Estimating shear strength of high-level pillars supported with cemented backfilling using the HoekeBrown strength criterion

Deep metal mines are often mined using the high-level pillars with subsequent cementation backfilling(HLSCB)mining method.At the design stage,it is therefore important to have a reasonable method for determining the shear strength of the high-level pillars(i.e.cohesion and internal friction angle)when they are supported by cemented backfilling.In this study,a formula was derived for the upper limit of the confining pressure σ3max on a high-level pillar supported by cemented backfilling in a deep metal mine.A new method of estimating the shear strength of such pillars was then proposed based on the Hoek eBrown failure criterion.Our analysis indicates that the horizontal stress σhh acting on the cemented backfill pillar can be simplified by expressing it as a constant value.A reasonable and effective value for σ3max can then be determined.The value of s3max predicted using the proposed method is generally less than 3 MPa.Within this range,the shear strength of the high-level pillar is accurately calculated using the equivalent MohreCoulomb theory.The proposed method can effectively avoid the calculation of inaccurate shear strength values for the high-level pillars when the original HoekeBrown criterion is used in the presence of large confining pressures,i.e.the situation in which the cohesion value is too large and the friction angle is too small can effectively be avoided.The proposed method is applied to a deep metal mine in China that is being excavated using the HLSCB method.The shear strength parameters of the high-level pillars obtained using the proposed method were input in the numerical simulations.The numerical results show that the recommended level heights and sizes of the high-level pillars and rooms in the mine are rational.

Using cemented paste backfill to tackle the phosphogypsum stockpile in China:A down-to-earth technology with new vitalities in pollutant retention and CO_(2) abatement

Phosphogypsum(PG),a hard-to-dissipate by-product of the phosphorus fertilizer production industry,places strain on the biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functions of storage sites.This pervasive problem is already widespread worldwide and requires careful stewardship.In this study,we review the presence of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)in PG and describe their associations with soil properties,anthropogenic activities,and surrounding organisms.Then,we review different ex-/in-situ solutions for promoting the sustainable management of PG,with an emphasis on in-situ cemented paste backfill,which offers a cost-effective and highly scalable opportunity to advance the value-added recovery of PG.However,concerns related to the PTEs'retention capacity and long-term effectiveness limit the implementation of this strategy.Furthermore,given that the large-scale demand for ordinary Portland cement from this conventional option has resulted in significant CO_(2) emissions,the technology has recently undergone additional scrutiny to meet the climate mitigation ambition of the Paris Agreement and China's Carbon Neutrality Economy.Therefore,we discuss the ways by which we can integrate innovative strategies,including supplementary cementitious materials,alternative binder solutions,CO_(2) mineralization,CO_(2) curing,and optimization of the supply chain for the profitability and sustainability of PG remediation.However,to maximize the co-benefits in environmental,social,and economic,future research must bridge the gap between the feasibility of expanding these advanced pathways and the multidisciplinary needs.

Recycling arsenic-containing bio-leaching residue after thermal treatment in cemented paste backfill:Structure modification,binder properties and environmental assessment

The substantial arsenic(As)content present in arsenic-containing bio-leaching residue(ABR)presents noteworthy environ-mental challenges attributable to its inherent instability and susceptibility to leaching.Given its elevated calcium sulfate content,ABR exhibits considerable promise for industrial applications.This study delved into the feasibility of utilizing ABR as a source of sulfates for producing super sulfated cement(SSC),offering an innovative binder for cemented paste backfill(CPB).Thermal treatment at varying temperatures of 150,350,600,and 800℃ was employed to modify ABR’s performance.The investigation encompassed the examination of phase transformations and alterations in the chemical composition of As within ABR.Subsequently,the hydration characteristics of SSC utilizing ABR,with or without thermal treatment,were studied,encompassing reaction kinetics,setting time,strength development,and microstructure.The findings revealed that thermal treatment changed the calcium sulfate structure in ABR,consequently impacting the resultant sample performance.Notably,calcination at 600℃ demonstrated optimal modification effects on both early and long-term strength attributes.This enhanced performance can be attributed to the augmented formation of reaction products and a densified micro-structure.Furthermore,the thermal treatment elicited modifications in the chemical As fractions within ABR,with limited impact on the As immobilization capacity of the prepared binders.

