Formulating for Innovative Self-Compacting Concrete with Low Energy Super-Sulfated Cement Used for Sustainability Development

This study proposed a new way to formulate a low energy super-sulfated cement (SSC) which can be used to produce self-compacting concrete (SCC) with high compressive strength and durability in terms of chloride penetration resistance. This innovative SSC, different from the traditional SSC, was purely produced with a ternary mixture of three industrial by-products of ground granulated blast furnace slag, low calcium Class F fly ash and circulating fluidized bed combustion (CFBC) fly ash and was denoted as SFC-SSC (super-sulfated cement made by mixture of slag, Class F fly ash and CFBC fly ash). Experimental results showed that the combination of a fixed amount of 15 wt.% of CFBC fly ash with various ratios of Class F fly ash to slag could be used to produce the hardened SCCs with high 28-day compressive strengths (41.8 - 65.6 MPa). Addition of Class F fly ash led to the resulting SCCs with lowered price and preferable engineering properties, and thus it was considered as state-of-the-art method to drive such type of concrete towards sustainable construction materials.

Preparation of Low Ratio Magnesium Ccement by Acid Leaching Treatment of Boron Mud

The effects of liquid-solid ratio and reaction time on the leaching rate of magnesium at room temperature were investigated,as well as the effects of the molar ratio of MgO/MgCl_(2),the amount of water added,and the amount of acid-impregnated slag dosed on the compressive strength and water resistance of LR-MOC.The results showed that the magnesium element in the boron mud could be maximally leached under the conditions of 1:1 concentration of hydrochloric acid at room temperature,liquid-solid ratio of 2.5 mL·g^(-1),and reaction time of 5 h,and the main products were amorphous SiO_(2) as well as a small amount of magnesium olivine which had not been completely reacted.The LR-MOC prepared using the acid-soaked mixture could reach a softening coefficient of 0.85 for 28 d of water immersion when the molar ratio of MgO/MgCl_(2) was 2.2,the amount of water added was 0 g,and the acid-soaked slag dosing was 40 wt%,which also led to an appreciable late-strength,with an increase of 19.4%in compressive strength at 28 d compared to that at 7 d.Unlike previous studies,LR-MOC prepared in this way has a final strength phase that is not the more easily hydrolysed 3-phase but the lath-like 5-phase.For this phenomenon,we analyzed the mechanism and found that,during the acid leaching process,a part of amorphous SiO_(2) dissolved in the acid leaching solution formed a silica sol,in which Mg^(2+)played a bridging role to make the silica sol more stable.With the addition and hydrolysis of MgO,the silica sol gel coagulation slows down,providing a capping layer to inhibit the hydrolysis of the 5-phase crystals and providing some strength after coagulation.The amorphous SiO_(2) in the other part of the acid-impregnated slag generated M-S-H gel with Mg^(2+)and OH-,which synergised with the dense structure composed of interlocking crystals to improve the water resistance of LR-MOC.

Hydration, Microstructure, and Properties of Sulphoaluminate Cement in Pure Water and Simulated Seawater

Paste and mortar specimens were prepared with sulfoaluminate cement(SAC),P⋅O 42.5 ordinary Portland cement(OPC),and standard sand,and mixed and cured with pure water and artificial seawater,respectively.The mechanical properties of mortar specimens were tested.Hydration and microstructure of paste specimens were also investigated using X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscope(SEM),and 27Al nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR),respectively.The results indicate that SAC mortar samples mixed and cured by seawater have faster strength growth before 28 d and higher compressive strength than OPC mortar samples.Compared to curing in deionized water,the hydration products of SAC are somewhat coarser when cured in simulated seawater.The evolution of aluminum phase hydration products during the hydration process of SAC mixed and cured in simulated seawater is quite different from that of OPC.From 3 to 28 d,the content of each aluminum phase hydration product in SAC paste cured in simulated seawater changed little,while that in OPC paste changed significantly;for example,from 7 to 28 d,the content of ettringite(AFt)in OPC paste increased significantly.This type of AFt formed loosely,harming the mortar's microstructure.

