Disasters of gas-coal spontaneous combustion in goaf of steeply inclined extra-thick coal seams

In light of the escalating global energy imperatives,mining of challenging-to-access resources,such as steeply inclined extra-thick coal seams(SIEC),has emerged as one of the future trends within the domain of energy advancement.However,there is a risk of gas and coal spontaneous combustion coupling disasters(GCC)within the goaf of SIEC due to the complex goaf structure engendered by the unique mining methodologies of SIEC.To ensure that SIEC is mined safely and efficiently,this study conducts research on the GCC within the goaf of SIEC using field observation,theoretical analysis,and numerical modeling.The results demonstrate that the dip angle,the structural dimensions in terms of width-to-length ratio,and compressive strength of the overlying rock are the key factors contributing to the goaf instability of SIEC.The gangue was asymmetrically filled,primarily accumulating within the central and lower portions of the goaf,and the filling height increased proportionally with the advancing caving height,the expansion coefficient,and the thickness of the surrounding rock formation.The GCC occurs in the goaf of SIEC,with an air-return side range of 41 m and an air-intake side range of 14 m,at the intersection area of the“<”-shaped oxygen concentration distribution(coal spontaneous combustion)and the“>”-shaped gas concentration distribution(gas explosion).The optimal nitrogen flow rate is 1000 m3/h with an injection port situated 25 m away from the working face for the highest nitrogen diffusion efficacy and lowest risk of gas explosion,coal spontaneous combustion,and GCC.It has significant engineering applications for ensuring the safe mining of SIEC threatened by the GCC.

Analysis of the Risk of Water Breakout in the Bottom Plate of High-Intensity Mining of Extra-Thick Coal Seams

In order to clarify the danger of water breakout in the bottom plate of extra-thick coal seam mining, 2202 working face of a mine in the west is taken as the research object, and it is proposed to use the on-site monitoring means combining borehole peeping and microseismic monitoring, combined with the theoretical analysis to analyze the danger of water breakout in the bottom plate. The results show that: 1) the theoretically calculated maximum damage depth of the bottom plate is 27.5 m, and its layer is located above the Austrian ash aquifer, which has the danger of water breakout;2) the drill hole peeping at the bottom plate of the working face shows that the depth of the bottom plate fissure development reaches 26 m, and the integrity of the water barrier layer has been damaged, so there is the risk of water breakout;3) for the microseismic monitoring of the anomalous area, the bottom plate of the return air downstream channel occurs in the field with a one-week lag, which shows that microseismic monitoring events may reflect the water breakout of the underground. This shows that the microseismic monitoring events can reflect the changes of the underground flow field, which can provide a reference basis for the early warning of water breakout. The research results can provide reference for the prediction of sudden water hazard.

Prediction of upper limit position of bedding separation overlying a coal roadway within an extra-thick coal seam

Failure of the surrounding rock around a roadway induced by roof separation is one major type of underground roof-fall accidents.This failure can especially be commonly-seen in a bottom-driven roadway within an extra-thick coal seam("bottom-driven roadway"is used throughout for ease of reference),containing weak partings in their roof coal seams.To determine the upper limit position of the roof interlayer separation is the primary premise for roof control.In this study,a mechanical model for predicting the interlayer separation overlying a bottom-driven roadway within an extra-thick coal seam was established and used to deduce the vertical stress,and length,of the elastic,and plastic zones in the rock strata above the wall of the roadway as well as the formulae for calculating the deflection in different regions of rock strata under bearing stress.Also,an approach was proposed,calculating the stratum load,deflection,and limiting span of the upper limit position of the interlayer separation in a thick coal seam.Based on the key strata control theory and its influence of bedding separation,a set of methods judging the upper limit position of the roof interlayer separation were constructed.In addition,the theoretical prediction and field monitoring for the upper limit position of interlayer separation were conducted in a typical roadway.The results obtained by these two methods are consistent,indicating that the methods proposed are conducive to improving roof control in a thick coal seam.

Behaviors of overlying strata in extra-thick coal seams using top-coalcaving method

Accidents such as support failure and excessive deformation of roadways due to drastic changes in strata behaviors are frequently reported when mining the extra-thick coal seams Nos.3e5 in Datong coal mine with top-coal caving method,which significantly hampers the mine's normal production.To understand the mechanism of strata failure,this paper presented a structure evolution model with respect to strata behaviors.Then the behaviors of strata overlying the extra-thick coal seams were studied with the combined method of theoretical analysis,physical simulation,and field measurement.The results show that the key strata,which are usually thick-hard strata,play an important role in overlying movement and may influence the mining-induced strata behaviors in the working face using top-coal caving method.The structural model of far-field key strata presents a 'masonry beam' type structure when'horizontal O-X' breakage type happens.The rotational motion of the block imposed radial compressive stress on the surrounding rock mass of the roadway.This can induce excessive deformation of roadway near the goaf.Besides,this paper proposed a pre-control technology for the hard roof based on fracture holes and underground roof pre-splitting.It could effectively reduce stress concentration and release the accumulated energy of the strata,when mining underground coal resources with top-coal caving method.

