• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.547-556
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• 2020

An understanding of the influence of MR (Magmatic Rock) thickness on the surrounding rock behaviors is essential for the prevention and management of dynamic disasters in coal mining. In this study, we used FLC3D to study the breaking and instability laws of surrounding rock with different MR thicknesses in terms of strata movement, stress and energy. The mechanism of dynamic disasters was revealed. The results show that the thicker the MR is, (1) the smaller the subsidence of the overlying strata is, but the subsidence span of the overlying strata become wider, and the corresponding displacement deformation value of the basin edge become smaller. (2) the slower the growth rate of abutment pressure in front of the working face is, but the peak value is smaller, and the influence range is larger. The peak value decreases rapidly after the breaking, and the stress concentration coefficient is maintained at about 1.31. (3) the slower the peak energy in front of coal wall, but the range of energy concentration increases (isoline "O" type energy circle). Finally, a case study was conducted to verify the disaster-causing mechanism. We anticipate that the research findings presented herein can assist in the control of dynamic hazards.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.517-525
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• 2020

The long-term stability of rock engineering is significantly affected by the time-dependent deformation behavior of rock, which is an important mechanical property of rock for engineering design. Although the hard rocks show small creep deformation, it cannot be ignored under high-stress condition during deep excavation. The inner mechanism of creep is complicated, therefore, it is necessary to investigate the relationship between microscopic creep mechanism and the macro creep behavior of rock. Microscopic numerical modeling of sandstone creep was performed in the investigation. A numerical sandstone sample was generated and Parallel Bond contact and Burger's contact model were assigned to the contacts between particles in DEM simulation. Sensitivity analysis of the microscopic creep parameters was conducted to explore how microscopic parameters affect the macroscopic creep deformation. The results show that the microscopic creep parameters have linear correlations with the corresponding macroscopic creep parameters, whereas the friction coefficient shows power function with peak strength and Young's modulus, respectively. Moreover, the microscopic parameters were calibrated. The creep modeling curve is in good agreement with the verification test result. Finally, the creep curves under one-step loading and multi-step loading were compared. This investigation can act as a helpful reference for modeling rock creep behavior from a microscopic mechanism perspective.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.29-42
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• 2018

This paper presents the results of an empirical study in which square rock-like blocks containing two parallel pre-existing rough non-persistent joints were subjected to uniaxial compression load. The main purpose of this study was to investigate uniaxial compressive strength and deformation modulus of jointed specimens. Response Surface Method (RSM) was utilized to design experiments and investigate the effect of four joint parameters, namely joint roughness coefficient (JRC), bridge length (L), bridge angle (${\gamma}$), and joint inclination (${\theta}$). The interaction of these parameters on the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and deformation modulus of the blocks was investigated as well. The results indicated that an increase in joint roughness coefficient, bridge length and bridge angle increased compressive strength and deformation modulus. Moreover, increasing joint inclination decreased the two mechanical properties. The concept of 'interlocking cracks' which are mixed mode (shear-tensile cracks) was introduced. This type of cracks can happen in higher level of JRC. Initiation and propagation of this type of cracks reduces mechanical properties of sample before reaching its peak strength. The results of the Response Surface Methodology showed that the mutual interaction of the joint parameters had a significant influence on the compressive strength and deformation modulus.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.237-255
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• 2015

From the related engineering principles, analytical solutions for horizontal crack initiation and propagation on a coal panel floor-underlying strata interface due to coal panel excavation are derived in this paper. Two important concepts, namely the critical panel width of horizontal crack initiation on the panel floor-underlying strata interface and the critical panel width of vertical fracture (crack) initiation in the panel floor, have been presented. The resulting analytical solution indicates that: (1) the first criterion can be used to express the condition under which horizontal plane cracks (on the panel floor-underlying strata interface or in the panel floor because of delamination) due to the mining induced vertical stress will initiate and propagate; (2) the second criterion can be used to express the condition under which vertical plane cracks (in the panel floor) due to the mining induced horizontal stress will initiate and propagate; (3) this orthogonal set of horizontal and vertical plane cracks, once formed, will provide the necessary weak network for the flow of gas to inrush into the panel. Two characteristic equations are given to quantitatively estimate both the critical panel width of vertical fracture initiation in the panel floor and the critical panel width of horizontal crack initiation on the interface between the panel floor and its underlying strata. The significance of this study is to provide not only some theoretical bases for understanding the fundamental mechanism of a longwall floor gas inrush problem but also a benchmark solution for verifying any numerical methods that are used to deal with this kind of gas inrush problem.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.391-399
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• 2020

Brittleness is one of the most important properties of rock which has a major impact not only on the failure process of intact rock but also on the response of rock mass to tunneling and mining projects. Due to the lack of a universally accepted definition of rock brittleness, a wide range of methods, including direct and indirect methods, have been developed for its measurement. Measuring rock brittleness by direct methods requires special equipment which may lead to financial inconveniences and is usually unavailable in most of rock mechanic laboratories. Accordingly, this study aimed to develop a new strength-based index for predicting rock brittleness based on the obtained base form. To this end, an innovative algorithm was developed in Matlab environment. The utilized algorithm finds the optimal index based on the open access dataset including the results of punch penetration test (PPT), uniaxial compressive and Brazilian tensile strength. Validation of proposed index was checked by the coefficient of determination (R²), the root mean square error (RMSE), and also the variance for account (VAF). The results indicated that among the different brittleness indices, the suggested equation is the most accurate one, since it has the optimal R², RMSE and VAF as 0.912, 3.47 and 89.8%, respectively. It could finally be concluded that, using the proposed brittleness index, rock brittleness can be reliably predicted with a high level of accuracy.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.371-377
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• 2020