Effects of aggregate size distribution and carbon nanotubes on the mechanical properties of cemented gangue backfill samples under true triaxial compression

The mechanical behavior of cemented gangue backfill materials(CGBMs)is closely related to particle size distribution(PSD)of aggregates and properties of cementitious materials.Consequently,the true triaxial compression tests,CT scanning,SEM,and EDS tests were conducted on cemented gangue backfill samples(CGBSs)with various carbon nanotube concentrations(P_(CNT))that satisfied fractal theory for the PSD of aggregates.The mechanical properties,energy dissipations,and failure mechanisms of the CGBSs under true triaxial compression were systematically analyzed.The results indicate that appropriate carbon nanotubes(CNTs)effectively enhance the mechanical properties and energy dissipations of CGBSs through micropore filling and microcrack bridging,and the optimal effect appears at P_(CNT)of 0.08wt%.Taking PSD fractal dimension(D)of 2.500 as an example,compared to that of CGBS without CNT,the peak strength(σ_(p)),axial peak strain(ε_(1,p)),elastic strain energy(Ue),and dissipated energy(U_(d))increased by 12.76%,29.60%,19.05%,and90.39%,respectively.However,excessive CNTs can reduce the mechanical properties of CGBSs due to CNT agglomeration,manifesting a decrease inρ_(p),ε_(1,p),and the volumetric strain increment(Δε_(v))when P_(CNT)increases from 0.08wt%to 0.12wt%.Moreover,the addition of CNTs improved the integrity of CGBS after macroscopic failure,and crack extension in CGBSs appeared in two modes:detour and pass through the aggregates.Theσ_(p)and U_(d)firstly increase and then decrease with increasing D,and porosity shows the opposite trend.Theε_(1,p)andΔε_(v)are negatively correlated with D,and CGBS with D=2.150 has the maximum deformation parameters(ε_(1,p)=0.05079,Δε_(v)=0.01990)due to the frictional slip effect caused by coarse aggregates.With increasing D,the failure modes of CGBSs are sequentially manifested as oblique shear failure,"Y-shaped"shear failure,and conjugate shear failure.

Effect of Progressive Substitution of Cement and Lime by Powdered Shells Used as a Curing Agent for Dredged Soil in a Port Area

This study aimed to address the challenges of solid waste utilization,cost reduction,and carbon reduction in the treatment of deep-dredged soil at Xuwei Port in Lianyungang city of China.Past research in this area was limited.Therefore,a curing agent made from powdered shells was used to solidify the dredged soil in situ.We employed laboratory orthogonal tests to investigate the physical and mechanical properties of the powdered shell-based curing agent.Data was collected by conducting experiments to assess the role of powdered shells in the curing process and to determine the optimal ratios of powdered shells to solidified soil for different purposes.The development of strength in solidified soil was studied in both seawater and pure water conditions.The study revealed that the strength of the solidified soil was influenced by the substitution rate of powdered shells and their interaction with cement.Higher cement content had a positive effect on strength.For high-strength solidified soil,the recommended ratio of wet soil:cement:lime:powdered shells were 100:16:4:4,while for low-strength solidified soil,the recommended ratio was 100:5.4:2.4:0.6.Seawater,under appropriate conditions,improved short-term strength by promoting the formation of expansive ettringite minerals that contributed to cementation and precipitation.These findings suggest that the combination of cement and powdered shells is synergistic,positively affecting the strength of solidified soil.The recommended ratios provide practical guidance for achieving desired strength levels while considering factors such as cost and carbon emissions.The role of seawater in enhancing short-term strength through crystal formation is noteworthy and can be advantageous for certain applications.In conclusion,this research demonstrates the potential of using a powdered shell-based curing agent for solidifying dredged soil in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective manner.The recommended ratios for different strength requirements offer valuable insights for practical applications in the field of soil treatment,contributing to sustainable and efficient solutions for soil management.

