Additive manufacturing technology in mining engineering research

Nowadays,additive manufacturing,or 3D printing(3DP),though not a new technology in many industrial fields,is still relatively novel in mining engineering.This study explored the application of 3D metal printing,3D polylactic acid/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene printing,and 3D concrete printing in coal mining.Some examples of physical models established via 3DP technologies were studied in detail,namely,3DP bolts,3DP steel ladder beams,3DP face plates,and 3DP metal arches,which were installed in scaled 3DP concrete prototype models of coal mine excavation.Through the comprehensive laboratory loading tests,the models could simulate the damage scenario highly similar to the real failures.The results show that the 3D printed physical models greatly improved the accuracy and reliability of experiments.On this basis,the conceptual design of a 3DP machine for physical models was proposed,which had the potential of resembling the strata deformation/collapse in natural scenarios.Through assessing the applicability of the additive manufacturing technology in mining engineering,this study aimed to further explore its potential applicability in other engineering contexts such as slope controlling,large underground engineering,and underground space stability.

The future of underground spatial planning and the resulting potential risks from the point of view of mining subsidence engineering

The topic of ground movements in Germany has been studied extensively in the past,especially in the field of active mines.The active hard coal mines in Germany were finally shut down in 2018 and lignite mining is expected to take place only until 2038.The so-called long-term liabilities of the mine operators in Germany include,among other things,the long-term guarantee of stability and thus the monitoring of ground motion.So far,the economic use of underground mining in Germany was mainly the supply of raw materials.In the future,the underground storage of compressed air,methane or hydrogen will play an important role in renewable energy supply and climate change.Therefore,the underground storage space will become more important and the spatial planning is essential to ensure availability of safe underground openings for the various options of environmentally friendly energy storage.However,this renewed usage of underground openings may also bring new and sometimes unknown challenges of geomechanical influence.The aftermath of hard coal and lignite mining will be an increasing challenge in mining subsidence engineering.On the other hand,new possibilities due to underground spatial planning may lead to subsidence and/or heaving of the upper surface.

Using deep neural networks coupled with principal component analysis for ore production forecasting at open-pit mines

Ore production is usually affected by multiple influencing inputs at open-pit mines.Nevertheless,the complex nonlinear relationships between these inputs and ore production remain unclear.This becomes even more challenging when training data(e.g.truck haulage information and weather conditions)are massive.In machine learning(ML)algorithms,deep neural network(DNN)is a superior method for processing nonlinear and massive data by adjusting the amount of neurons and hidden layers.This study adopted DNN to forecast ore production using truck haulage information and weather conditions at open-pit mines as training data.Before the prediction models were built,principal component analysis(PCA)was employed to reduce the data dimensionality and eliminate the multicollinearity among highly correlated input variables.To verify the superiority of DNN,three ANNs containing only one hidden layer and six traditional ML models were established as benchmark models.The DNN model with multiple hidden layers performed better than the ANN models with a single hidden layer.The DNN model outperformed the extensively applied benchmark models in predicting ore production.This can provide engineers and researchers with an accurate method to forecast ore production,which helps make sound budgetary decisions and mine planning at open-pit mines.

Deformation characteristics and reinforcement technology for entry subjected to mining-induced stresses

The entry at Zhangcun coal mine in Lu＇an coal mining area in Shanxi Province suffered from severe mining-induced stresses with the heading face driven oppositely to an adjacent working face. In this paper, the characteristics of deformation and failure of the entry were investigated in terms of the tempo-spatial relations between heading and working faces through field study and numerical modeling. The three-dimensional （3D） finite difference models were built to investigate stresses, displacements and damages in the surrounding rocks of the entry and the working face. The field study includes selection of reinforcing methods and materials, design parameters, and determination of cable prestress. The monitoring data of entry deformation and stress along the cables during every stage were presented. The state of the reinforced entry was evaluated based on the monitoring data. The results demonstrate that before the heading face of the entry crosses the adjacent working face, the influence of advanced abutment pressure caused by adjacent working face upon the entry is not significant. After they cross each other, however, the lateral abutment pressure will have an evident impact on the entry. The displacement rate of the entry will be greatly increased and reaches a certain value within a certain distance between the heading face and the working face. Then, it will increase again with the presence of secondary mining-induced pressure on the entry when the present working face advances. The fully-grouted cable with short length, high strength and high prestress is an effective way to reinforce the entry suffering from severe mining-induced stresses, which greatly reduces the displacement and failure possibility of the entry. Finally, the principles and recommendations for reinforcing design of entries suffering from severe mining-induced stresses were proposed according to field study, numerical modeling and experiences from other coal mines. Problems encountered in field study and suggestions for reinforcement were also discussed.

