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.     

Numerical investigation into pillar failure induced by time-dependent skin degradation

This paper focuses on the instability mechanism of an isolated pillar, caused by time-dependent skin degradation and strength heterogeneity. The time-dependent skin degradation is simulated with a non-linear rheological model capable of simulating tertiary creep, whereby two different pillar failure cases are investigated. The first case is of an isolated pillar in a deep hard rock underground mine and subjected to high stresses. The results show that pillar degradation is limited to the regions near the surface or the skin until two months after ore extraction. Afterwards degradation starts to extend deeper into the pillar, eventually leaving a highly-stressed pillar core due to stress transfer from the failed skin.Rockburst potential indices show that the risk increases exponentially at the core as time goes by. It is then demonstrated that the progressive skin degradation cannot be simulated with conventional strain-softening model assuming brittle failure. The parametric study with respect to the degree of heterogeneity reveals that heterogeneity is key to the occurrence of progressive skin degradation. The second case investigated in this study is pillar failure taking place in a very long period. Such failure becomes significantly important when assessing the risk for ground subsidence caused by pillar collapse in an abandoned mine. The analysis results demonstrate that the employed non-linear rheological model can simulate gradual skin degradation taking place over several hundred years. The percentage of damage zone volume within the pillar is merely 1% after a lapse of one days and increases to 50% after one hundred years, indicating a high risk for pillar collapse in the long term. The vertical displacements within the pillar also indicate the risk of subsidence. The proposed method is suitable for evaluating the risk of ground surface subsidence above an abandoned mine.     

Dynamic failure risk of coal pillar formed by irregular shape longwall face:A case study

Irregular shape workface would result in the presence of coal pillar, which leads to high stress concentration and possibly induces coal bumps. In order to study the coal bump mechanism of pillars, static and dynamic stress overlapping(SDSO) method was proposed to explain the impacts of static stress concentration and tremors induced by mining activities. The stress and deformation in surrounding rock of mining face were analyzed based on the field case study at 1303 workface in Zhaolou Coal Mine in China.The results illustrate that the surrounding rock of a workface could be divided into four different zones,i.e., residual stress zone, stress decrease zone, stress increase zone and original stress zone. The stress increase zone is prone to failure under the SDSO impact loading conditions and will provide elastic energy for inducing coal bump. Based on the numerical modelling results, the evolution of static stress in coal pillar as the size of gob increasing was studied, and the impact of dynamic stress was investigated through analyzing the characteristics of tremor activities. The numerical results demonstrate the peak value of vertical stress in coal pillar rises from about 30 MPa with mining distance 10 m to 52.6 MPa with mining distance 120 m, and the location of peak stress transfers to the inner zone of coal pillars as the workface moves forward. For the daily tremor activities, tremors with high energy released indicate high dynamic stress disturbance on the surrounding rock, therefore, the impact of dynamic stressing is more serious during workface extension period because the tremor frequency and average energy after workface extension are higher than those before the workface extension.     

Effects of longwall-induced stress and deformation on the stability and mechanical integrity of shale gas wells drilled through a longwall abutment pillar

This paper presents the results of a comprehensive study conducted by CONSOL Energy, Marcellus Shale Coalition, and Pennsylvania Coal Association to evaluate the effects of longwall-induced subsurface deformations on the mechanical integrity of shale gas wells drilled over a longwall abutment pillar.The primary objective is to demonstrate that a properly constructed gas well in a standard longwall abutment pillar can maintain mechanical integrity during and after mining operations. A study site was selected over a southwestern Pennsylvania coal mine, which extracts 457-m-wide longwall faces under about 183 m of cover. Four test wells and four monitoring wells were drilled and installed over a 38-m by84-m centers abutment pillar. In addition to the test wells and monitoring wells, surface subsidence measurements and underground coal pillar pressure measurements were conducted as the 457-m-wide longwall panels on the south and north sides of the abutment pillar were mined by. To evaluate the resulting coal protection casing profile and lateral displacement, three separate 60-arm caliper surveys were conducted. This research represents a very important step and initiative to utilize the knowledge and science obtained from mining research to improve miner and public safety as well as the safety and health of the oil and gas industries.     