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.

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.

Preparation and Properties of Magnesium Oxysulfide Cement Based Foam Board Absorbing Material

In order to better solve the problem of electromagnetic pollution in the civil building cement,to improve the absorption capacity of magnesium oxysulfide cement based materials,and to better use sulfur oxide magnesium cement foamed sheet for improvement of electromagnetic industry,this paper uses the excellent microwave absorbing properties of ferrite and the modified sulfur oxide magnesium cement foam board,and discusses the microwave absorbing performance,aiming at improving the electromagnetic pollution in daily life.The effects of ferrite and silicon carbide doping on microwave absorption properties of modified magnesium oxysulfate cement were studied.At the same time,the wave absorbing properties of the corresponding samples were detected by bow method,and the causes of the corresponding phenomena were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).The results show that the lowest reflectance of the material is-17.9 dB at 34.1 GHz and the average reflectance of the whole band is-15.9 dB under the target frequency band of 26.5-40 GHz.Under the action of external magnetic field,the absorbing particles are affected by magnetization force,magnetic dipole and resistance coupling,and play the absorbing effect in the cement base solidified completely in the electromagnetic field environment.The lowest reflectance is-17.3dB at 36.4GHz and the average reflectance is-14.3dB for the whole band.

Development and application of novel high‐efficiency composite ultrafine cement grouts for roadway in fractured surrounding rocks

The fractured surrounding rocks of roadways pose major challenges to safe mining.Grouting has often been used to reinforce the surrounding rocks to mitigate the safety risks associated with fractured rocks.The aim of this study is to develop highly efficient composite ultrafine cement(CUC)grouts to reinforce the roadway in fractured surrounding rocks.The materials used are ultrafine cement(UC),ultrafine fly ash(UF),ultrafine slag(US),and additives(superplasticizer[SUP],aluminate ultrafine expansion agent[AUA],gypsum,and retarder).The fluidity,bleeding,shrinkage,setting time,chemical composition,microstructure,degree of hydration,and mechanical property of grouting materials were evaluated in this study.Also,a suitable and effective CUC grout mixture was used to reinforce the roadway in the fractured surrounding rock.The results have shown that the addition of UF and US reduces the plastic viscosity of CUC,and the best fluidity can be obtained by adding 40%UF and 10%US.Since UC and UF particles are small,the pozzolanic effect of UF promotes the hydration reaction,which is conductive to the stability of CUC grouts.In addition,fine particles of UC,UF,and US can effectively fill the pores,while the volumetric expansion of AUA and gypsum decreases the pores and thus affects the microstructure of the solidified grout.The compressive test results have shown that the addition of specific amounts of UF and US can ameliorate the mechanical properties of CUC grouts.Finally,the CUC22‐8 grout was used to reinforce the No.20322 belt roadway.The results of numerical simulation and field monitoring have indicated that grouting can efficaciously reinforce the surrounding rock of the roadway.In this research,high‐performance CUC grouts were developed for surrounding rock reinforcement of underground engineering by utilizing UC and some additives.

Investigation of Wellbore Temperature Dynamics during Cement Setting in Deepwater Shallow Formations

Offshore deepwater cementing generally faces more challenges than onshore cementing.Shallow formations in deepwater wells often exhibit low structural strength,high porosity,and are prone to shallow gas influx and hydrate formation.These factors require careful control of hydration heat.In this article,we examine the key factors influencing temperature fluctuations in the wellbore and develop a temperature model that accounts for the thermal effects related to cement slurry circulation and hydration.This model is then applied to a deepwater shallow formation cementing case study.The results show that:(1)When cement slurry is displaced into deep-water shallow formations,it loses heat due to seawater-induced cooling before entering the wellbore.This lowers the temperature of both the slurry and the wellbore before cement hydration begins.(2)The main production of heat due to cement hydration occurs during the pre-induction and acceleration stages.These are also the critical phases that affect formation temperature in deep-water shallow formation cementing.According to Kutasov’s semi-analytical equation,the peak heat release happens 8–12 h after cementing,resulting in a temperature rise of up to 40℃ and 30℃ for 26″and 12-1/4″boreholes,respectively.