Discussion on the Teaching of“Metallic Mineral Processing”for Mineral Processing Engineering

Social economic growth and the increasing demand for mineral resources have promoted the development of metallic mineral processing technology.Therefore,in order to satisfy the demands for development in mining,cultivating comprehensive mineral processing engineering professionals with strong innovative practical skills has become the top priority in current education.We have established a new course,“Metallic Mineral Processing,”for students majoring in mineral processing engineering in universities,with coal and other sources of energy as the main focus.This paper analyzes the purpose and significance of setting up this course and the exploration of the reform of the teaching mode,with the aim of improving the teaching quality and ensuring the cultivation of mineral processing engineering undergraduates.

Prospects for the transformation and development of carbon storage in abandoned mines of coal enterprises from the perspective ofcarbon neutrality

Under the carbon neutrality goal,coal enterprises must seek breakthroughs from abandoned mines,develop new resources in the new era,turn problems into countermeasures,and participate in the carbon emissions market,for contributing to the accomplishment of the national strategic goal of carbon neutrality.To this end,we investigated the relevant national policies and regulations to clarify the boundaries disclosed by the carbon information of enterprises,understood the development direction of carbon storage in abandoned mines,and clarified the transformation and development of carbon storage in aban-doned mines.We made a few suggestions:(1)China should learn from its past experience and other countries to develop the energy industry with Chinese characteristics and reform the economic system.(2)Coal enterprises must actively respond to the national carbon information disclosure policy,clarify their own responsibilities and carbon emission boundaries.(3)It is necessary to proactively obtain advanced knowledge and plan carbon storage pathways for abandoned mines.(4)Devel-opment problems of coal enterprises should be deduced using cases.The'dual carbon'goals should be achieved steadily step-by-step.(5)Three measures,i.e.improving the existing resource structure,coordinating the information of abandoned mines,and promoting the cultivation of scientific and technological talents.

Mechanical property and permeability of raw coal containing methane under unloading confining pressure

Based on domestic-developed triaxial servo-controlled seepage equipment for thermal-hydrologicalmechanical coupling of coal containing methane,an experimental study was carried out to investigate mechanical property and gas permeability of raw coal,under the situation of conventional triaxial compression and unloading confining pressure tests in different gas pressure conditions.Triaxial unloading confining pressure process was reducing confining pressure while increasing axial pressure.The research results show that,compared with the peak intensity of conventional triaxial loading,the ultimate strength of coal samples of triaxial unloading confining pressure was lower,deformation under loading was far less than unloading,dilation caused by unloading was more obvious than loading.The change trend of volumetric strain would embody change of gas permeability of coal,the permeability first reduced along with volumetric strain increase,and then raised with volume strain decrease,furthermore,the change trends of permeability of coal before and after destruction were different in the stage of decreasing volume strain due to the effect of gas pressure.When gas pressure was greater,the effective confining pressure was smaller,and the radial deformation produced by unloading was greater.When the unloading failed confining pressure difference was smaller,coal would be easier to get unstable failure.

