• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.51-67
• /
• 2023

In this research, the degradation rate of physical properties of the Angouran pit bedrock (calc-schist) is first investigated under the specific numbers of freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles. Then, the durability of calc-schist specimens against the F-T cycle number (N) is examined considering the mechanical parameters, and using the decay function and half-time techniques. For this purpose, point load strength (I_S(50)), second durability index (I_d2), Brazilian tensile strength (BTS), and compressive (V_P) and shear (V_S) wave velocities of calc-schist specimens are measured after 0, 7, 15, 40, and 75 N. For comparing the degradation rate of mechanical properties of available rock types on the Angouran mine walls, these tests are also carried out on the limestone and amphibolite schist specimens beside the calc-schist. According to test results, the exponential regression models are developed between the mechanical parameters of rock specimen's and N variable. Also, the long-term durability of each rock type versus N is studied using the decay function and half-time techniques. Results indicated that the degradation rate differs for the above rock types in which amphibolite schist and calc-schist specimens have the highest and least resistance against the N, respectively. The obtained results from this study can play a key role in the optimal design of the mine's final walls.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.507-527
• /
• 2023

Accurately estimation of the geo-mechanical parameters in Artificial Ground Freezing (AGF) is a most important scientific topic in soil improvement and geotechnical engineering. In order for this, one way is using classical and conventional constitutive models based on different theories like critical state theory, Hooke's law, and so on, which are time-consuming, costly, and troublous. The others are the application of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to predict considered parameters and behaviors accurately. This study presents a comprehensive data-mining-based model for predicting the Young's Modulus of frozen sand under the triaxial test. For this aim, several single and hybrid models were considered including additive regression, bagging, M5-Rules, M5P, random forests (RF), support vector regression (SVR), locally weighted linear (LWL), gaussian process regression (GPR), and multi-layered perceptron neural network (MLP). In the present study, cell pressure, strain rate, temperature, time, and strain were considered as the input variables, where the Young's Modulus was recognized as target. The results showed that all selected single and hybrid predicting models have acceptable agreement with measured experimental results. Especially, hybrid Additive Regression-Gaussian Process Regression and Bagging-Gaussian Process Regression have the best accuracy based on Model performance assessment criteria.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.437-447
• /
• 2023

The failures of tailing dams have caused irreparable damage to human lives, assets and environment and this has ultimately resulted in great economic, social and environmental challenges worldwide. Due to this, investigation into mechanical behaviour of tailings has received some attention. However, the knowledge and understanding of mechanics of behaviour in iron tailings is still limited. This study investigates the mechanics of iron tailings from Nigeria considering grading, effects of fabric resulting from different sample preparations and the possibility of non-convergent behaviour. This was achieved by conducting series of one-dimensional compression tests in conjunction with index, microstructural, chemical and mineralogical tests. The materials are predominantly poorly graded, non-clayey and non-plastic. The tailings are characterised by angular particles with no obvious particle aggregations and dominated by silicon, iron, aluminium, haematite and quartz. The compression paths do not converge and unique normal compression lines are not found and this is an important feature of the transitional mode of behaviour. The behaviour of these iron tailings therefore depends on initial specific volume. The preparation methods also have effect on the compression paths of the samples. The gradings of the samples have an influence on the degree of transitional behaviour but the preparation methods do affect the degree of convergence. The transitional mode of behaviour in these iron tailings investigated is very strong.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.45-56
• /
• 2024

The weakening effect of water on rocks is one of the main factors inducing deformation and failure in rock engineering. To clarify this weakening effect, immersion tests and post-immersion triaxial compression tests were conducted on sandstone and mudstone. The results showed that the strength of water-immersed sandstone decreases with increasing immersion time, exhibiting an exponential relationship. Similarly, the strength of water-immersed mudstone decreases with increasing environmental humidity, also following an exponential relationship. Subsequently, a statistical damage model for water-weakened rocks was proposed, changes in elastic modulus to describe the weakening effect of water. The model effectively simulated the stress-strain relationships of water-affected sandstone and mudstone under compression. The R² values between the theoretical and experimental peak values ranged from 0.962 to 0.996, and the MAPE values fell between 3.589% and 9.166%, demonstrating the model's effectiveness and reliability. The damage process of water-saturated rocks corresponds to five stages: compaction stage - no damage, elastic stage - minor damage, crack development stage - rapid damage increase, post-peak residual stage - continuous damage increase, and sliding stage - damage completion. This study provides a foundational reference for researching the fracture characteristics of overlying strata during coal mining under complex hydrogeological conditions.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.367-380
• /
• 2024

In this study, a prediction model for the cutting force evolution in brittle rocks was developed. This model is based on indentation tests using a conical pick at a cutting depth of 9 mm. The behavior of the indentation mechanism was analyzed in three phases by using Evans' cutting mode. The peak values in the force history identified these phases. The variation in the local strength of the rock caused a large offset in the model prediction of chipping. Regression analyses showed that there is a strong power relationship between the upper bound of the cutting force along with chipping and depth of cut. The slope of the three crushing phases has been found to increase sequentially (α₁<α₂<α₃). In addition, a positive correlation existed between the Schmidt hardness and brittleness index that affects the lower and upper bounds of chipping. Consequently, the results clearly demonstrate that the new model can reasonably predict the evolution of the cutting force based on experimental data. These results would be beneficial for engineers to design and select the optimum excavation machine to reduce mechanical vibration and enhance cutting efficiency.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.195-215
• /
• 2017

