• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.601-618
• /
• 2024

The joint probability distribution of uncertain geomechanical parameters of geotechnical strata is a crucial aspect in constructing the reliability functional function for roof structures. However, due to the limited number of on-site exploration and test data samples, it is challenging to conduct a scientifically reliable analysis of roof geotechnical strata. This study proposes a Copula method based on small sample exploration and test data to construct the intensity characteristics of roof geotechnical strata. Firstly, the theory of multidimensional copula is systematically introduced, especially the construction of four-dimensional Gaussian copula. Secondly, data from measurements of 176 groups of geomechanical parameters of roof geotechnical strata in 31 coal mines in China are collected. The goodness of fit and simulation error of the four-dimensional Gaussian Copula constructed using the Pearson method, Kendall method, and Spearman methods are analyzed. Finally, the fitting effects of positive and negative correlation coefficients under different copula functions are discussed respectively. The results demonstrate that the established multidimensional Gaussian Copula joint distribution model can scientifically represent the uncertainty of geomechanical parameters in roof geotechnical strata. It provides an important theoretical basis for the study of reliability functional functions for roof structures. Different construction methods for multidimensional Gaussian Copula yield varying simulation effects. The Kendall method exhibits the best fit in constructing correlations of geotechnical parameters. For the bivariate Copula fitting ability of uncertain parameters in roof geotechnical strata, when the correlation is strong, Gaussian Copula demonstrates the best fit, and other Copula functions also show remarkable fitting ability in the region of fixed correlation parameters. The research results can offer valuable reference for the stability analysis of roof geotechnical engineering.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.427-440
• /
• 2024

This study concentrates on the 301 comprehensive caving working face, notable for its considerable mining height. The roof model is established by integrating prior geological data and the latest borehole rock stratum's physical and mechanical parameters. This comprehensive approach enables the determination of lithology, thickness, and mechanical properties of the roof within 50 m of the primary mining coal seam. Utilizing the transfer rock beam theory and incorporating mining pressure monitoring data, the study delves into the geometric parameters of the direct roof, basic roof movement, and roof pressure during the initial mining process of the 301 comprehensive caving working face. The direct roof of the mining working face is stratified into upper and lower sections. The lower direct roof consists of 6.0 m thick coarse sandstone, while the upper direct roof comprises 9.2 m coarse sandstone, 2.6 m sandy mudstone, and 2.8 m medium sandstone. The basic roof stratum, totaling 22.1 m in thickness, includes layers such as silty sand, medium sandstone, sandy mudstone, and coal. The first pressure step of the basic roof is 61.6 m, with theoretical research indicating a maximum roof pressure of 1.62 MPa during periodic pressure. Extensive simulations and analyses of roof subsidence and advanced abutment pressure under varying working face lengths. Optimal roof control effect is observed when the mining face length falls within the range of 140 m-155 m. This study holds significance as it optimizes the working face length in thick coal seams, enhancing safety and efficiency in coal mining operations.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.401-419
• /
• 2013

In this study, the efficiency of adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and genetic expression programming (GEP) in predicting the effects of infill walls on base reactions and roof drift of reinforced concrete frames were investigated. Current standards generally consider weight and fundamental period of structures in predicting base reactions and roof drift of structures by neglecting numbers of floors, bays, shear walls and infilled bays. Number of stories, number of bays in x and y directions, ratio of shear wall areas to the floor area, ratio of bays with infilled walls to total number bays and existence of open story were selected as parameters in GEP and ANFIS modeling. GEP and ANFIS have been widely used as alternative approaches to model complex systems. The effects of these parameters on base reactions and roof drift of RC frames were studied using 3D finite element method on 216 building models. Results obtained from 3D FEM models were used to in training and testing ANFIS and GEP models. In ANFIS and GEP models, number of floors, number of bays, ratio of shear walls and ratio of infilled bays were selected as input parameters, and base reactions and roof drifts were selected as output parameters. Results showed that the ANFIS and GEP models are capable of accurately predicting the base reactions and roof drifts of RC frames used in the training and testing phase of the study. The GEP model results better prediction compared to ANFIS model.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.649-663
• /
• 2014

The present paper discusses the characteristics of unsteady aerodynamic forces on long-span curved roofs. A forced vibration test is carried out in a wind tunnel to investigate the effects of wind speed, vibration amplitude, reduced frequency of vibration and rise/span ratio of the roof on the unsteady aerodynamic forces. Because the range of parameters tested in the wind tunnel experiment is limited, a CFD simulation is also made for evaluating the characteristics of unsteady aerodynamic forces on the vibrating roof over a wider range of parameters. Special attention is paid to the effect of reduced frequency of vibration. Based on the results of the wind tunnel experiment and CFD simulation, the influence of the unsteady aerodynamic forces on the dynamic response of a full-scale long-span curved roof is investigated on the basis of the spectral analysis.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.375-383
• /
• 2019