Mechanical properties and damage evolution characteristics of waste tire steel fiber-modified cemented paste backfill

During the process of constructional backfill mining,the cemented paste backfill(CPB)typically exhibits a high degree of brittleness and limited resistance to failure.In this study,the mechanical and damage evolution characteristics of waste tire steel fiber(WTSF)-modified CPB were studied through uniaxial compression tests,acoustic emission(AE)tests,and scanning electron microscopy(SEM).The results showed that the uniaxial compressive strength(UCS)decreased when the WTSF content was 0.5%,1%,and 1.5%.When the WTSF content reached 1%,the UCS of the modified CPB exhibited a minimal decrease(0.37 MPa)compared to that without WTSF.When the WTSF content was 0.5%,1%,and 1.5%,peak strain of the WTSF-modified CPB increased by 18%,31.33%,and 81.33%,while the elastic modulus decreased by 21.31%,26.21%,and 45.42%,respectively.The addition of WTSF enhances the activity of AE events in the modified CPB,resulting in a slower progression of the entire failure process.After the failure,the modified CPB retained a certain level of load-bearing capacity.Generally,the failure of the CPB was dominated by tensile cracks.After the addition of WTSF,a gradual increase in the proportion of tensile cracks was observed upon loading the modified CPB sample to the pore compaction stage.The three-dimensional localization of AE events showed that the WTSF-modified CPB underwent progressive damage during the loading,and the samples still showed good integrity after failure.Additionally,the response relationship between energy evolution and damage development of WTSF-modified CPB during uniaxial compression was analyzed,and the damage constitutive model of CPB samples with different WTSF contents was constructed.This study provides a theoretical basis for the enhancement of CPB modified by adding WTSF,serving as a valuable reference for the design of CPB constructional backfill.

Particle aggregation and breakage kinetics in cemented paste backfill

The macroscopic flow behavior and rheological properties of cemented paste backfill(CPB)are highly impacted by the inherent structure of the paste matrix.In this study,the effects of shear-induced forces and proportioning parameters on the microstructure of fresh CPB were studied.The size evolution and distribution of floc/agglomerate/particles of paste were monitored by focused beam reflection measuring(FBRM)technique,and the influencing factors of aggregation and breakage kinetics of CPB were discussed.The results indicate that influenced by both internal and external factors,the paste kinetics evolution covers the dynamic phase and the stable phase.Increasing the mass content or the cement-tailings ratio can accelerate aggregation kinetics,which is advantageous for the rise of average floc size.Besides,the admixture and high shear can improve breaking kinetics,which is beneficial to reduce the average floc size.The chord length resembles a normal distribution somewhat,with a peak value of approximate 20μm.The particle disaggregation con-stant(k_(2))is positively correlated with the agitation rate,and k_(2) is five orders of magnitude greater than the particle aggregation constant(k1).The kinetics model depicts the evolution law of particles over time quantitatively and provides a theoretical foundation for the micromechanics of complicated rheological behavior of paste.

Failure mechanisms and destruction characteristics of cemented coal gangue backfill under compression effect of non-uniform load

Backfill mining is one of the most important technical means for controlling strata movement and reducing surface subsidence and environmental damage during exploitation of underground coal resources. Ensuring the stability of the backfill bodies is the primary prerequisite for maintaining the safety of the backfilling working face, and the loading characteristics of backfill are closely related to the deformation and subsidence of the roof. Elastic thin plate model was used to explore the non-uniform subsidence law of the roof, and then the non-uniform distribution characteristics of backfill bodies’ load were revealed. Through a self-developed non-uniform loading device combined with acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation (DIC) monitoring technology, the synergistic dynamic evolution law of the bearing capacity, apparent crack, and internal fracture of cemented coal gangue backfills (CCGBs) under loads with different degrees of non-uniformity was deeply explored. The results showed that: 1) The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of CCGB increased and then decreased with an increase in the degree of non-uniformity of load (DNL). About 40% of DNL was the inflection point of DNL-UCS curve and when DNL exceeded 40%, the strength decreased in a cliff-like manner;2) A positive correlation was observed between the AE ringing count and UCS during the loading process of the specimen, which was manifested by a higher AE ringing count of the high-strength specimen. 3) Shear cracks gradually increased and failure mode of specimens gradually changed from “X” type dominated by tension cracks to inverted “Y” type dominated by shear cracks with an increase in DNL, and the crack opening displacement at the peak stress decreased and then increased. The crack opening displacement at 40% of the DNL was the smallest. This was consistent with the judgment of crack size based on the AE b-value, i. e., it showed the typical characteristics of “small b-value-large crack and large b-value-small crack”. The research results are of significance for preventing the instability and failure of backfill.