This paper proposes gob-side entry retaining by roof break and filling in thick-layer soft rock conditions based on the thick-layer soft rock roof strata migration law and the demand for non-pillar gob-side entry retaining projects. The functional expressions of main roof subsidence are derived for three break roof direction conditions: lateral deflection toward the roadway, lateral deflection toward the gob and vertically to the roof. These are derived according to the load-bearing boundary conditions of the main roadway roof stratum. It is concluded that the break roof angle is an important factor influencing the stability of gob-side entry retaining surrounding rock. This paper studies the stress distribution characteristics and plastic damage scope of gob-side entry retaining integrated coal seams, as well as the roof strata migration law and the supporting stability of caving structure filled on the break roof layer at the break roof angles of $-5^{\circ}$, $0^{\circ}$, $5^{\circ}$, $10^{\circ}$ and $15^{\circ}$ are studied. The simulation results of numerical analysis indicate that, the stress concentration and plastic damage scope to the sides of gob-side entry retaining integrated coal at the break roof angle of $5^{\circ}$ are reduced and shearing stress concentration of the caving filling body has been eliminated. The disturbance of coal mining to the roadway roof and loss of carrying capacity are mitigated. Field tests have been carried out on air-return roadway 5203 with the break roof angle of $5^{\circ}$. The monitoring indicates that the break roof filling section and compaction section are located at 0-45 m and 45-75 m behind the working face, respectively. The section from 75-100 m tends to be stable.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.1017-1027
• /
• 2018

To explore the influence of coal thickness on the mechanical behavior and the failure characteristics of rock-coal-rock (RCR) mass, the experimental investigation of uniaxial compressive tests was conducted first and then a systematic numerical simulation by particle flow code (PFC2D) was performed to deeply analyze the failure mechanical behavior of RCR specimens with different coal thicknesses in conventional compression tests. The overall elastic modulus and peak stress of RCR specimens lie between the rock and the coal. Inter-particle properties were calibrated to match the physical sample strength and the stiffness response. Numerical simulation results show that the deformation and strength behaviors of RCR specimens depend not only on the coal thickness, but also on the confining pressure. Under low confining pressures, the overall failure mechanism of RCR specimen is the serious damage of coal section when the coal thickness is smaller than 30 mm, but it is shear failure of coal section when the coal thickness is larger than 30 mm. Whereas under high confining pressures, obvious shear bands exist in both the coal section and the rock section when the coal thickness is larger than 30 mm, but when the coal thickness is smaller than 30mm, the failure mechanism is serious damage of coal section and shear failure of rock section.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.14 no.6
• /
• pp.581-588
• /
• 2018

In order to explore the comprehensive evaluation means of the extent of hydraulic fracturing region in coal seams, we analyzed the feasibility of detecting the response of coal rock direct current (DC) apparent resistivity to hydraulic-fracturing using Archie's theory, and conducted experimental researches on the response of DC resistivity in the hydraulic fracturing process using small-scale coal rock samples. The results show that porosity and water saturation are the two factors affecting the apparent resistivity of coal rock while hydraulic fracturing. Water has a dominant effect on the apparent resistivity of coal rock samples. The apparent resistivity in the area where water flows through is reduced more than 50%, which can be considered as a core affect region of hydraulic fracturing. Stress indirectly impacts the apparent resistivity by changing porosity. Before hydraulic fracturing, the greater axial load applied, the more serious the rupture in the samples, resulting in the greater apparent resistivity. Apparent resistivity testing is a potential regional method to evaluate the influence range of hydraulic fracturing in coal seams.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.277-290
• /
• 2020

This paper presents an elastic-plastic solution for the circular tunnel of elastic-strain softening behavior considering the pressure-dependent Young's modulus and the nonlinear dilatancy. The proposed solution is verified by the results of the field measuring and numerical simulation from a practical project, and a published closed-form analysis solution. The influence of each factor is discussed in detail, and the ability of Young's modulus and dilatancy characterizing the mechanical response of surrounding rock is investigated. It is found that, in low levels of support pressure, adopting the constant Young's modulus model will seriously misestimate the surrounding rock deformation. Using the constant dilatancy model will underestimate the surrounding rock deformation. When adopting the constant dilatancy model, as the dilation angle increases, the range of the plastic region increases, and the surrounding rock deformation weakens. When adopting the nonlinear dilatancy, the plastic region range and the surrounding rock deformation are the largest. The surrounding rock deformation using pressure-dependent Young's modulus model is between those resulted from two constant Young's modulus models. The constant α of pressuredependent Young's modulus model is the main factor affecting the tunnel displacement. The influence of α using a constant dilatancy model is much more apparent than that using a nonlinear dilatancy model.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.375-401
• /
• 2014

It is generally accepted that material heterogeneity has a great influence on the deformation, strength, damage and failure modes of rock. This paper presents numerical simulation on rock failure process based on the characterization of rock heterogeneity by using a digital image processing (DIP) technique. The actual heterogeneity of rock at mesoscopic scale (characterized as minerals) is retrieved by using a vectorization transformation method based on the digital image of rock surface, and it is imported into a well-established numerical code Rock Failure Process Analysis (RFPA), in order to examine the effect of rock heterogeneity on the rock failure process. In this regard, the numerical model of rock could be built based on the actual characterization of the heterogeneity of rock at the meso-scale. Then, the images of granite are taken as an example to illustrate the implementation of DIP technique in simulating the rock failure process. Three numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the impact of actual rock heterogeneity due to spatial distribution of constituent mineral grains (e.g., feldspar, quartz and mica) on the macro-scale mechanical response, and the associated rock failure mechanism at the meso-scale level is clarified. The numerical results indicate that the shape and distribution of constituent mineral grains have a pronounced impact on stress distribution and concentration, which may further control the failure process of granite. The proposed method provides an efficient tool for studying the mechanical behaviors of heterogeneous rock and rock-like materials whose failure processes are strongly influenced by material heterogeneity.