Optimization of clay material mixture ratio and filling process in gypsum mine goaf

Because there is neither waste rock nor mill tailings in the gypsum mine, and the buildings on the goaf of gypsum mine are needed to be protected, the research proposed the scheme of the clay filling technology. Gypsum, cement, lime and water glass were used as adhesive, and the strength of different material ratios were investigated in this study. The influence factors of clay strength were obtained in the order of cement, gypsum, water glass and lime. The results show that the cement content is the determinant influence factor, and gypsum has positive effects, while the water glass can enhance both clay strength and the fluidity of the filing slurry. Furthermore, combining chaotic optimization method with neural network, the optimal ratio of composite cementing agent was obtained. The results show that the optimal ratio of water glass, cement, lime and clay (in quality) is 1.17:6.74:4.17:87.92 in the process of bottom self-flow filling, while the optimal ratio is 1.78:9.58:4.71:83.93 for roof-contacted filling. A novel filling process to fill in gypsum mine goaf with clay is established. The engineering practice shows that the filling cost is low, thus, notable economic benefit is achieved.

Cut slope reinforcement technique in open-pit mines

The design and practice in supporting the cut slope of an open-pit mine wereintroduced, in which the high pressure grouting method was used in reinforcing the weak formation inthe slopes. Based on a detailed geological survey of the slope, a theoretical analysis was carriedout, and the design parameters were proposed, where the Tresca or Mohr-Coulomb yield criteria wasemployed. A patent technology, named 'Technology of high pressure and multiple grouting in differentlevels within a single hole', was employed in the construction. Anchor bars were also installed asgrouting proceeds. This method combines anchoring and grouting comprehensively and was foundsuccessful in practice.

Stability analysis of backflling in subsiding area and optimization of the stoping sequence

In underground mining by sublevel caving method, the deformation and damage of the surface induced by subsidence are the major challenging issues. The dynamic and soft backflling body increases the safety risks in the subsiding area. In this paper, taking Zhangfushan iron mine as an example, the ore body and the general layout are focused on the safety of backflling of mined-out area. Then, we use the ANSYS software to construct a three-dimensional(3D) model for the mining area in the Zhangfushan iron mine. According to the simulation results of the initial mining stages, the ore body is stoped step by step as suggested in the design. The stability of the backflling is back analyzed based on the monitored displacements, considering the stress distribution to optimize the stoping sequence. The simulations show that a reasonable stoping sequence can minimize the concentration of high compressive stress and ensure the safety of stoping of the ore body.

Mill tailings based composites as paste backfill in mines of U-bearing dolomitic limestone ore

This paper elaborates on the development of paste backfill using mill tailings generated during the processing of a uranium ore deposit hosted in dolomitic limestone. The tailings have been characterized in terms of the physical, chemical and mineralogical properties. Time-dependent rheological behaviors and geotechnical properties of cemented paste backfill(CPB) are also determined. The studies show that the mill tailing has the potential to form paste and the CPB has adequate strength to provide support to mine pillars, roofs, and walls.

Energy evolution and water immersion‑induced weakening in sandstone roof of coal mines

The instability of underground spaces in abandoned coal mines with water-immersed rocks is one of the main hazards hindering the geothermal energy use and ecological restoration of post-mining areas.This study conducted graded cyclic loading–unloading tests of fve groups of sandstone samples with diferent water contents.The evolution of input,elastic,dissipated,damping,and plastic energies were explored,considering the damping efect.The normalized plastic energy serves to characterize the damage evolution of sandstone samples,whose failure characteristics were analyzed from both the macroscopic and microscopic perspectives.X-ray difraction technique and scanning electron microscopy were used to reveal the softening mechanism of sandstone.The results show that under graded cyclic loading,input energy,elastic energy,and dissipated energy all increase gradually,and the fraction of elastic energy increases gradually at frst and then tends to stabilize.The variation in the fraction of dissipated energy is opposite to that of elastic energy.In each cycle,the input energy is stored primarily in the form of elastic energy,whereas the dissipated energy is used primarily to overcome the damping of sandstone.When the normalized number of cycles approached unity,the plastic energy fraction sharply increases,while that of the dampening energy drops abruptly.With increasing water content,the efect of pore water on the lubrication,the water wedge,and dissolution of mineral particles becomes more obvious,reducing the elastic-storage limit of sandstone,meanwhile the sandstone damage factor increases signifcantly under the same cycle and the failure mode changes from brittle to ductile.