Failure evaluation mechanism of cement sheath sealing integrity under casing eccentricity during multistage fracturing

A microannulus(MA) is the primary reason for sustained casing pressure in multi-stage fractured-shale gas wells. However, the effect of the casing eccentricity on the long horizontal section has not been considered. In this study, a full-scale integrity tester for cement sheaths is adopted to measure the cumulative plastic deformation. Numerical models are applied to evaluate the development of the cumulative plastic deformation and quantify the MA width considering casing centralization and eccentricity in the context of multiple loading and unloading cycles. Subsequently, the influences of the eccentricity distance and angle, cement-sheath mechanical variables, and different well depths on the cumulative sheath plastic deformation and sheath MA development are explored. The research results demonstrate that casing eccentricity significantly increases the cumulative sheath plastic deformation compared with that of the casing-centered condition. Consequently, the risk of sealing integrity failure increases. The accumulated plastic deformation increases when the eccentricity distance increases. In contrast, the initial plastic deformation increases as the eccentricity angle increases. However, the cumulative plastic deformation decreases after a specific loading and unloading cycle count. Affected by the coupled influence of the internal casing pressure and fracturing stages, the width of the MA in the horizontal section increased from the toe to the heel, and the casing eccentricity significantly increased the MA width at each stage, thus increasing the risk of gas channeling. Finally, an engineering case is considered to study the influence of casing eccentricity. The results show that cement slurries that form low and high elastic moduli can be applied to form a cement sheath when the fracturing stage is lower or higher than a specific value, respectively. The results of this study offer theoretical references and engineering support for the integrity control of cement sheath sealing.

Research on casing deformation prevention technology based on cementing slurry system optimization

The casing deformation prevention technology based on the optimization of cement slurry is proposed to reduce the casing deformation of shale oil and gas wells during hydraulic fracturing. In this paper, the fracture mechanism of hollow particles in cement sheath was firstly analyzed by discrete element method, and the effect of hollow particles in cement on casing deformation was investigated by laboratory experiment method. Finally, field test was carried out to verify the improvement effect of the casing deformation based on cement slurry modification. The results show that the formation displacement can be absorbed effectively by hollow particles inside the cement transferring the excessive deformation away from casing. The particles in the uncemented state provide deformation space during formation slipping. The casing with diameter of 139.7 mm could be passed through by bridge plug with the diameter of 99 mm when the mass ratio of particle/cement reaches 1:4. According to the field test feedback, the method based on optimization of cement slurry can effectively reduce the risk of casing deformation, and the recommended range of hollow microbeads content in the cement slurry is between 15% and 25%.

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.

Gadolinium-doped injectable magnesium-calcium phosphate bone cements for noninvasive visualization

Injectable bone cements are used in minimally invasive surgical techniques including vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty.This work is devoted to the development of magnesium-calcium phosphate cements(MCPCs)doped with gadolinium ions(Gd^(3+))for bone defect repair.Interaction between cement powders and a cement liquid resulted in the formation of newberyite and brushite phases,which gave mechanical strength up to 17 MPa without a thermal effect.The introduction of Gd3+into the lattice was confirmed by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy;the doping increased injectivity while giving rise to antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli.Assays of the cement samples soaking in Kokubo’s simulated body fluid revealed the formation of calcium phosphate coatings on the cements’surface.The cements manifested biocompatibility with the MG-63 cell line and significantly enhanced contrast when Gd-MCPC was placed into a bone defect and examined by X-ray micro-computed tomography.For the first time,visualization of a Gd-doped cement material was achieved in a model of a bone defect analyzed by MRI.