Effects of cement content, polypropylene fiber length and dosage on fluidity and mechanical properties of fiber-toughened cemented aeolian sand backfill

Using aeolian sand(AS)for goaf backfilling allows coordination of green mining and AS control.Cemented AS backfill(CASB)exhibits brittle fracture.Polypropylene(PP)fibers are good toughening materials.When the toughening effect of fibers is analyzed,their influence on the slurry conveying performance should also be considered.Additionally,cement affects the interactions among the hydration products,fibers,and aggregates.In this study,the effects of cement content(8wt%,9wt%,and 10wt%)and PP fiber length(6,9,and 12 mm)and dosage(0.05wt%,0.1wt%,0.15wt%,0.2wt%,and 0.25wt%)on fluidity and mechanical properties of the fibertoughened CASB(FCASB)were analyzed.The results indicated that with increases in the three aforementioned factors,the slump flow decreased,while the rheological parameters increased.Uniaxial compressive strength(UCS)increased with the increase of cement content and fiber length,and with an increase in fiber dosage,it first increased and then decreased.The strain increased with the increase of fiber dosage and length.The effect of PP fibers became more pronounced with the increase of cement content.Digital image correlation(DIC)test results showed that the addition of fibers can restrain the peeling of blocks and the expansion of fissure,and reduce the stress concentration of the FCASB.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)test indicated that the functional mechanisms of fibers mainly involved the interactions of fibers with the hydration products and matrix and the spatial distribution of fibers.On the basis of single-factor analysis,the response surface method(RSM)was used to analyze the effects of the three aforementioned factors and their interaction terms on the UCS.The influence surface of the two-factor interaction terms and the three-dimensional scatter plot of the three-factor coupling were established.In conclusion,the response law of the FCASB properties under the effects of cement and PP fibers were obtained,which provides theoretical and engineering guidance for FCASB filling.

Damage failure of cemented backfill and its reasonable match with rock mass

In order to study the failure mechanism of backfill and the reasonable matches between backfill and rock mass, and to achieve the object of safe and efficient mining in metal mine, four types of backfills were tested under uniaxial compression loading, with cement?tailing ratios of 0.250:1, 0.125:1, 0.100:1 and 0.083:1, respectively. With the help of the stress?strain curves, the deformation and failure characteristics of different backfills with differing cement?tailing ratios were analyzed. Based on the experimental results, the damage constitutive equations of cemented backfills with four cement?tailing ratios were proposed on the basis of damage mechanics. Moreover, comparative analysis of constitutive model and experimental results were made to verify the reliability of the damage model. In addition, an energy model using catastrophe theory to obtain the instability criteria of system was established to study the interaction between backfill and rock mass, and then the system instability criterion was deduced. The results show that there are different damage characteristics for different backfills, backfills with lower cement?tailing ratio tend to have a lower damage value when stress reaches peak value, and damage more rapidly and more obviously in failure process after peak value of stress; the stiffness and elastic modulus of rock mass with lower strength are more likely to lead to system instability. The results of this work provide a scientific basis for the rational strength design of backfill mine.

Coupled effect of cement hydration and temperature on rheological properties of fresh cemented tailings backfill slurry

The fluidity of fresh cemented tailings backfill（CTB） slurry depends on its rheological properties. Hence, it is crucial to understand the rheology of fresh CTB slurry, which is related to the cement hydration progress and temperature evolution within CTB mixtures. For this reason, a numerical model was developed to predict the evolution of the rheological properties of fresh CTB slurry under the coupled effect of cement hydration and temperature. Experiments were conducted to investigate the rheological behaviours of the fresh CTB slurry. By comparing the simulated results with the experimental ones, the availability of this developed model was validated. Thereafter, the model was used to demonstrate the coupled effect of cement hydration and temperature on the evolution of fresh CTB slurry＇s rheological properties, under various conditions（initial CTB temperature, cement to tailings ratio, and water to cement ratio）. The obtained results are helpful to better understanding the rheology of CTB slurry.

