Experimental study on the deformation and failure mechanism of overburden rock during coal mining using a comprehensive intelligent sensing method

Understanding the spatiotemporal evolution of overburden deformation during coal mining is still a challenge in engineering practice due to the limitation of monitoring techniques. Taking the Yangliu Coal Mine as an example, a similarity model test was designed and conducted to investigate the deformation and failure mechanism of overlying rocks in this study. Distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS), high-density electrical resistivity tomography (HD-ERT) and close-range photogrammetry (CRP) technologies were used in the test for comprehensive analyses. The combined use of the three methods facilitates the investigation of the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of overburden deformation, showing that the mining-induced deformation of overburden strata was a dynamic evolution process. This process was accompanied by the formation, propagation, closure and redevelopment of separation cracks. Moreover, the key rock stratum with high strength and high-quality lithology played a crucial role in the whole process of overburden deformation. There were generally three failure modes of overburden rock layers, including bending and tension, overall shearing, and shearing and sliding. Shear failure often leads to overburden falling off in blocks, which poses a serious threat to mining safety. Therefore, real-time and accurate monitoring of overburden deformation is of great significance for the safe mining of underground coal seams.     

Advances in statistical mechanics of rock masses and its engineering applications

To efficiently link the continuum mechanics for rocks with the structural statistics of rock masses,a theoretical and methodological system called the statistical mechanics of rock masses(SMRM)was developed in the past three decades.In SMRM,equivalent continuum models of stressestrain relationship,strength and failure probability for jointed rock masses were established,which were based on the geometric probability models characterising the rock mass structure.This follows the statistical physics,the continuum mechanics,the fracture mechanics and the weakest link hypothesis.A general constitutive model and complete stressestrain models under compressive and shear conditions were also developed as the derivatives of the SMRM theory.An SMRM calculation system was then developed to provide fast and precise solutions for parameter estimations of rock masses,such as full-direction rock quality designation(RQD),elastic modulus,Coulomb compressive strength,rock mass quality rating,and Poisson’s ratio and shear strength.The constitutive equations involved in SMRM were integrated into a FLAC3D based numerical module to apply for engineering rock masses.It is also capable of analysing the complete deformation of rock masses and active reinforcement of engineering rock masses.Examples of engineering applications of SMRM were presented,including a rock mass at QBT hydropower station in northwestern China,a dam slope of Zongo II hydropower station in D.R.Congo,an open-pit mine in Dexing,China,an underground powerhouse of Jinping I hydropower station in southwestern China,and a typical circular tunnel in Lanzhou-Chongqing railway,China.These applications verified the reliability of the SMRM and demonstrated its applicability to broad engineering issues associated with jointed rock masses.     

Finite element analysis of fracture behavior in ceramics: Competition between artificial notch and internal defects under three-point bending

Evaluation of the nonlinear relationship between the surface defect size and fracture strength of ceramics is important for engineering applications. In this study, we aim to predict the apparent nonlinear relationship between the defect size and fracture strength of single-edge notched beams (SENBs) using the finite element method. Specifically, we applied the methodology for predicting fracture strength from microstructure distribution data (relative density, pore size, aspect ratio, and grain size) to a finite element analysis (FEA) model in which the shape and size of the initial defects are defined at notch locations. By reproducing the apparent nonlinearity caused by the competition between the surface and internal defects within the framework of linear elastic fracture mechanics, the effectiveness of the FEA methodology for the evaluation of strength scatter and allowable crack size in ceramics was demonstrated.     

Enhanced strength and ductility of superhard boron carbide through injecting electrons

Injected electrons and holes play an important role in the mechanical properties of semiconductors because of the charged states in dislocation core. However, many superhard ceramics exhibit very limited plasticity at room temperature because of strong covalent and ionic bonding. To illustrate the effects of injected carriers on the mechanical properties of superhard ceramics, we selected boron carbide (B₄C) as the prototype system and employed density functional theory (DFT) to examine the deformation and failure mechanism under neutral, injected-electron and injected-hole states. We find that both strength and ductility of B₄C can be enhanced by injecting electrons, which arises from the modified failure mechanism due to the distribution of excess electrons. In contrast, injecting holes into B₄C does not affect the failure mechanism, but causes increased strength and decreased ductility. Our study suggesting that injecting electrons is a promising way to tune mechanical properties of superhard ceramics.     

Thermally driven failure of Nd:YVO4 amplifier crystals

We report on an unusual failure pattern resulting from thermally driven fracture of laser amplifier single crystals. The pattern led to some confusion with regard to the point of initiation due to the coalescence of hackle lines to a region within the fracture surface, rather than the more common divergence of hackle away from the origin. The pattern leads to new fracture terms: Hackle node - the coalescence of hackle marks to a point of prior compression. The feature is produced as a thermally-generated, centrally-located compressive region transforms to tension thereby drawing crack propagation and hackle to the compressive region, forming an internal terminus. Hackle terminus – a hackle node formed by final crack propagation within the component. As part of the analysis, the fracture toughness and slow crack growth constants of neodymium doped, yttrium ortho-vanadate (Nd:YVO₄) were measured. Nd:YVO₄ exhibits slow crack growth and is very brittle with a fracture toughness of only 0.48 MPa√m.     