There are currently three common methods for selecting excavation supports in Polish hard coal mines. While many factors are considered when choosing appropriate support, these do not include layering or cracking in the excavation ceiling. Although global classifications of rock mass are rarely used in hard coal mines, they are utilised much more frequently during the construction of underground structures such as tunnels. Mining classifications of rock mass have been developed (e.g., in Germany) and they rely on a number of factors but are often related to local mining and geological conditions. This paper discusses the selected findings of a study carried out on seven excavation sites with diverse mining and geological characteristics. Based on the collected data, two indicators were developed to describe rock mass quality. The first indicator is referred to as the roof lithology index WL and describes the quality of the excavation roof in terms of its layering and lithology. The second indicator is the crack intensity factor n and represents the amount of cracks in an excavation's roof. The correctness of the developed indicators was supported by reliable data from the excavation in which the designed support did not fulfill its task but was changed at a later stage, after calculating the proposed indicators.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.545-554
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• 2019

The customary approach used in the blast vibration analysis is to derive empirical relations between the peak particle velocities of blast-induced waves and the scaled distance, and to develop patterns limiting the amounts of explosives. During the periods when excavations involving blasting were performed at sites far from residential areas and infrastructure works, this method based on empirical correlations could be effective in reducing vibrations. However, blasting procedures applied by the fast-moving mining and construction industries today can be very close to, in particular cities, residential areas, pipelines, geothermal sites, etc., and this reveals the need to minimize blast vibrations not only by limiting the use of explosives, but also employing new scientific and technological methods. The conventional methodology in minimizing blast vibrations involves the steps of i) measuring by seismograph peak particle velocity induced by blasting, ii) defining ground transmission constants between the blasting area and the target station, iii) finding out the empirical relation involving the propagation of seismic waves, and iv) employing this relation to identify highest amount of explosive that may safely be fired at a time for blasting. This paper addresses practical difficulties during the implementation of this conventional method, particularly the defects and errors in data evaluation and analysis; illustrates the disadvantages of the method; emphasizes essential considerations in case the method is implemented; and finally discusses methods that would fit better to the conditions and demands of the present time compared to the conventional method that intrinsically hosts the abovementioned disadvantages.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.279-285
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• 2019

The process of slope stability analysis is one of the most important stages in design of some civil and mining projects. Bimslopes are made from bimrocks (block-in-matrix rocks) where rocky blocks are distributed in a bonded matrix of finer texture. These kind of slopes are often seen in weathered and near-surface depths. Previous studies have shown that VBP (Volumetric Block Proportion) is one of the most significant factors affecting bimrocks strength and consequently the stability of bimslopes. In this paper, the influence of block inclinations on bimslope stability have been investigated. For this purpose, 180 theoretical models have been made with various VBPs, all of them have a specified block size distribution. These bimslopes contain blocks with differing dips relative the slope inclination. Also for each kind of block inclination, 10 different blocks arrangements have been modeled. The Finite Element Method (FEM) was used to analysis the stability of these bimslopes models. The results showed the inclination of blocks has a strong impact on the Safety Factor and stability of bimslopes. When the difference in angle of dip of blocks relative to the slope angle is maximum, the Safety Factor of bimslopes tends to be a maximum compared with the matrix-only state. Furthermore, with increasing VBP of bimslopes stability increases. The graphs obtained from this study could be used for preliminary guidance in the projects design with bimslopes.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.281-293
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• 2021

Uncertainties in geomechanical input parameters which mainly related to inappropriate data acquisition and estimation due to lack of sufficient calibration information, have led wellbore instability not yet to be fully understood or addressed. This paper demonstrates a workflow of employing Quantitative Risk Assessment technique, considering these uncertainties in terms of rock properties, pore pressure and in-situ stresses to makes it possible to survey not just the likelihood of accomplishing a desired level of wellbore stability at a specific mud pressure, but also the influence of the uncertainty in each input parameter on the wellbore stability. This probabilistic methodology in conjunction with Monte Carlo numerical modeling techniques was applied to a case study of a well. The response surfaces analysis provides a measure of the effects of uncertainties in each input parameter on the predicted mud pressure from three widely used failure criteria, thereby provides a key measurement for data acquisition in the future wells to reduce the uncertainty. The results pointed out that the mud pressure is tremendously sensitive to UCS and SHmax which emphasize the significance of reliable determinations of these two parameters for safe drilling. On the other hand, the predicted safe mud window from Mogi-Coulomb is the widest while the Hoek-Brown is the narrowest and comparing the anticipated collapse failures from the failure criteria and breakouts observations from caliper data, indicates that Hoek-Brown overestimate the minimum mud weight to avoid breakouts while Mogi-Coulomb criterion give better forecast according to real observations.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2022

Tunneling in rocks having the time-dependent behavior, causes some difficulties like tunnel convergence and, as a result, pressure on concrete lining; and so instability on this structure. In this paper the time-dependent behaviour of squeezing phenomenon in a large cross section tunnel was investigated as a case study: Alborz tunnel. Then, time-dependent behaviour of Alborz tunnel was evaluated using FLAC2D based on the finite difference numerical method. A Burger-creep viscoelastic model was used in numerical analysis. Using numerical analysis, the long-time effect of squeezing on lining stability was simulated.This study is done for primary lining (for 2 years) and permanent lining (for 100 years), under squeezing situations. The response of lining is discussed base on Thrust Force-Bending Moment and Thrust Force-Shear Force diagrams analysing. The results determined the importance of consideration of time-dependent behaviour of tunnel that structural forces in concrete lining will grow in consider with time pass and after 70 years can cause instability in creepy rock masses section of tunnel. To show the importance of time-dependent behavior consideration of rocks, elastic and Mohr-Coulomb models are evaluated at the end.