Effect of Sodium Tripolyphosphate and Silica Fume on Hydration of High Alumina Cement

It was found that silica fume can reduce the maximum hydration heat release rate of cement by microcalorimetry,inhibit CAH_(10),promote the generation of C_(3)AH_(6)and strätlingite C_(2)ASH_(8),or promote the conversion of CAH_(10)to C_(3)AH_(6).Sodium tripolyphosphate can retard the early hydration of cement,have a slight effect on 1 d hydration products of cement and inhibit the generation hydration products.Sodium tripolyphosphate and silica fume can promote the early hydration of cement,advance the formation of C_(2)ASH_(8)or the conversion from CAH_(10)to C_(3)AH_(6)at 1 d.

Carbonation of Pure Minerals in Portland Cement:Evolution in Products as a Function of Water-to-solid Ratio

Minerals in Portland cement including tricalcium silicate(C_(3)S),β-dicalcium silicate(β-C_(2)S),tricalcium aluminate(C_(3)A),and tetracalcium ferroaluminate(C_(4)AF),show a significantly different activity and product evolution for CO_(2)curing at various water-to-solid ratios.These pure minerals were synthesized and subject to CO_(2)curing in this study to make an in-depth understanding for the carbonation properties of cement-based materials.Results showed that the optimum water-to-solid ratios of C_(3)S,β-C_(2)S,C_(3)A and C_(4)AF were 0.25,0.15,0.30 and 0.40 for carbonation,corresponding to 2 h carbonation degree of 38.5%,38.5%,24.2%,and 21.9%,respectively.The produced calcite duringβ-C_(2)S carbonation decreased as the water-to-solid ratio increased,with an increase in content of metastable CaCO_(3)of vaterite and aragonite.The thermodynamic stability of CaCO_(3)produced during carbonation was C_(3)A>C_(4)AF>β-C_(2)S>C_(3)S.The carbonation degree of Portland cement was predicted based on the results of pure minerals and the composition of cement,and the error of predicted production of CaCO_(3)was only 1.1%,which provides a potential method to predict carbonation properties of systems with a complex mineral composition.

Pore-structure and damage behaviors of cement stone subjected to dry‒wet cycles

The stable protection of the walls of high-temperature geothermal wells is a challenging issue for sustainably exploiting geothermal resources.However,the cement stone filling layer of the cemented portion of the well deteriorates gradually during geothermal mining due to the dry-wet cycles of the saline geothermal water,reducing the service life of the geothermal well.For this,this paper presented five groups of cement stone cylinders with salt contents of 0%,1%,6%,and 11%,which were subjected to heating to 300C and 1e5 dry-wet cycles.Nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)and nonmetallic detection were used to test and analyze the porosity and wave velocity.Additionally,the damage evolution induced by dry-wet cycles was captured based on acoustic emission(AE)data.The experimental results indicated that the heating process primarily resulted in mineral and salt crystal expansion,which in turn caused damage.The damage threshold due to the salt content was found to be 6%.The sudden increase in the thermal stress caused by cooling and deterioration of the tensile strength of the cement column were the key factors in the damage during the cooling process.As the number of cycles increased,the accumulated AE energy moved forward and backward,with decreasing and increasing temperature,respectively.The threshold of signal mutation in the heating process is 200C,and the accumulated AE energy decreases by 11.7%.When the salt content was 0%,1%,6%and 11%,the wave velocity decreased by 19%,27.3%,35.5%and 35.9%,respectively.This study also proposed a damage model,which could provide theoretical support for long-term health monitoring and safety protection of geothermal wells.

