Prediction of subsurface settlement induced by shield tunnelling in sandy cobble stratum

This study focuses on the analytical prediction of subsurface settlement induced by shield tunnelling in sandy cobble stratum considering the volumetric deformation modes of the soil above the tunnel crown.A series of numerical analyses is performed to examine the effects of cover depth ratio(C/D),tunnel volume loss rate(h t)and volumetric block proportion(VBP)on the characteristics of subsurface settle-ment trough and soil volume loss.Considering the ground loss variation with depth,three modes are deduced from the volumetric deformation responses of the soil above the tunnel crown.Then,analytical solutions to predict subsurface settlement for each mode are presented using stochastic medium theory.The influences of C/D,h t and VBP on the key parameters(i.e.B and N)in the analytical expressions are discussed to determine the fitting formulae of B and N.Finally,the proposed analytical solutions are validated by the comparisons with the results of model test and numerical simulation.Results show that the fitting formulae provide a convenient and reliable way to evaluate the key parameters.Besides,the analytical solutions are reasonable and available in predicting the subsurface settlement induced by shield tunnelling in sandy cobble stratum.

Physical and numerical investigations of target stratum selection for ground hydraulic fracturing of multiple hard roofs

Ground hydraulic fracturing plays a crucial role in controlling the far-field hard roof,making it imperative to identify the most suitable target stratum for effective control.Physical experiments are conducted based on engineering properties to simulate the gradual collapse of the roof during longwall top coal caving(LTCC).A numerical model is established using the material point method(MPM)and the strain-softening damage constitutive model according to the structure of the physical model.Numerical simulations are conducted to analyze the LTCC process under different hard roofs for ground hydraulic fracturing.The results show that ground hydraulic fracturing releases the energy and stress of the target stratum,resulting in a substantial lag in the fracturing of the overburden before collapse occurs in the hydraulic fracturing stratum.Ground hydraulic fracturing of a low hard roof reduces the lag effect of hydraulic fractures,dissipates the energy consumed by the fracture of the hard roof,and reduces the abutment stress.Therefore,it is advisable to prioritize the selection of the lower hard roof as the target stratum.

A method for predicting the water-flowing fractured zone height based on an improved key stratum theory

In the process of using the original key stratum theory to predict the height of a water-flowing fractured zone(WFZ),the influence of rock strata outside the calculation range on the rock strata within the calculation range as well as the fact that the shape of the overburden deformation area will change with the excavation length are ignored.In this paper,an improved key stratum theory(IKS theory)was proposed by fixing these two shortcomings.Then,a WFZ height prediction method based on IKS theory was established and applied.First,the range of overburden involved in the analysis was determined according to the tensile stress distribution range above the goaf.Second,the key stratum in the overburden involved in the analysis was identified through IKS theory.Finally,the tendency of the WFZ to develop upward was determined by judging whether or not the identified key stratum will break.The proposed method was applied and verified in a mining case study,and the reasons for the differences in the development patterns between the WFZs in coalfields in Northwest and East China were also fully explained by this method.

Study on the disaster caused by the linkage failure of the residual coal pillar and rock stratum during multiple coal seam mining:mechanism of progressive and dynamic failure

Multi-seam mining often leads to the retention of a significant number of coal pillars for purposes such as protection,safety,or water isolation.However,stress concentration beneath these residual coal pillars can significantly impact their strength and stability when mining below them,potentially leading to hydraulic support failure,surface subsidence,and rock bursting.To address this issue,the linkage between the failure and instability of residual coal pillars and rock strata during multi-seam mining is examined in this study.Key controls include residual pillar spalling,safety factor(f.),local mine stiffness(LMS),and the post-peak stiffness(k)of the residual coal pillar.Limits separating the two forms of failure,progressive versus dynamic,are defined.Progressive failure results at lower stresses when the coal pillar transitions from indefinitely stable(f,>1.5)to failing(f,<1.5)when the coal pillar can no longer remain stable for an extended duration,whereas sud-den(unstable)failure results when the strength of the pillar is further degraded and fails.The transition in mode of failure is defined by the LMS/k ratio.Failure transitions from quiescent to dynamic as LMS/k.<1,which can cause chain pillar instability propagating throughout the mine.This study provides theoretical guidance to define this limit to instability of residual coal pillars for multi-seam mining in similar mines.