Numerical investigation on the assessment and mitigation of coal bump in an island longwall panel

This study presents a numerical investigation to assess the risk of coal bumps and produces a stress–relief technology using boreholes to mitigate risk during the extraction of an island longwall panel.Based on the geological condition in an island longwall panel in the Tangshan Coal Mine,Tangshan,China,a numerical FLAC3D(Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua in 3 Dimensions) model was established to determine and to map the zones in the panel with a high risk for coal bumps.The results of the numerical modeling show that the roof deformation starts to occur at more than 30 m ahead of the longwall face and the deformation starts to accelerate after a distance of 10 m in front of the longwall face.Large and rapid roof deformation is considered to be an important precursor of coal bump occurrence during the extraction of an island longwall panel.Based on the numerical results,a stress–relief technology using boreholes,which was employed to release abutment pressure,was investigated through numerical methods.The modeled results suggest that the peak stress concentration could be released by drilling boreholes in the zones prone to coal bumps.The effectiveness of the stress release increased with the borehole length and decreased with the borehole spacing.     

壁面湍流质量注入减阻效应的数值研究

为解释边界层质量注入减少摩擦阻力机理,采用雷诺平均纳维-斯托克斯方程,基于最近发展的的Wilcox k-ω湍流模式,对二维壁湍流质量注入进行了数值研究。计算得到的局部摩擦阻力系数与试验结果比较,表明该模式在该情况下具有较高的精度。在其他参数保持不变的条件下,分有无质量注入2种情况,确认了质量注入会增加边界层厚度的膨胀效应,促进了边界层内湍流的发展程度,解释了减阻效应。通过速度剖面分布、湍动能及涡粘系数的分布比较,有助于加深人们对该流动现象的认识。     

Numerical analysis of the effects of rock bolts on stress redistribution around a roadway

Besides opening geometry, in situ stress and material properties, opening support also has significant effects on stress redistribution around a roadway. To investigate these effects of rock bolts on the stress redistribution around a roadway, a series of numerical studies were carried out using the finite difference method. Since the stress changes around a roadway caused by rock bolting is small relative to the in situ stress, they cannot obviously be observed in stress contour plots. To overcome this difficulty, a new result processing methodology was developed using the contouring program Surfer. With this methodology, the effects of rock bolts on stress redistribution can obviously be analyzed. Numerical results show that in the three patterns of rock bolts installed in the roof, in the roof and the two lateral sides, and in all the four sides of the rectangular roadway, the maximum stress magnitude of the increase is 0.931 MPa, 2.46 MPa,and 6.5 MPa, respectively; the bolt number of 5 can form an integrated ground arch; the appropriate length and pre-tensioned force of the rock bolt is 2.0 m and 60 k N, respectively. What is more, the ground arch action under the function of rock bolting is able to be effectively examined. The rock bolts dramatically increase the minor principal stress around a roadway which results in significant increase in material strength. Consequently, the major principal stress that the material can carry will greatly increase.With adequate supports, an integrated ground arch which is critical for the stability of roadway will be formed around the roadway.     

减振孔减振效应的数值模拟研究

利用显式动力有限元软件AUTODYN研究了减振孔对岩石地下洞室爆破产生的爆炸应力波传播与衰减以及对地表和邻近地下洞室动态响应的影响与规律.通过与爆破模型试验结果进行对比,验证了 AUTODYN模拟地下洞室爆炸过程和应力波传播的有效性和准确性.通过数值模拟分析了不同减振孔参数对邻近洞室和地表的质点峰值振动速度(PPV)和...     

Numerical simulation of dust distribution at a fully mechanized face under the isolation effect of an air curtain

At a fully mechanized working face of a coal mine as prototype, we investigated, by simulation, the flow field and dust distribution during the process of its isolation by a curtain of air, using the CFD software,Fluent. The results show that the air curtain installed on the shearer can effectively prevent the dust (especially the respirable dust) from diffusing into the work area of the operator, reducing the dust concentration on the side of the operator and greatly improving his working environment The field application of the air curtain shows that the dust-isolation effect of an air curtain is quite noticeable. The isolation efficiency for respiratory dust is over 70% and, as well, it has good dust-isolation effect for nonrespiratory dust. The air curtain is a useful way to resolve the problem of dust-isolation at a fully mechanized working face. It has a practical background elsewhere with more extensive applications.     