Digital Mine Research and Practice Based on Mining and Metallurgy System Engineering

Iron ore is necessarily basic raw material for industrialization and urbanization and related to the industrial distribution and development programming.The lean iron ore resource in our country is high-cost and low-efficiency,which cannot meet the demand of iron and steel industry,and even endanger the safety of industrial economy.Ansteel mining has created "grade decisionbased multi-system integration" mode of mining and metallurgy system engineering and realized scale and efficient development of lean iron ore on basis of the construction of digital mines.Moreover,the "wisdom mines" was proposed and had led to the transformation and upgrading of iron developments.

Protection of cement-soil reinforced regions for adjacent running tunnels during pit excavation

In pit excavation,cement is introduced into ground by deep mixing method to form an improved soil raft below final formation level to diminish deflection of retaining wall and effect on surrounding structure.Owning to complicated site conditions and improper workmanship,there are always some regions left untreated in the embedded improved soil raft.In this work,Several schemes of cement-soil mixed piles arrangement are modeled in order to discuss the effect of different cement-soil reinforced regions on protection for adjacent running tunnels.Finite element results show that:when lateral regions above tunnels are not enhanced by cement-soil mixed piles,effect of enlarging vertical enhanced regions around tunnels on diminishing lateral displacement of tunnel is really small;enhancing the lateral regions next to retaining wall is more effective in reducing the deflection of tunnel and retaining wall;uplifting of tunnel under the middle pit mainly depends on lateral reinforced regions and lateral displacements of retaining wall;as cement-soil mixed piles near retaining wall in east pit are removed during east pit excavation,effect of cement-soil mixed piles in east pit on reducing the final wall deflection can be neglected;upward shaft resistances are exerted along left side of diaphragm wall during excavation,which helps to reduce the wall deflection;positive effect of single-head cement-soil mixed piles in east pit is to decreasing the uplifting of soil inside east pit.Double-head cement-soil mixed piles arranged in"T"shape decrease the effect of east pit excavation on tunnels under middle pit apparently.

Summarizing Software Artifacts： A Literature Review

This paper presents a literature review in the field of summarizing software artifacts, focusing on bug reports, source code, mailing lists and developer discussions artifacts. From Jan. 2010 to Apr. 2016, numerous summarization techniques, approaches, and tools have been proposed to satisfy the ongoing demand of improving software performance and quality and facilitating developers in understanding the problems at hand. Since aforementioned artifacts contain both structured and unstructured data at the same time, researchers have applied different machine learning and data mining techniques to generate summaries. Therefore, this paper first intends to provide a general perspective on the state of the art, describing the type of artifacts, approaches for summarization, as well as the common portions of experimental procedures shared among these artifacts. Moreover, we discuss the applications of summarization, i.e., what tasks at hand have been achieved through summarization. Next, this paper presents tools that are generated for summarization tasks or employed during summarization tasks. In addition, we present different summarization evaluation methods employed in selected studies as well as other important factors that are used for the evaluation of generated summaries such as adequacy and quality. Moreover, we briefly present modern communication channels and complementarities with commonalities among different software artifacts. Finally, some thoughts about the challenges applicable to the existing studies in general as well as future research directions are also discussed. The survey of existing studies will allow future researchers to have a wide and useful background knowledge on the main and important aspects of this research field.

Identifying Composite Crosscutting Concerns with Scatter-Based Graph Clustering

Identifying composite crosscutting concerns（CCs） is a research task and challenge of aspect mining.In this paper,we propose a scatter-based graph clustering approach to identify composite CCs.Inspired by the state-of-the-art link analysis tech-niques,we propose a two-state model to approximate how CCs tangle with core modules.According to this model,we obtain scatter and centralization scores for each program element.Espe-cially,the scatter scores are adopted to select CC seeds.Further-more,to identify composite CCs,we adopt a novel similarity measurement and develop an undirected graph clustering to group these seeds.Finally,we compare it with the previous work and illustrate its effectiveness in identifying composite CCs.