Prediction and safety analysis of additional vertical stress within a shaft wall in an extra-thick alluvium

An alluvium with a sandy aquifer at the bottom,but lacking an effective impermeable layer between the sandy aquifer and bedrock is referred to as a special alluvial stratum.Impacted by the drainage of the aquifer due to mining activities,a shaft wall in this special alluvial stratum will be subject to a downward load by an additional vertical force which must be taken into consideration in the design of the shaft wall.The complexity of interaction between shaft wall and the surrounding walls makes it extremely difficult to determine this additional vertical force.For a particular shaft wall in an extra-thick alluvium and assuming that the friction coefficient between shaft wall and stratum does not change with depth,an analysis of a numerical simulation of the stress within the shaft wall has been carried out.Growth and size of the additional vertical stress have been obtained,based on specific values of the friction coefficient,the modulus of elasticity of the drainage layer and the thickness of the drainage layer.Subsequently, the safety of shaft walls with different structural types was studied and a more suitable structural design,providing an important basis for the design of shaft walls,is promoted.

Numerical Study on an Applicable Underground Mining Method for Soft Extra-Thick Coal Seams in Thailand

The EGAT Mae Moh Mine is the largest open pit lignite mine in Thailand and it produces lignite about 16 million tons annually. In the near future, the pit limit of the mine will be reached and underground mine will then be developed through the open pit in the depth of 400 - 600 m from the surface. However, due to the challenges for underground mining such as poor geological conditions, extra thickness (20 - 30 m) of coal seams, and weak mechanical properties of coal seams and the surrounding rock, the success possibility of underground mining and an applicable underground mining method is being investigated at the present. The paper discusses the applicability of multi-slice bord-and-pillar method for the soft extra thick coal seams in the Mae Moh mine by means of numerical analyses using the 3D finite difference code “FLAC3D”.

Strata behavior in extra-thick coal seam mining with upward slicing backfilling technology

Based on the character of upward slicing backfilling mining and the condition of Gonggeyingzi coal mine in Inner Mongolia,this paper describes the studies of the strata behavior and the stress distribution in the process of backfilling mining in extra-thick coal seams.This was achieved by setting up and analyzing the elastic foundation beam model using the ABAQUS software.The results show that:(1) With the gradual mining of different slices,the roof appears to bend continuously but does not break.The vertical stress in the roof decreases and the decreasing amplitude reduces,while the tensile stress in the roof grows with the mining slices and the maximum tensile stress will not exceed the allowable tensile stress.(2) The front vertical stress at the working face exceeds the rear vertical stress and both show a trend of decrease with decreasing amplitude of decrease.(3) The slices mined early have more influence on the surrounding rock than the later ones.Similarly,the strata behavior experiences the same trend.The field measured data show that the roof does not break during the mining process,which is consistent with the conclusion.

Toughening Mechanism of Large Heat Input Weld Metal for Marine Engineering Extra-Thick Plate

In order to study the latest designed large heat input welding material of marine engineering extra-thick plate,EH36 steel was joined by using twin-wire submerged arc welding with heat inputs of 85,100 and 115 kJ/cm separately.Meanwhile,the microstructure and mechanical properties were evaluated to explore the toughening mechanism of weld metal.Results show that a lot of active inclusions are obtained in the weld metal due to the design idea of low carbon and oxide metallurgy,which contributes to the generation of numerous fine and interlocking acicular ferrite.The acicular ferrite volume ratio of weld metal exceeds 60%.Moreover,the impact energy at-40℃ surpasses 115 J and the crack tip opening displacement value at-10℃ is more than 0.2 mm under three heat inputs owing to the role of acicular ferrite,of which 85 kJ/cm is the best.The martensite-austenite constituents are minor in size and the microstructure of the weld metal in reheated zone is dominated by small massive equiaxed ferrite,without impairing the toughness.As the heat input increases,the content of acicular ferrite drops and then rises;the impact toughness and fracture toughness first worsen consequently and then stabilize on account of the dramatic expansion of the proeutectoid ferrite size.

Finite element model simulation and back propagation neural network modeling of void closure for an extra-thick plate during gradient temperature rolling

The void closure behavior in a central extra-thick plate during the gradient temperature rolling was simulated and a back propagation(BP)neural network model was established.The thermal–mechanical finite element model of the gradient temperature rolling process was first developed and validated.The prediction error of the model for the rolling force is less than 2.51%,which has provided the feasibility of imbedding a defect in it.Based on the relevant data obtained from the simulation,the BP neural network was used to establish a prediction model for the compression degree of a void defect.After statistical analysis,80%of the data had a hit rate higher than 95%,and the hit rate of all data was higher than 90%,which indicates that the BP neural network can accurately predict the compression degree.Meanwhile,the comparisons between the results with the gradient temperature rolling and uniform temperature rolling,and between the results with the single-pass rolling and multi-pass rolling were discussed,which provides a theoretical reference for developing process parameters in actual production.