Correction to:Wear mechanism and life prediction of the ripper in a 9‐m‐diameter shield machine tunneling project of the Beijing new airport line in a sand‐pebble stratum

Jiang H,Zhu J,Zhang X,Zhang J,Li H,Meng L.Wear mechanism and life prediction of the ripper in a 9‐m‐diameter shield machine tunneling project of the Beijing new airport line in a sand‐pebble stratum.Deep Undergr Sci Eng.2022;1:65‐76.doi:10.1002/dug2.12010.

Fracture evolution and pressure relief gas drainage from distant protected coal seams under an extremely thick key stratum

When an extremely thick rock bed exists above a protected coal seam in the bending zone given the condition of a mining protective seam, this extremely thick rock bed controls the movement of the entire overlying stratum. This extremely thick rock bed, called a ＂main key stratum＂, will not subside nor break for a long time, causing lower fractures and bed separations not to close and gas can migrate to the bed separation areas along the fractures. These bed separations become gas enrichment areas. By analyzing the rule of fracture evolution and gas migration under the main key stratum after the deep protective coal seam has been mined, we propose a new gas drainage method which uses bore holes, drilled through rock and coal seams at great depths for draining pressure relief gas. In this method, the bores are located at a high level suction roadway （we can also drill them in the drilling field located high in an air gateway）. Given the practice in the Haizi mine, the gas drainage rate can reach 73% in the middie coal group, with a gas drainage radius over 100 m.

TORSIONAL VIBRATIONS OF A RIGID CIRCULAR PLATE ON SATURATED STRATUM OVERLAYING BEDROCK

The torsional vibration of a rigid plate resting on saturated stratum overlaying bedrock has been analysed for the first time. The dynamic governing differential equations for saturated poroelastic medium are solved by employing the technology of Hankel transform. By taking into account the boundary conditions, the dual integral equations of torsional vibration of a rigid circular plate are established, which are further converted into a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. Subsequently, the dynamic compliance coefficients of the foundation on saturated stratum, the contact shear stress under the foundation and the angular amplitude of the foundation are evaluated. Numerical results indicate that, when the dimensionless height is bigger than 5, saturated stratum overlaying bedrock can be treated as saturated half space approximately. When the dimensionless frequency is low, the permeability of the soil must be taken into account. Furthermore, when the vibration frequency is a constant, the height of the saturated stratum has a slight effect on the dimensionless contact shear stress under the foundation.

Water shutoff model test in water-rich sandy stratum by phosphoric acid-water glass grout

The rheological behavior of phosphoric acid-water glass grout in different mixing ratios was studied. Grout made of water glass with Baume degree of 20° and 13.4% phosphoric acid by 1:1 volume ratio is found to be more effective in stopping water. Laboratory model test of water shutoff by grouting was conducted. Test results show that the diffusion length and water cutoff effect of the grout are significantly improved as the grout head is raised, due to the dilution of underground water, and it takes the grout longer than its gel time to cut off water.

Strata movement and stress evolution when mining two overlapping panels affected by hard stratum

Mining causes stress redistribution and stratum movement.In this paper,a numerical model was built according to the geological conditions in the 12th coal mine in Pingdingshan city to study the strata movement and the evolution of stress when mining two overlapping longwall panels,named panels#14 and#15.The strata close to the mined panel move directly towards the gob,while the strata that are farther away swing back and forth during the mining process.The directed movement and swinging can break the transverse boreholes for gas extraction;a surface borehole should not be within the range of directional movement.The stress evolution suggested that the mining of the lower panel#15 after the upper panel#14 would further increase the de-stressed range,while the stress concentration around the mined panel would be increased.Hard strata usually carry a greater stress than adjacent rocks and soft coal seams.The stress in a hard stratum increases greatly,and the stress decreases greatly in the coal seams below the hard stratum.This study supplies a reference for similar coal mines and is useful for determining the de-stressed range and transverse borehole arrangement for gas extraction.

FINITE ELEMENT METHOD ON NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF STRATUM CORNEUM'S PENETRATION PROPERTY

How the outer substance could penetrate through the skin lies in the stratum corneum, because it is the main barrier in the multi-layers of the skin. Supposing the keratin cell with a special geometry as tetrakaidecahedron, the penetration property of stratum corneum was the key problem which was numerically simulated with finite element method. At first the discretization of the stratum corneum region was given in two steps： first, the discretization of the keratin cell; second, the discretization of fattiness that surrounds the keratin. Then there was the work of numerical simulation. In this procedure, the finite element method and the multi-grid method were used. The former was to obtain the discretization of basic elements; the latter was to decrease the high frequency error. At last the visualization of the numerical simulation was shown.

