Dynamic behaviors of water-saturated and frozen sandstone subjected to freeze-thaw cycles

In high-altitude cold areas,freeze-thaw(F-T)cycles induced by day-night and seasonal temperature changes cause numerous rock mass slope engineering disasters.To investigate the dynamic properties of rock in the natural environment of a high-altitude cold area,standard specimens were drilled from the slope of the Jiama copper mine in Tibet,and dynamic compression tests were performed on watersaturated and frozen sandstone with different numbers of F-T cycles(0,10,20,30,and 40)by the split Hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB)system with a cryogenic control system.The influence of water-saturated and frozen conditions on the dynamic performance of sandstone was investigated.The following conclusions are drawn:(1)With increasing strain rate,the attenuation factor(la)of water-saturated sandstone and the intensifying factor(li)of frozen sandstone linearly increase.As the number of F-T cycles increases,the dependence factor(ld)of water-saturated sandstone linearly decreases,whereas the ld of frozen sandstone linearly increases.(2)The prediction equation of the dynamic compressive strength of water-saturated and frozen sandstone is obtained,which can be used to predict the dynamic compressive strength of sandstone after various F-T cycles based on the strain rate.(3)The mesoscopic mechanism of water-saturated and frozen sandstone’s dynamic compressive strength evolution is investigated.The water softening effect causes the dynamic compressive strength of water-saturated sandstone to decrease,whereas the strengthening effect of pore ice causes it to increase.(4)The decrease in the relative dynamic compressive strength of water-saturated sandstone and the increase in the relative dynamic compressive strength of frozen sandstone can be attributed to the increased porosity.

Macroscopic Frost Heave Model Based on Segregation Potential Theory

A macroscopic frost heave model with more clear parameters was established. Based on a porosity rate frost heave model and segregation potential theory, a porosity rate function was deduced and introduced into the stress-strain relationship. Numerical simulation was conducted and verified by frost heave tests. Results show that the porosity rate within the frozen fringe is proportional to the square of temperature gradient and current porosity, and is also proportional to the exponential function of applied pressure. The relative errors between the calculated and measured results of frost depth and frost heave are within 3% and 15% respectively, demonstrating that the temperature gradient, applied pressure and current porosity are the main influencing factors, while temperature is just the constraint of frozen fringe. The improved model have meaningful and accessible parameters, which can be used in engineering with good accuracy.

Microscopic Pore and Filling Performance of Coal Gangue Cementitious Paste

To obtain the influence laws of the fine gangue rate on the properties of coal gangue cementitious paste, the slump, divergence, stratification, bleeding, setting time and mechanical strength with the change of fine gangue rate were studied on the basis of keeping the amount of cementing material and slurry concentration unchanged. The porosity and the distribution of pore diameter of the filling specimen for curing 28 d were tested by a mercury injection instrument under different fine gangue rate conditions. It was shown that the slump, divergence, setting time and compressive strength of the paste firstly increased and then decreased with increasing fine gangue rate. The stratification and bleeding rate decreased with increasing fine gangue rate. The smaller the critical pore size of the paste was, the smaller the porosity was, the smaller the average pore size was. When the fine gangue rate was 40%, the maximum critical pore diameter of the paste was 55.79 μm, and the corresponding porosity was 17.54%, and the properties of filling paste were the best. When the fine gangue rate further increased, the aggregate surface area increased, and the reaction product of cementitious materials could not effectively fill the pores. It weakened the agglomeration effect. The particles surface of coal gangue was fragmental and flake deposit with irregular shape and uneven fold morphology. It was easy to be bonded with the surface of other filling material. The hydration products of coal gangue cementitious material were a large number of C-S-H gel with fibrous shape and ettringite（AFt） with compact block structure. The theoretical reference was provided for the preparation of low cost gangue cemented filling materials in coal mines.

Simple decision-making model for orchard air-assisted spraying airflow

Airflow speed is one of the three factors of air-assisted spraying.Optimizing the matching model between airflow speed and target canopy characteristics is an effective way to improve the orchard precision spraying technology,as airflow can significantly affect droplet deposition and drift loss.A simple model of airflow speed was established in this study.First,air-assisted spraying experiments were carried out on a standard simulation canopy to study the airflow speed depended on canopy width,leaf area index,and porosity rate.Second,determined by Ribbon Method and verified by droplet drift data,the airflow speed through the canopy was between 0.5 m/s and 0.7 m/s.Third,multiple tests were carried out under standard simulation canopy with different characteristics,and the airflow speed model was established ultimately:with a fixed leaf area index(LAI),the relationship between canopy upwind boundary airflow speed and canopy width satisfied the exponential model(y=ae^(bx)),and the coefficients a and b are well related to the density of branches and leaves in the canopy.When LAI=3.456,y=2.036e^(1.5887x),R^(2)=0.994;LAI=1.728,y=1.639e^(1.445x),R^(2)=0.972.Orchard growers can acquire needed airflow speed through this simple model,it is quick and precise and appropriate to most growth periods of a variety of fruit trees,such as apples,pears,and vines.