfill as well as the pillar width to mining height ratio(w/h). In case of cohesive backfill, generally 75% backfill shows a significant increase in peak strength, and the increase in peak strength is more pronounced for the pillars having lower w/h ratios. In case of noncohesive backfill, the changes in both the peak and residual strengths with up to 92% backfill are negligible while the residual strength constantly increases after reaching the peak strength only when 100%backfill is placed. Based on the modelling results, different backfilling strategies should be considered on a case by case basis depending on the type of backfill available and desired pillar dimension.     

基于FE/EFG耦合算法的虚拟裂纹闭合法

在裂纹附近区域采用无网格伽辽金(EFG)节点,其余区域采用常规有限单元(FE)节点进行数值离散并求解,获得含裂纹构件的位移场。在裂纹尖端及其附近设置局部辅助有限单元区域,用于求解裂纹尖端处的2个特征参数:裂纹尖端节点力以及靠近裂纹尖端处裂纹面的位移。由这2个参数得到裂纹尖端处的应变能释放率,进而求得相应的应力强度因子,此方法为计算应力强度因子的EFG虚拟裂纹闭合法。数值算例表明,采用EFG虚拟裂纹闭合法能够有效计算裂纹尖端处的应力强度因子。     

Comparing potentials for gas outburst in a Chinese anthracite and an Australian bituminous coal mine

Gas outbursts in underground mining occur under conditions of high gas desorption rate and gas content, combined with high stress regime, low coal strength and high Young’s modulus. This combination of gas and stress factors occurs more often in deep mining. Hence, as the depth of mining increases, the potential for outburst increases. This study proposes a conceptual model to evaluate outburst potential in terms of an outburst indicator. The model was used to evaluate the potential for gas outburst in two mines, by comparing numerical simulations of gas flow behavior under typical stress regimes in an Australian gassy mine extracting a medium-volatile bituminous coal, and a Chinese gassy coal mine in Qinshui Basin (Shanxi province) extracting anthracite coal. We coupled the stress simulation program (FLAC3D) with the gas simulation program (SIMED II) to compute the stress and gas pressure and gas content distribution following development of a roadway into the targeted coal seams. The data from gas content and stress distribution were then used to quantify the intensity of energy release in the event of an outburst.     

Experimental research on Phanerochaete chrysosporium as coal microbial flocculant

The flocculation effect of the Phanerochaete chrysosporium on the coal slurry were studied by orthogonal experimental method in this study. The results of research show that the P. chrysosporium has a good effect on flocculating coal slurry. The optimum combination of the experimental is the P. chrysosporium, which is cultured in 2 days, mixed with 2 mL coagulant and 2 mL broth. The flocculant is a broken liquid with pH value of 6. The hightest flocculation ratio is 93.5%. The result of FTIR shows that the biological extraction of P. chrysosporium contains a lot of acidic polysaccharides that has the effect on flocculation. Microbial flocculant molecules and particles of coal slurry could be flocculated by “absorption bridge”.