Effect on Stratum Gradient Frequency Distribution of Landslides in the Three Gorges Area of Northeast Chongqing

The landslide data were calculated in the Three Gorges Area of northeast Chongqing. The results showed that landslide frequency distributions of gradients accorded with the Weibull probability density distribution function. The landslide hazard ratios of gradients were acquired by Weibull accumulation probability distribution function in the different geological units. There was discord between landslide hazard ratio of different geological units and variance of landslide gradient. But they were approximate homology in the strata of Jurassic. The results indicate that the Weibull distribution can quantitatively evaluate the landslide hazard ratios of gradients of the different strata in the Three Gorges Area.

Surface modification of stratum corneum for drug delivery and skin care by microplasma discharge treatment

Human skin is the largest organ and also the main barrier that prevents foreign substances from entering the body.The surface properties of the skin are relevant for transdermal drug delivery and cosmetics.Yucatan micropig skin is used as a substitute for human skin.A microplasma electrode is used for surface modification of the skin epidermal layer of the Yucatan micropig.Microplasma dielectric barrier discharge has a thin dielectric as a barrier (~50 μm) and a frequency of 25 kHz.The surface properties of the epidermal layer were characterized by the measurement of the contact angle of the water droplet.The effects of different gases such as air,nitrogen,oxygen,helium or argon were compared.The change of the contact angle is temporal and it is returned to its initial state after several hours.Among the gases used for plasma ignition,oxygen and argon were the most effective for skin treatment.The distance of the skin from the electrode and the treatment time played a crucial roles in the increasing water contact angle.Changes of surface atomic concentration were determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.After microplasma treatment,the oxygen and nitrogen concentration increased at the skin surface.

Using of Key Stratum Theory to Study the Structural Development of Roof Aquifer

During the underground mining of coal resources,overlying rocks on the roof of excavated tunnels will be destroyed due to ground pressure,and as a result,part of them will break and fall into the tunnels.How to determine the distribution of fractured areas and fissures presents a major problem for preserving the overlying aquifer.

Numerical Simulation on Dynamic Load of Main Bearing of Tunnel Boring Machine Based on Combination Stratum

The load spectrum of the main bearing of tunnel boring machine( TBM) is difficult to establish because of the complex factors affecting the driving load of tunneling. In this paper, a simulation model of dynamic load of cutterhead is established,with a view to structural features and special conditions, based on a complex combination stratum, the cutter layout model and cutterhead control parameters,and it is a dynamic load boundary of the main drive bearing. Combined with the load distribution calculation of the main bearing and Hertz contact theory, the prediction model of dynamic load spectrum of the main drive bearing is completed during tunneling,and in accordance with the predicted results,the static and dynamics characteristics of load spectrum for the main drive bearing on the thrust and tilting moment are analyzed. The results of cutterhead load show that,in the certain complex stratum, the fluctuations of load for thrust rollers can reflect formation interface information of complex stratum in current tunneling. The main drive bearing bear the thrust and overturning moment of cutterhead under the composite,the external load has a greater influence on the load-spectrum of reverse thrust roller than that of main thrust roller,and the maximum contact stress of the two row roller is almost the same. The load spectrum,obtained by this method,can provide a meaningful reference for the design and checking of the main drive bearing,and also can be the basis of its fatigue reliability.

Spatial patterns of insect herbivory within a forest landscape:the role of soil type and forest stratum

Background:Insect herbivory has profound impacts on ecosystem processes and services.Although many efforts have been made to recognize the main drivers of insect herbivory at different scales,the results are inconsistent.One likely reason is that studies have insufficiently captured the spatially heterogeneous factors such as soil type and forest stratum within the stand that may significantly affect insect herbivory.In particular,there is a lack of studies that address the detailed spatial patterns of insect herbivory which are influenced by these factors.Methods:We measured the detailed spatial patterns of insect herbivory on cork oak(Quercus variabilis Bl.)in response to soil type(gravel soil and loam)and forest stratum(the upper,lower,and sapling stratum),and correlated these patterns with a set of influencing factors(litter coverage,coverage of shrubs and herbs,soil nutrients,soil moisture,and leaf traits)in a forest landscape.Results:Generally,insect herbivory was spatially heterogeneous within stands.Herbivory was significantly lower in gravel soil areas than in loam soil areas and the highest herbivory occurred in the lower stratum.However,there were also 41 individual plots in which the highest herbivory occurred in the upper stratum and 29 plots in which the highest herbivory occurred in the sapling stratum.There were significant differences in soil nutrient and water status between soil types,but no significant differences in leaf traits.The effects of forest stratum on leaf traits were also inconsistent with those on insect herbivory.Conclusions:Leaf traits may not be the main factors influencing insect herbivory in the field.Soil type may have major effects on herbivory patterns by influencing litter coverage while higher coverage of shrubs and herbs may reduce herbivory in the sapling stratum.These findings may advance our understanding of tree-herbivore interactions in real-world situations and have important implications for the sustainable management of forest ecosystems.