Experimental study on dynamic mechanical property of cemented tailings backfill under SHPB impact loading

Cemented tailings backfill(CTB) have increasingly been used in recent years to improve the stability of mining stopes in deep underground mines. Deep mining processes are often associated with rock bursting and high-speed dynamic loading conditions. Therefore, it is important to investigate the characteristics and dynamic mechanical behavior of CTB. This paper presents the results of dynamic tests on CTB specimens with different cement and solid contents using a split Hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB). The results showed that some CTB specimens exhibited one to two lower stress peaks after reaching dynamic peak stress before they completely failed. The greater the cement-to-tailings ratio is, the more obvious the strain reaction. This property mainly manifested as follows. First,the dynamic peak stress increased with the increase of the cement-to-tailings ratio when the impact velocity was fixed. Second, the dynamic peak stress had a quadratic relationship with the average stress rate. Third, the cement-to-tailings ratio could enhance the increase rate of dynamic peak stress with strain rate. In addition, the dynamic strength enhancement factor K increased with the increase of strain rate, and its value was larger than that of the rock samples. The failure modes of CTB specimens under low-speed impact were tensile failure and X conjugate shear failure, where were nearly the same as those under static uniaxial and triaxial compression. The CTB specimens were crushed and broken under critical strain, a failure mode similar to that of low-strength concrete. The results of the experimental research can improve the understanding of the dynamic mechanical properties of CTB and guide the strength design of deep mining backfills.

Strength evolution and deformation behaviour of cemented paste backfill at early ages： Effect of curing stress, filling strategy and drainage

In this study, a pressure cell apparatus is developed to investigate the early age evolution of the strength and deformation behaviour of cemented paste backfill(CPB) when subjected to various loading conditions under different curing scenarios. The different curing scenarios that are simulated include:(1)drained and undrained conditions,(2) different filling rates,(3) different filling sequences, and(4) different curing stresses. The findings show that drainage, curing stress, curing time and filling rate influence the mechanical and deformation behaviours of CPB materials. The coupled effects of consolidation, drainage and suction contribute to the strength development of drained CPB subjected to curing stress. On the other hand, particle rearrangement caused by the applied pressure and suction development due to self-desiccation plays a significant role in the strength gain of undrained CPB cured under stress.Furthermore, curing stress induces slightly faster rate of cement hydration, which can contribute to strength acquisition.

Cemented backfilling performance of yellow phosphorus slag

The experiments on the cemented backfilling perfbrmance of yellow phosphorus slag, including physical-mechanical properties, chemical compositions, optimized proportion, and cementation mechanisms, were carried out to make good use of yellow phosphorus slag as well as tackle with environment problems, safety problems, geological hazards, and high-cost issues during mining in Kaiyang Phosphorus Mine Group, Guizhou. The results show that yellow phosphorus slag can be used as the cement substitute for potential coagulation property. Quicklime, hydrated lime, and other alkaline substances can eliminate the high residual phosphorus to improve the initial strength of backfilling body. The recommended proportions （mass ratio） are 1：1 （yellow phosphorus slag：phosphorous gypsum）, 1：4：10 （Portland cement：yellow phosphorus slag：phosphorous gypsum）, and 1：4：10 （ultra fine powder：yellow phosphorus slag：phosphorous gypsum） with 5wt% of hydrated lime addition, 60wt% of solid materials, no fly ash addition, and good rheological properties. The hydration reaction involves hydration stage, solidifying stage, and strength stage with Ca（OH）2 as the activating agent. The reaction rates of yellow phosphorus slag, Portland cement, and ultrafine powder hydration with the increase of microstructure stability and initial strength.