In underground retreating longwall coal mining, hard roof collapse is one of the most challenging safety problems for mined-out areas. Identifying precursors for hard roof collapse is of great importance for the development of warning systems related to collapse geohazards and ground control. In this case study, the Xinhe mine was chosen because it is a standard mine and the minable coal seam usually lies beneath hard strata. Real-time monitoring of hard roof collapse was performed in longwall face 5301 of the Xinhe mine using support resistance and microseismic (MS) monitoring; five hard roof collapse cases were identified. To reveal the characteristics of MS activity during hard roof collapse development and to identify its precursors, the change in MS parameters, such as MS event rate, energy release, bursting strain energy, b value and the relationships with hard roof collapse, were studied. This research indicates that some MS parameters showed irregularity before hard roof collapse. For the Xinhe coalmine, a substantial decrease in b value and a rapid increase in MS event rate were reliable hard roof collapse precursors. It is suggested that the b value has the highest predictive sensitivity, and the MS event rate has the second highest.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.151-157
• /
• 2018

The constrained conditions of roof and floor for the coal pillar affect the strength of coal pillar very seriously. To analyze the influence of rock mass for the roof and floor on the stability of coal pillar comprehensively, one method based on the mechanical method for the composite rock mass was proposed. In this method, the three rock layers of roof, floor and coal pillar are taken as the bedded composite rock mass. And the influence of rock mass for the roof and floor on the elastic core of coal pillar has been analyzed. This method can obtain not only the derived stress by the cohesive constraining forces for the coal pillar, but also the derived stress for the rock mass of the roof and floor. Moreover, the effect of different mechanical parameters for the roof and floor on the stability of coal pillar have been analyzed systematically. This method can not only analyze the stability of strip coal pillar, but also analyze the stability of other mining pillars whose stress distribution is similar with that of the strip coal pillar.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.11 no.6
• /
• pp.867-877
• /
• 2016

Collapse shape of tunnel roof in layered Hoek-Brown rock media is investigated within the framework of upper bound theorem. The traditional collapse mechanism for homogeneous stratum is no longer suitable for the present analysis of roof stability, and it would be necessary to propose a curve failure mode to describe the velocity discontinuity surface in layered media. What is discussed in the paper is that the failure mechanism of tunnel roofs, consisting of two different functions, is proposed for layered rock media. Then it is employed to investigate the impending roof failure. Based on the nonlinear Hoek-Brown failure criterion, the collapse volume of roof blocks are derived with the upper bound theorem and variational principle. Numerical calculations and parametric analysis are carried out to illustrate the effects of different parameters on the shape of failure mechanism, which is of overriding significance to the stability analysis of tunnel roof in layered rock media.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.14 no.6
• /
• pp.571-580
• /
• 2018

The failure mechanism of tunnel roof is investigated with upper bound theorem of limit analysis. The stochastic settlement and nonlinear failure criterion are considered in the present analysis. For the collapse of tunnel roof, the surface settlement is estimated by the simplified stochastic medium theory. The failure curve expressions of collapse blocks in homogeneous and in layered soils are derived, and the effects of material parameters on the potential range of failure mechanisms are discussed. The results show that the material parameters of initial cohesion, nonlinear coefficient and unit weight have significant influences on the potential range of collapse block in homogeneous media. The proportion of collapse block increases as the initial cohesion increases, while decreases as the nonlinear coefficient and the unit weight increase. The ground surface settlement increases with the tunnel radius increasing, while the possible collapse proportion decreases with increase of the tunnel radius. In layered stratum, the study is investigated to analyze the effects of material parameters of different layered media on the proportion of possible collapse block.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2021

Vortex generators are commonly used in mechanical engineering and the aerospace industry to suppress flow separation owing to their advantages of simple structure, economic viability, and high level of efficiency. Owing to the flow separation of the incoming wind on the leading edge, a suction area is formed on the roof surface, which results in a lifting effect on the roof. In this research, vortex generators were installed on the windward surface of a flat roof and used to disturb to roof flow field and reduced suction based on flow control theory. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed in this study to investigate the effects of vortex generators on reduce suction. It was determined that when the vortex generator was installed on the top of the roof on the windward surface, it had a significant control effect on reduce suction on the roof leading edge. In addition, the influence of parameters such as size, placement interval, and placement position of the vortex generator on the control effect of the roof's suction is also discussed.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.449-457
• /
• 2019

Physical model tests were first performed to investigate the failure pattern of multiple pillar-roof support system. It was observed in the physical model tests, pillars were design with the same mechanical parameters in model #1, cracking occurred simultaneously in panel pillars and the roof above barrier pillars. When pillars 2 to 5 lost bearing capacity, collapse of the roof supported by those pillars occurred. Physical model #2 was design with a relatively weaker pillar (pillar 3) among six pillars. It was found that the whole pillar-roof system was divided into two independent systems by a roof crack, and two pillars collapse and roof subsidence events occurred during the loading process, the first failure event was induced by the pillars failure, and the second was caused by the roof crack. Then, for a multiple pillar-roof support system, three types of failure patterns were analysed based on the condition of pillar and roof. It can be concluded that any failure of a bearing component would cause a subsidence event. However, the barrier pillar could bear the transferred load during the stress redistribution process, mitigating the propagation of collapse or cutting the roof to insulate the collapse area. Importantly, some effective methods were suggested to decrease the risk of catastrophic collapse, and the deep-hole-blasting was employed to improve the stability of the pillar and roof support system in a room and pillar mine.