Risk assessment study on bridge foundation in deep overlying stratum

Based on the analysis about the hydrogeological conditions and engineering geological conditions, this paper makes analysis on the possible risks of the deep overlying stratum foundation and establishes the risk evaluation index system during the foundation operating period. Such methods as analytic hierarchy process （AHP） , Delphi method and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method are adopted to make the quantitative analysis on the risk factors and establish the risk judgment model. According to the actual engineering of Taizhou Bridge, the paper evaluates the risk of the foundation during the operating period at the condition of deep overlying stratum. The evaluation results can provide the reference for the risk management of the bridge foundation durin~ the ooerating period.

Numerical Calculation of Channel Dredging Volume Using 3D Digital Stratum Model

Prediction of channel dredging volume is critical for project cost estimation. However, many proposed approximate methods are not accurate. This paper presents a novel numerical method to accurately calculate the dredg- ing volume using a 3D stratum model (DSM) and a channel surface model. First, the 3D DSM is constructed rapidly yet accurately from non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS) surfaces through Boolean operation between a physical terrain model and a stratum surfaces model. Then, a parametric channel surface model is built from cross-section data and a channel center line using code implemented in the VC++ programming language. Finally, the volumes of different types of physical stratums can be calculated automatically and hierarchically to determine the dredging volume. Practical application shows that the DSM method is more precise and faster compared to the section method, and that the implementation of the developed software provides an interactive graphical user interface and visual presentation.

Wear mechanism and life prediction of the ripper in a 9-m-diameter shield machine tunneling project of the Beijing new airport line in a sand-pebble stratum

Tool wear is a noteworthy problem in the process of shield tunneling,and the degree of wear varies with stratum.The sand-pebble strata in Beijing are typically mechanically unstable.However,many subways are buried wholly or partially in sand-pebble strata.Taking the Beijing New Airport line tunneling project as research background,this study evaluated the wear characteristics of the multiconfiguration rippers of a 9-m-diameter spoke-type shield tunneling machine in a sand-pebble stratum.The wear values of five ripper teeth and ripper flanks were analyzed based on field-measured data from the Beijing New Airport line project.As the analytical results show,the wear value generally increases as the installation radius enlarges with the rise of cutting trace length.The wear of the 190-rippers was divided into five categories:pedestal wear,ripper teeth collapse,uniform wear,ripper teeth falling off and ripper flank wear.Uniform wear of the ripper teeth and ripper flank wear were the two abrasion types of the 190-rippers.The teeth of the 155-rippers mostly maintained their cutting capacity under the protection of the 190-rippers.A wear prediction model of linear fitting field data was developed for a 190-ripper face to obtain the optimum shield driving distance in the sand-pebble stratum.The average wear coefficients of the 190-ripper before and after replacement matched well,being 0.045 and 0.066 mm/km,respectively.The results of this study provide a theoretical reference for tool wear prediction in shield construction under similar geological conditions.

Control on mine pressure of thick and strong roof stratum movement in long wall thick coal caving face

The caving of thick and strong roof stratum causes tremendous rock pressure in mine.The results of the analysis on dynamic natures of actual measurements of some fields,of which the roof pressure can be caused by thick and strong stratum in long wall thick coal caving face,could present the relation between the collapse and movement of thick and strong roof strata and surrounding rock pressure.In order to control the roof pressure effectively,the thick and strong roof strata,can be fractured and softened previ- ously by hydraulic fracturing and low-high pressure water infusion,fracturing and softening method.The results of study can provide basis for strata control and safe management in long wall thick coal caving face.

MECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF SHAFT LINING WHEN THE STRATUM SETTLEMENT RESULTING FROM WATER DRAINAGE

Based on the stratum settlement resulting from water drainage, this paper establishes the calculating method of stresses and displacements of shaft lining and stratum by using Fourier integration, obtains the calculating formulas of tangiential load which shaft lining is subjected to, and provides theoretical basis for design of shaft lining.