Numerical investigation of radial inflow in the impeller rear cavity with and without baffle

In typical small engines, the cooling air for high pressure turbine(HPT) in a gas turbine engine is commonly bled off from the main flow at the tip of the centrifugal impeller. The pressurized air flow is drawn radially inwards through the impeller rear cavity. The centripetal air flow creates a strong vortex because of high inlet tangential velocity, which results in significant pressure losses. This not only restricts the mass flow rate, but also reduces the cooling air pressure for down-stream hot components. The present study is devoted to the numerical modeling of flow in an impeller rear cavity. The simulations are carried out with axisymmetric and 3-D sector models for various inlet swirl ratio β_0(0–0.6), turbulent flow parameter lT(0.028–0.280) with and without baffle. The baffle is a thin plate attached to the stationary wall of the cavity, and is proved to be useful in reducing the pressure loss of centripetal flow in the impeller rear cavity in the current paper. Further flow details in impeller rear cavity with and without baffle are displayed using CFD techniques. The CFD results show that for any specified geometry, the outlet pressure coefficient of impeller rear cavity with or without baffle depends only on the inlet swirl ratio and turbulent flow parameter. Meanwhile, the outlet pressure coefficient of the cavity with baffle is indeed smaller than that of cavity without baffle, especially for the cases with high inlet swirl ratio. The suppression of the effect of centrifugal pumping and the mixing beween the main air which is downstream of the baffle and the recirculating flow of the vortex in the stationary cavity, which are caused by the use of baffle, are the underlying reasons that lead to the reduction of outlet pressure loss.     

考虑侧碰的汽车B柱加强板材料性能梯度优化

为减轻汽车B柱的重量、提高B柱的侧面抗撞性及简化B柱的加工工艺,提出利用高强度钢板热成形技术生成变屈服强度的单一厚度B柱加强板对原车进行改进的措施。为了使热成形B柱的材料梯度分布趋于合理,利用有限元数值模拟对其进行了优化设计。以某轿车为例,基于响应面数值优化方法,采用部件碰撞仿真分析,对热成形B柱加强板的材料性能梯度分...     

Rock mechanical investigation of strata loading characteristics to assess caving and requirement of support resistance in a mechanized powered support longwall face

Longwall mining is one of the most acclaimed and widely used in underground method for coal extraction. The interaction of powered supports with the roof is the key issue in strata mechanics of longwall mining. Controlled caving of rock mass is a prerequisite pro thriving exploitation of coal deposits by longwall retreat with caving technique and support resistance has evolved as the most promising and effective scientific tool to predict various aspects related to strata mechanics of such workings. Load density,height of caving block, distance of fractured zone ahead of the face, overhang of goaf and mechanical strength of the debris above and below the support base have been found to influence the magnitude of load on supports. Designing powered support has been attempted at the different countries in different methods. This paper reviews the mechanism of roof caving and the conventional approaches of caving behaviour and support resistance requirement in the context of major strata control experiences gained worldwide. The theoretical explanation of the mechanism of roof caving is still continuing with consistently improved understanding through growing field experiences in the larger domain of geo-mining conditions and state-of-art strata mechanics analysis and monitoring techniques.     

Analysis of global and local stress changes in a longwall gateroad

A numerical-model-based approach was recently developed for estimating the changes in both the horizontal and vertical loading conditions induced by an approaching longwall face.In this approach, a systematic procedure is used to estimate the model's inputs.Shearing along the bedding planes is modeled with ubiquitous joint elements and interface elements.Coal is modeled with a newly developed coal mass model.The response of the gob is calibrated with back analysis of subsidence data and the results of previously published laboratory tests on rock fragments.The model results were verified with the subsidence and stress data recently collected from a longwall mine in the eastern United States.     

平面布局对高层建筑群风环境影响的数值研究

马剑，陈水福采用基于Reynolds时均方程和重正化群（RNG）k-ε湍流模型的数值模拟方法，分析了由6幢方形截面高层建筑组成的建筑群的周围风环境.通过改变初始呈两行三列布置的各列建筑的横风向间距，得到了8种不同布局型式的建筑群，对各建筑群周围人行高度（2 m）处的风速比和风速矢量场进行了比较.结果显示，当6幢建筑成围合型排列或成两行平行（并列型）排列时风环境较佳，当成Y型或U型排列时巷道效应和风速加强现象比较严重.     

非定常来流对建筑周围流场影响的数值模拟

采用Realizable k-ε双方程模型和PISO算法，在正弦型周期变化风谱所形成的大气边界层对数风速廓线下，对绕三维建筑物的流动进行了数值模拟．采用分区网格划分方法，应用自适应网格技术，固体壁面采用标准壁面函数法处理．计算结果显示，整个流场都随正弦风谱呈周期性波动，各点速度的变化周期相同，只是幅度有所改变．周期的变化对整个流场速度的大小影响较小，但振幅的改变可使速度值发生很大变化．在建筑物周围，受阻挡的气流被挤压而绕流，横剖面后部形成两个旋转方向相反的大尺度涡；纵剖面后部分离后产生与H同高尺的分离涡，回流区长度在0．15m左右，且不随周期和振幅而改变，整个流动具有对称性．     