超厚细砂地层大直径后压浆桩荷载传递计算与分析

为了研究超厚细砂地层大直径后压浆桩的荷载变形特性,基于石首长江公路大桥8根大直径钻孔灌注桩现场静载荷试验结果,分析大直径后压浆桩的荷载传递特性,采用BoxLucas1函数的荷载传递模型,在考虑浆泡半径和桩身水泥结石体厚度的基础上建立了后压浆桩荷载-沉降关系的计算方法,并给出了不同土层桩侧、桩端增强因子经验取值范围,通过工程实例验证了方法的合理性;基于实际工程通过改变桩长及桩径,进一步计算分析超厚细砂地层大直径桩承载特性的变化规律。结果表明,该方法能较好地给出后压浆桩荷载-沉降关系的范围,可采用计算结果的下限作为工程设计使用;大直径桩承载性能随着桩长或桩径增加逐渐提高,桩径一定时,大直径桩的承载性能提高幅度随着桩长增加而逐渐趋于缓慢,且桩长达到一定值时,端阻所占比例几乎为0,表明通过增加桩长来提升大直径桩的承载性能受到有效桩长的影响;而桩端、桩侧组合后压浆技术能改善大直径桩的有效桩长问题,并能显著地提高大直径桩的极限承载力和端阻力所占比例。

超厚粉细砂地层长大钻孔灌注桩施工技术研究

结合石首长江公路大桥主塔桩基础的施工,采用钻孔桩钢护筒作为钻孔平台的承重结构,针对超厚粉细砂地层钻孔易塌孔、扩孔率大、垂直度控制困难等客观情况,从设备的选择、泥浆的配制、钻孔过程中钻机参数的确定和泥浆参数的控制等方面进行了说明,介绍了液压动力头钻机在超厚粉细砂地层施工长大钻孔灌注桩的情况,对钻进要点进行了详细阐述,为类似工程提供参考。

云南某特厚粉细砂覆盖型喀斯特地区的桩基础施工技术

为解决特厚粉细砂覆盖型喀斯特地区桩基础施工存在的坍孔、漏浆、钻孔偏斜等问题,进行了施工方案比选,最终采用冲击成孔+抛填弃土(拌和了羧甲基纤维素钠)、块(片)石加固、护壁等施工方案。实践证明,上述施工方案能有效解决喀斯特地区桩基础施工难题,保证成桩质量,同时还能有效利用弃土,降低了施工成本,对类似地质条件的桩基础施工具有一定的指导价值。

Demonstration Project of Safe and Efficient Mining Operations in Extra-thick Coal Seam

Mineable coal reserves in thick and extra-thick seams account for 44% of the total deposit in China. Fullymechanized top-coal caving technology is a new mining method of safe and efficient underground operations in extra-thick seams in China. The development of fullymechanized top-coal caving technology in China, which was successfully applied in Face 8105 in Tashan Coal Mine, Datong, Shanxi, China, is analyzed in this paper.Studies on movement pattern of top-coal and roof from fully-mechanized top caving face in 14–20 m extra-thick seams have been carried out. A series of key technologies were successfully developed, including strata control technology, equipment for high-efficient and high-recovery top caving operations, and safety guarantee technology for low gas occurrence and high gas emission. As a result, the fully-mechanized top-coal caving Face 8105, with large mining height in Tashan Coal Mine, has achieved a recovery rate of 88.9% and an average equipment operation rate of 92.1%. With coal production of 10.84 Mt in 2011,the demonstration project is a technology and equipment breakthrough for fully-mechanized top-coal caving face in extra-thick coal seams with large mining height.

超厚粉细砂地层组合压浆桩压浆效果试验

为了研究超厚粉细砂地层中桩端、桩侧组合压浆效果,基于石首长江公路大桥工程中6根超长大直径钻孔灌注桩原位静载荷试验,通过对比分析组合压浆前、后钻孔灌注桩的试验结果,研究组合压浆对超长大直径钻孔灌注桩承载力性状、桩端阻力及桩侧摩阻力的影响。通过钻孔取芯、标准贯入试验分别对水泥浆液影响范围和桩基组合压浆的影响效果进行综合分析,得到该工程主桥试桩压浆前、后粉细砂土层侧阻力经验系数,建立压浆后侧摩阻力与压浆前标贯击数N的关系式。研究结果表明:与组合压浆前相比,组合压浆后的桩端阻力与桩侧摩阻力均有大幅度增加,且灌注桩极限承载力提高幅度为94.25%~151.51%,由此可见组合压浆的效果非常显著;组合压浆桩的承载性能明显优于桩端压浆桩,其对桩基的荷载传递特性产生了明显影响;钻孔取芯试验明确了水泥浆液在桩周和桩端以下一定范围的分布情况,证实了组合压浆的有效性;标准贯入试验结果表明组合压浆后桩侧土的标贯击数N明显提高,研究成果可直接运用于该大桥桩基设计,并可为类似超厚粉细砂地层中桥梁桩基工程提供参考。