Effects of temperatures and pH values on rheological properties of cemented paste backfill

In this study,different influence mechanisms associated with temperatures and pH values were investigated through cemented paste backfill(CPB)systems.CPB samples were prepared with temperatures ranging from 10 to 50℃ in 10℃ increments and pH values of 3,7,and 13.Then,the CPB mixture were subjected to rheological tests,thermogravimetric analysis(TG),derivative thermogravimetry analysis(DTG),Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),and scanning electron microscopy(SEM).Results demonstrated that the temperatures had significant effects on the rheological properties of CPB,whereas the effects of pH values were relatively unapparent.Higher temperatures(over 20℃)were prone to bring higher shear stress,yield stress,and apparent viscosity with the same pH value condition.However,an overly high temperature(50℃)cannot raise the apparent viscosity.Non-neutral conditions,for pH values of 3 and 13,could strengthen the shear stress and apparent viscosity at the same temperature.Two different yield stress curves could be discovered by uprising pH values,which also led to apparent viscosity of two various curves under the same temperatures(under 50℃).Microscopically,rheological properties of CPB were affected by temperatures and pH values which enhanced or reduced the cement hydration procedures,rates,products and space structures.

Coupled effect of cement hydration and temperature on hydraulic behavior of cemented tailings backfill

Cemented tailings backfill(CTB) is made by mixing cement, tailings and water together, thus cement hydration and water seepage flow are the two crucial factors affecting the quality of CTB. Cement hydration process can release significant amount of heat to raise the temperature of CTB and in turn increase the rate of cement hydration. Meanwhile, the progress of cement hydration consumes water and produces hydration products to change the pore structures within CTB, which further influences the hydraulic behavior of CTB. In order to understand the hydraulic behavior of CTB, a numerical model was developed by coupling the hydraulic,thermal and hydration equations. This model was then implemented into COMSOL Multiphysics to simulate the evolutions of temperature and water seepage flow within CTB versus curing time. The predicted outcomes were compared with correspondent experimental results, proving the validity and availability of this model. By taking advantage of the validated model, effects of various initial CTB and curing temperatures, cement content, and CTB's geometric shapes on the hydraulic behavior of CTB were demonstrated numerically. The presented conclusions can contribute to preparing more environmentally friendly CTB structures.

Creep properties and resistivity-ultrasonic-AE responses of cemented gangue backfill column under high-stress area

To investigate the creep and instability properties of a cemented gangue backfill column under a highstress area,the uniaxial compression creep tests were conducted by single-step and multi-step loading of prismatic samples made of cemented gangue backfill material(CGBM)under the high stressstrength ratio.The creep damage was monitored using an electrical resistivity device,ultrasonic testing device,and acoustic emission(AE)instrument.The results showed that the CGBM sample has a creep hardening property.The creep failure strength(CFS)is slightly larger than the uniaxial compressive strength(UCS),ranging in ratio from 108.9%to 116.5%.The instantaneous strain,creep strain,and creep rate increase with increasing stress-strength ratio in the single-step loading creep tests.The instantaneous strain and creep strain decrease first and then increase during the multi-step loading creep process.The axial creep strain of the CGBM column can be expressed by the viscoelastic-plastic creep model.Creep instability is caused by the accumulation of strain energy under multi-step loading and the continuous lateral expansion at the unconstrained middle position during the creep process.The creep stability of a CGBM column in a high-stress area can be monitored based on the variation of electrical resistivity,ultrasonic pulse velocity(UPV),and AE signals.

Quantitative investigation on micro-parameters of cemented paste backfill and its sensitivity analysis

The mechanical properties of cemented paste backfill(CPB) depend heavily on its pore structural characteristics and micro-structural changes. In order to explore the variation mechanisms of macro-mechanical characteristics and micro-structure of CPB. CPB specimens with different mass concentrations prepared from the full tailings of Xianglushan Tungsten Ore were micro-tests. Moreover, acquired pore digital images were processed by using the pores(particles) and cracks analysis system(PCAS), and a sensitivity analysis was performed. The results show that as the mass concentration of CPB increases from 70% to 78%, the porosity, the average pore area and the number of pores drop overall, leading to a decline in the pores opening degree and enhancing the mechanical characteristics. As the mass concentration of CPB increases, the trend of fractal dimension, probability entropy and roundness is reduced, constant and increased, which can result in an enhancement of the uniformity, an unchanged directionality and more round pores. According to the definition of sensitivity, the sensitivities of various micro-parameters were calculated and can be ranked as porosity > average pore area > number of pores > roundness > fractal dimension > probability entropy.