土体的充气阻渗试验

针对降雨诱发滑坡的作用机理,提出一种边坡充气截排水方法.考虑气压作用,进行一维土柱积水入渗试验,分别开展自然入渗和充气入渗2个过程的模拟,观测湿润锋面的推进过程,进行土柱不同深度容积含水量的实时监测.在考虑气压对容积含水量和湿润锋推进影响的基础上,建立充气阻渗效果的评价方法.试验结果表明：向土体中充气能够显著减缓湿润锋面的推进速度;在充气条件下,气压可以使土体维持一定的容积含水量梯度;对于试验模型,充气气压为10 kPa条件下,入渗20 min时,土壤入渗率约为自然入渗的1/2.     

Stress distribution and surrounding rock control of mining near to the overlying coal pillar in the working face

The occurrence of overlying coal pillar (OCP) exerts a strong effect on the stress and strain distribution of the surrounding rock in the stope. In this paper, the stress distribution characteristics are analyzed via the numerical calculation with the account of OCP presence or absence. In addition, this study revealed the joint effect of side pressure relief area of the goaf and stress concentration in OCP on the final stress distribution. Furthermore, the rules of abutment stress distribution affected by three influencing factors, namely horizontal-vertical distances between OCP and working face and buried depth of OCP, are analyzed. The functional model linking the peak stress of surrounding rock with the above influencing factors is developed. The field application of the above results proved that the rib spalling and deformation of a 2.95 m-high and 5.66 m-wide roadway could be efficiently controlled by rationally adjusting working states of the support, and adopting the hydraulic prop coordinated with the π type metal beam and anchor cable to strengthen the surrounding rock of working face and roadway, respectively. The proposed measures are considered appropriate to satisfy the safe operation requirements.     

钝体绕流气动噪声源特性数值研究

为研究钝体绕流的气动噪声源特性,采用Realizablek-ε湍流模型与宽频带噪声源模型相结合的方法模拟钝体的声功率级和表面声功率级,比较并分析来流风速、钝体截面形式及尺寸对气动噪声源强度及其分布特性的影响规律,探讨气动噪声源的影响机制.结果表明:钝体绕流气动噪声源主要位于气流发生分离、湍流运动比较剧烈的地方,且钝体的外形越趋近于流线型,其气动噪声源强度越低;四极子噪声源对总噪声的贡献比偶极子噪声源的贡献小得多;柱体表面声功率级最大值与来流风速对数之间呈线性正相关,与截面尺寸之间呈线性负相关.最后提出了表面声功率级的数学预测模型,为工程结构的声环境设计及气动噪声控制提供参考.     

降温过程中LNG板翅结构应力耦合模拟

为保证大型LNG冷箱降温过程中板翅式换热器结构安全可靠,建立了板翅结构应力耦合分析模型,采用热-结构直接耦合模拟方法,分析了降温过程对板翅结构应力的影响规律.结果表明:翅片和隔板钎焊接头处为结构最易破坏区;温差对板翅结构应力影响较为明显,并随温差增大而增大;当温差小于10 K时,对流换热性能对板翅结构应力影响较小;当温差相等时,降温速率对板翅结构应力影响较小.     

Numerical investigation of the effect of transitory strand opening on mixing in a multistrand tundish

In a multistrand,the outlet near the inlet produces short circuiting flow.This leads to the formation of dead zones inside the tundish,and consequently,the mean residence time decreases.In the present study,numerical investigation of mixing inside a delta shaped tundish with sloping boundaries was carried out by solving the Navier-Stokes equation and employing the standard turbulence model.To decrease the dead zone volume inside the tundish,the effect of closing the outlet near the inlet for a small amount of time and further opening it on the mixing behavior of the tundish was studied.The outlets near the inlet were closed for varying amount of time,and the transient analysis of fluid flow and the tracer dispersion study were carried out to find the mixing parameters of the tundish,namely,mean residence time and the ratio of mixed to dead volume of the tundish.An optimum closure time of the near outlet has been found,which yields best mixing inside the tundish.The numerical code was validated against the experimental observation by performing the tracer dispersion study inside a multistrand tundish and the reasonably good match between the experimental and numerical results in terms of residence time distribution (RTD)curves.The results obtained from the present study confirm the strong role of choosing the right time for opening and closing the outlets to get improved characteristics for the fluid flow and mixing behavior of the tundish.The educational version of computational fluid dynamics(CFD)soft ware PHOENICS was used to solve the governing equations and interpret the results in different forms.