Effect of crystal morphology on cementability and micromechanical properties of calcium carbonate precipitate induced by crude soybean enzyme

Enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation(EICP)has emerged as an innovative soil stabilization technology to precipitate CaCO_(3)by catalyzing urea decomposition.Although extensive efforts have been made to increase the calcium carbonate content(CCC)formed in the EICP process for the better biocementation effect,the cementability and micromechanical properties of CaCO_(3)are rarely known.A study of the cementitious characteristics and micromechanical properties of CaCO_(3)precipitates with different mixing percentages of crystal morphology is essential for soil improvement.In the present study,ultrasonic oscillation tests and nanoindentation tests were performed to investigate the cementability and micromechanical properties of CaCO_(3)precipitate.The results show that the cementability and micromechanical properties of CaCO_(3)precipitate are related to the composition of the crystal morphology.A high content of calcite is beneficial to improve the adhesion of calcium carbonate precipitate.Calcite has better mechanical properties(elastic modulus,hardness and ductility)than vaterite,and the presence of vaterite can significantly affect the measured value of mechanical properties in nanoindentation tests.The ductility of CaCO_(3)precipitate induced by crude soybean urease(CSU)is higher than that of CaCO_(3)precipitate induced by commercially available pure enzyme,suggesting that commercially available pure enzyme can be replaced by CSU for cost-effective field-scale engineering applications.This work can provide insight into optimizing the properties of CaCO_(3)precipitate from the micro-scale.

Microstructural evolution and strengthening mechanism of aligned steel fiber cement-based tail backfills exposed to electromagnetic induction

Cemented tailings backfill(CTB)not only boosts mining safety and cuts surface environmental pollution but also recovers ores previously retained as pillars,thereby improving resource utilization.The use of alternative reinforcing products,such as steel fiber(SF),has continuously strengthened CTB into SFCTB.This approach prevents strength decreases over time and reinforces its long-term durability,especially when mining ore in adjacent underground stopes.In this study,various microstructure and strength tests were performed on SFCTB,considering steel fiber ratio and electromagnetic induction strength effects.Lab findings show that combining steel fibers and their distribution dominantly influences the improvement of the fill’s strength.Fill’s strength rises by fiber insertion and has an evident correlation with fiber insertion and magnetic induction strength.When magnetic induction strength is 3×10^(-4) T,peak uniaxial compressive stress reaches 5.73 MPa for a fiber ratio of 2.0vol%.The cracks’expansion mainly started from the specimen’s upper part,which steadily expanded downward by increasing the load until damage occurred.The doping of steel fiber and its directional distribution delayed crack development.When the doping of steel fiber was 2.0vol%,SFCTBs showed excellent ductility characteristics.The energy required for fills to reach destruction increases when steel-fiber insertion and magnetic induction strength increase.This study provides notional references for steel fibers as underground filling additives to enhance the fill’s durability in the course of mining operations.

On the efficient non-linear solver for hydraulic fracturing and well cementing simulations based on Anderson acceleration

The aim of this study is to create a fast and stable iterative technique for numerical solution of a quasi-linear elliptic pressure equation. We developed a modified version of the Anderson acceleration(AA)algorithm to fixed-point(FP) iteration method. It computes the approximation to the solutions at each iteration based on the history of vectors in extended space, which includes the vector of unknowns, the discrete form of the operator, and the equation's right-hand side. Several constraints are applied to AA algorithm, including a limitation of the time step variation during the iteration process, which allows switching to the base FP iterations to maintain convergence. Compared to the base FP algorithm, the improved version of the AA algorithm enables a reliable and rapid convergence of the iterative solution for the quasi-linear elliptic pressure equation describing the flow of particle-laden yield-stress fluids in a narrow channel during hydraulic fracturing, a key technology for stimulating hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs. In particular, the proposed AA algorithm allows for faster computations and resolution of unyielding zones in hydraulic fractures that cannot be calculated using the FP algorithm. The quasi-linear elliptic pressure equation under consideration describes various physical processes, such as the displacement of fluids with viscoplastic rheology in a narrow cylindrical annulus during well cementing,the displacement of cross-linked gel in a proppant pack filling hydraulic fractures during the early stage of well production(fracture flowback), and multiphase filtration in a rock formation. We estimate computational complexity of the developed algorithm as compared to Jacobian-based algorithms and show that the performance of the former one is higher in modelling of flows of viscoplastic fluids. We believe that the developed algorithm is a useful numerical tool that can be implemented in commercial simulators to obtain fast and converged solutions to the non-linear problems described above.