Strength and deformation behaviors of cemented tailings backfill under triaxial compression

It is of great significance for safety reason to obtain the triaxial compressive properties of cemented tailings backfill(CTB).The influence of cement content,curing age and confining pressure on strength and deformation properties of CTB was examined and discussed.Results indicate that the triaxial compressive and deformation behavior of CTB is strongly affected by the cement content,curing age and confining pressure.The increase in cement content,curing age and confining pressure leads to a change in stress−strain behavior and an increase in the axial strain at failure and post-peak strength loss.The cohesion of CTB rises as the curing age and cement content increase.However,the enhancement in internal friction angle is trivial and negligible.It should be noted that the failure pattern of CTB samples in triaxial compression is mainly along a shear plane,the confining pressure restrains the lateral expansion and the bulging failure pattern is dominantly detected in CTB samples as curing age length and cement content increase.The results will help to better understand the triaxial mechanical and deformation behavior of CTB.

Effect of curing humidity on performance of cemented paste backfill

Cemented paste backfill(CPB),a mixture of tailings,binder,and water,is widely and extensively used for the recovery of mineral resources,the prevention of ground subsidence,and the management of mine waste.When installed,the CPB is subjected to complex environmental conditions such as water content,temperature,and power,which have a significant impact on its efficiency.Thus,this study conducts a series of laboratory programs,including investigation of moisture,temperature,stress–strain relation,and microstructure to show the effect of curing humidity on the CPB behaviors.The results obtained indicate that ambient humidity can have a dramatic effect on CPB in terms of its macro performance of internal relative humidity,temperature and strength,as well as the micro expression.Typical examples of these effects on CPB include an increase in curing humidity,which favors binder hydration,and then an increase in hydration materials,temperature and peak stress in the CPB.The results obtained will lead to a better understanding of CPB’s responses to various environmental conditions.

Effect of polypropylene fiber and coarse aggregate on the ductility and fluidity of cemented tailings backfill

Adding polypropylene(PP)fibers and coarse aggregates has become a popular way to enhance the strength and stability of the cemented tailings backfilling(CTB)body.It is essential to explore the influence of tailings-aggregate ratio and fiber content on the mechanical properties of CTB samples.The comprehensive tests of the unconfined compressive strength(UCS),slump and microstructure were designed,and the regression models were established to characterize the effect of the strength,ductility and fluidity.The results indicate that the tailings-aggregate ratio of 5:5 and PP fiber content of 0.5 kg/m^(3) are the optimum point considering the UCS,cracking strain,peak strain and post-peak ductility.The tailings-aggregate ratio is consistent with the unary quadratic to the UCS and a linear model with a negative slope to the slump.Microstructural analysis indicates that PP fiber tends to bridge the cracks and rod-mill sand to serve as the skeleton of the paste matrix,which can enhance the compactness and improve the ductility of the CTB.The results presented here are of great significance to the understanding and application of coarse aggregates and fibers to improve the mechanical properties of CTB.

Effects of curing under step-by-step load on mechanical and deformation properties of cemented gangue backfill column

A step-by-step load was utilized to mimic the load history of the backfill column in the in-situ curing process.The inner damage of the specimen during curing and uniaxial compressive testing was monitored by electrical resistivity and ultrasonic equipment.Results show that:1)Uniaxial compressive strength(UCS)and elastic modulus(EM)of the samples curing under pressure are higher than those of the control samples without pressure,ranging in ratio from 0.5%to 20.2%and 7.1%to 52.3%,respectively,and are influenced by the initial loading age(ILA)and stress strength ratio(SSR).The SSR during curing should not exceed 80%.2)The earlier the ILA is,the higher the total strain becomes.The higher the SSR applies,the larger the total strain gets.The creep strain increases with the increase of SSR and can be described by Burger’s viscoelastic creep model.When SSR is less than 80%,the earlier the ILA is,the smaller the creep strain becomes after the last step-loading.3)The stability of the early age backfill column under pressure can be monitored based on the change of ultrasonic pulse velocity(UPV)and electrical resistivity.