Case history on failure of a 67 M tall reinforced soil slope

Construction of this 67 m high RSS was completed in December 2006. After seven years in-service, a tension crack was observed at the top of the slope. In March 2015 this RSS structure catastrophically collapsed. This RSS structure collapsed in a compound failure mode; as the failure plane passed beneath, partially behind, and partially through the reinforced soil mass. The failure plane beneath the RSS was along a shale-claystone interface. The failure surface partially behind the RSS was along sandstone bedrock with water-seeping bedding planes dipping out of the rock mass. The failure surface through the upper portion of the RSS is where the geogrid reinforcement was overwhelmed by stresses originating from underlying deformation. The RSS collapse occurred after 8.3 years in-service as the shear strength along the shale-claystone interface decreased and approached the fully softened strength. The primary causative factors of this failure are: (i) an insufficient subsurface investigation program and interpretation of data for design and detailing; (ii) insufficient specifications and construction plan details for both foundation preparation and rock backcut benching; (iii) insufficient foundation preparation and rock backcut benching during construction; and (iv) adaptations to the design made during construction.     

Direct strain evaluation method for laboratory-based pillar performance

Pillar stability is one of important aspects for underground mines.Generally,the stability of the pillars is evaluated empirically based on case studies and site-specific rock mass conditions in mines.Nevertheless the empirical approach applicability can sometimes be constrained.The numerical-based approaches are potentially more useful as parametric studies can be undertaken and,if calibrated,can be more representative.Both empirical and numerical approaches are dependent on the strength evaluation of the pillars while the strain developing in the pillars is seldom taken into consideration.In this paper,gypsum and sandstone samples were tested in laboratory with different width-to-height ratios(W/H)to adapt the strain evaluation method to the laboratory-based pillars.A correlation was then developed between the strain and the width-to-height ratio for pillar monitoring purposes.Based on the results,a flowchart was created to conduct back analysis for the existing pillars to evaluate their stability and design new pillars,considering the strain analysis of the existing pillars with the W/H ratios modelled.     

Preventive replacement policies with time of operations,mission durations,minimal repairs and maintenance triggering approaches

When a mission arrives at a random time and lasts for a duration, it becomes an interesting problem to plan replacement policies according to the health condition and repair history of the operating unit, as the reliability is required at mission time and no replacement can be done preventively during the mission duration. From this viewpoint, this paper proposes that effective replacement policies should be collaborative ones gathering data from time of operations, mission durations, minimal repairs and maintenance triggering approaches. We firstly discuss replacement policies with time of operations and random arrival times of mission durations, model the policies and find optimum replacement times and mission durations to minimize the expected replacement cost rates analytically. Secondly, replacement policies with minimal repairs and mission durations are discussed in a similar analytical way. Furthermore, the maintenance triggering approaches, i.e., replacement first and last, are also considered into respective replacement policies. Numerical examples are illustrated when the arrival time of the mission has a gamma distribution and the failure time of the unit has a Weibull distribution. In addition, simple case illustrations of maintaining the production system in glass factories are given based on the assumed data.     

不同类型液体水化作用下海相页岩巴西劈裂破坏特征

为了研究不同类型液体水化作用对页岩内部裂缝形态、岩石抗拉强度和巴西劈裂张性破坏模式的影响,选取昭通国家级页岩气示范区下志留统龙马溪组页岩气储层岩心,采用清水及滑溜水分别进行了水化预处理,通过CT扫描对比了页岩中裂缝结构的变化;然后开展巴西劈裂试验,研究了水化预处理后页岩试件抗拉强度及张性破坏模式;在此基础上,选取研究区内的两口水平井,在其压裂施工现场开展了水化预处理先导性试验。研究结果表明:①相同时间内,自发渗吸过程清水水化作用对海相页岩裂缝复杂程度的提升效果优于滑溜水;②清水表面张力更大且黏度更低,清水水化作用不仅能够促使原始裂缝延伸,还能诱发新的微细裂缝或分支缝,而滑溜水水化则以促使原始裂缝扩展为主;③水化作用使海相页岩发生损伤,其抗拉强度降低,经过清水、滑溜水水化预处理后的页岩试件抗拉强度相对未水化试件分别降低了35.6%和18.1%;④根据主裂缝延伸形态将页岩水化后巴西劈裂张性破坏模式分为阶梯形、折线形、分支形和弧形4种或是其相互组合,而未水化页岩张性破坏模式仅为直线形;⑤水化作用能有效提升海相页岩压裂裂缝复杂程度,建议在施工条件允许的情况下,射孔后在限压范围内高排量注入一定量清水并关井直至主压裂施工开始,为了降低主压裂施工难度,可以通过"低砂浓度、长段塞"泵注的策略来满足设计加砂量。